COURSING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VIII, Issue 411, 9 June 1898, Page 9

COURSING.

[Bi

Dicken.]

AUCKLAND COURSING CLUB’S OPENING MEETING-

The opening meeting under the auspices of the Auckland Coursing Club was commenced on Wednesday, June 1, on the Avondale Plumpton, in highly favorable weather, and although the attendance was not what I would liked to have seen it, still I was glad to notice unmistakable signs of revived interest in the sport, and it is pleasant to chronicle that there was a complete absence of grumbling. Coursing men, as a rule, enjoy the Britishers privilege of growling to the fullest extent, and no doubt growls are frequently provoked, because the sport is full of disappointments, but at Avondale on the first day of the meeting the winners of course were pleased, while the owners of the dogs defeated took their beating with that good grace which helps everyone to enjoy the sport as they should. The club has secured a new slipper in Mr D. Brennan, who has been elected by the nominators of dogs, and, although he had a number of inexperienced puppies to handle, he succeeded fairly well in his initial efforts. The new judge (Mr F. W. Combes) was at his post, "and already he has secured the confidence of the patrons of -Avondale, although he has introduced an innovation in the system of judging. Hitherto we have been accustomed to the judge following the dogs on horseback, but Mr Coombes judges from a high stand erected in a corner of the I’lumpton, and from the exalted position Mr Combes maintains that he has a better view of the course than if following the game in the orthodox way —on horseback. In the majority of courses I dare say Mr Coombes is right, but I have a doubt in my mind that-puss, on some occasions, may take it into her head to take the dogs in a direction that will result in a puzzle lor the stationary judge. However, no fault could be found with Mr Combes’s verdicts on Saturday The coursing was good and the'hares ran sple> didly throughout, very few of them being killed, a fact upon which the caretaker (Ferguson) is entitled to credit. A start was made with the Puppy Stakes, in which Ballance easily disposed of Bella Donna’ This is a clever little bitch, with a fair turn of pace. Caravan and Flying Shot did not succeed in taking a turn out of a very fast hare. In the run off Caravan won by about three points, Flying Shot only, scoring once. Nor’-West led Newcastle, and appeared to have scored four before Newcastle got in, and what then occurred could not very well be seen from the stand. However, the judge credited Newcastle with wiping out the early points chiefly by the aid of a go bye, and awarded him the course. The trials after this were pretty one-sided, and would not be worth following in detail, the winner in every instance, I believe, leading, the puppies who performed best to my mind being Brandy, Admiral Sampson, and Revenge. In the second round Ballance again led off in fine style, and decisively disposed of Caravan, who, however, it should be remembered, in the first round had the bad luck to take part in a “no course.” Warsaw showed capital form in defeating Newcastle. Hurricane led Wild Night and had the course pretty much to himself. Brandy just succeeded in beating Admiral Dewey after a fast hare which got away quickly. Revenge led Waltzer and ended matters with a kill, knowledge just led Admiral Sampson, who then got in and wiped out the early points. The course between Lady and Reindeer was well contested. In the Challenge Stakes Blucher fairly outworked the favorite, Ascot. Lavendar Water led Shooting Star after a good race, and won very easily afterwards. Keiller had no difficulty in disposing of Cushla. The course between Linwood and Sequah was well contested, but the judge gave his verdict in favor of Sequah. Seal Packet outworked Galtee More 11., and won. Lord Rosebery led Play Girl, and after a good give and take course Lord Rosebery was left with a winning score. The Fiend led Guy Fawkes, who was a better favorite than him, and fairly beat him in the work afterwards. Mr J. W. Russell's two dogs, Rocket and Favonius, disposed of their two opponents, Blue Girl and

Wisdom. The latter, however, gave Favonius al he could do, and although the course was a close one the loser was quite satisfied with the judge’s decision. The opening meeting of the Auckland Coursing Club was concluded yesterday on the Avondale Plumpton in splendid weather. The attendance was good, and the results were as follows : — Challenge Stakes. Second Round.] Blucher beat Lavender Water Sequah beat Keiller Sealed Packet beat Lord Rosebery Rocket beat The Fiend Favonius, a bye Third Ronnd. Blucher beat Sequah Favonius beat Sealed Packet Rocket a bye. Fourth Round. Blucher beat Rocket Favonius a bye. Final. Mr J. W. Russell’s r d Favonius, by Game Boy—Effie Deans, beat Mr C. Whitten’s f and w d Blucher, by Merchant —Sweetwater, after an undecided. Puppy Stakes. Third Round. Balance beat Warsaw Hurricane beat Brandy Revenge beat Reindeer Admiral Sampson, a bye Fourth Round. Hurricane beat Balance Admiral Sampson beat Revenge Final Round. Mr F. Malam’s r and w d Hurricane (by Storm Fiend—Dora B.) beat Mr J. Taylor’s blk and w d Admiral Sampson (by Port Admiral —See Saw) and won. Supplementary Stakes. . Shooting Star beat Caravan Wisdom beat Lavendar Water Final. Wisdom beat Shooting Stai’ and won. News has reached Auckland that the wellknown greyhound, Blackthorn, has died at Napier. There is no doubt that Blackthorn was a real good dog, and his loss is a severe one. He was trained by Bill Fox, whose luck has not been good of late.