COURSING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 526, 23 August 1900, Page 8

COURSING.

AUCKLAND COURSING CLUB’S AUGUST MEETING.

The coursing season, so far as the Auckland province is concerned, was brought to a close by the August meeting of the Auckland Coursing Club, held on the Avondale Plumpton on Wednesday and Saturday of last week. Those who love the old sport mus . regretfully admit that it now only exists and does not live in the true acceptance of the term, and its decadence can only be attributed to the fact that those who,|in the days gone bye, supported the pastime because of their love of it, and not because of their desire to make anything out of it, have dropped out of the game, and it is not difficult to imagine the cause. There has been an undercurrent of un

worthiness amoug a class of coursing men evidenced by cases of ringing in, stuffing, bribery of officials, growling at the decision of the judges, and charges of corruption genera ly. All this has given such an unsavoury tone to the sporb, that the good man who holds his character in esteem, as a rule stands aloof, and he is all the more disinclined to re-enter the arena when he discovers that men disqualified for the serious fraud of ringing in have been whitewashed, as they have been recent y by a southern club. This, we should be careful to point out, is not the fault of the Auckland Club, but if a club m another part of the colony convicts a man of an offence and the i pronounces him clean, the offender enters the lists again and there is the danger of the honest man who competes with him in the sport being placed on a par with the blackleg in the estimation of the public. At the beginning of this season, happy remarks were made at a social, and we were led to believe that there would be a revival in the sport, but there has been none, and the owners of dogs have accorded the well intended efforts of the Avondale Club such meagre support, that one is forced to the conclusion that either there are very few dogs in Auckland, or that their owners keep them to play with on Sunday mornings in the Domain or somewhere else where it costs nothing. The Avondale Club has acted well towards o vners throughout the season, the flumpton has been kept in splendid condition, the judge (Mr Coombes), the slipper (Mr Brennan), the flag steward (Mr Foley), the slip steward (Mr J. O. Evett) and the secretary (Mr H. H. Hayr) have all performed their duties faithfully and well and that better filled events, and larger attended meetings at Avondale have not rewarded their efforts is not their fault.

The Recovery Stakes and Champion Collar Stakes were the principal events at the late meeting, and the first round in each stake was run on Wednesday, when the weather was all that a coursing man could desire, but the attendance was very moderate The sport was good, but the bookmakers thought otherwise, for the very good reason probably that a considerable percentage of favourites got home. If the doge ran well it is certain that the hares ran better, as not a single hare was killed. On Saturday the weather was again fine, but the attendance was worse than on the first day. Those present, however, enjoyed a capital afternoon’s sport, and the competition right through was keen, fair, and interesting. As on the first day the hares were in great buckle, only one fatality being recorded amongst them, and there are those amoug the patrons of our Plumpton who believe that there are hares at Avondale so fast that they frequently have a game with their long tail pursuers. The final for the Collar Stakes partook of the nature of an interprovincial contest, Hector McDonald representing Hawke’s Bay and Garfield Auckland. The latter was favourite, and has more pace than his opponent, but the latter is a better worker, and a long gruelling course ended in his favour. The winner is owned by Mr Buttimore, who has been very successful this season, Rory O’More having scored a good win for him. Te Anau was supposed to be a good thing for the Recovery Stakes, but in the final Mr Joe Ryan’s Explosion quite outworked him and won. The Supplementary Maiden Stakes was won by Spring water in rather a decisive manner. The following are the detailed results :— Champion Collar Stake : Winner, £l2 and trophy presented by the club; second dog, £5; third dog, £3.

FIRST BOUND. Mr J. Appelby’s brdl and wh d Picklock beat Mr G. Proudfoot’s brdl and white d ’Frisco. Mr J. Handcock’e wh and blk d Springwater beat Mr G. Proudfoot’s brdl and wh d Waltzer. Mr S. Mack's blk and wh d Garfield beat Mr Geo. Newport’s blk and wh b . itty West. Mr J. Handcock’s blk d Admiral Drake beat Mr G. W. Stevens’ wh and brdl d The Gift. Mr B. Buttimore’s brdl and wh d Hector Macdonald beat Mr O. Ohilcott’s f b Lavendsr Water. SECOND BOUND. Picklock beat Springwater. Garfield beat Admiral Drake. Hector Macdonald a bye. Recovery Stakes: Winner, £5; runner-up £3 ; third dog, £l. FIRST BOUND. Mr J. Troy’s rd d Squib beat Mr E. Lindsay’s blk and wh d Ambition (after a no-course). Mr J. Honan’s brdl d Dragoon beat Mi' E, Kelly’s f and wh d Landlock. Mr J. Appelby’s blk and wh d Te Anau beat Mr B. Buttimore’s brdl and wh b Miss Flirt. Mr J. Ryan’s blk and wh d Explosion beat Mr A. Hooker’s wh and blk d Highwater. Mr G. Thomas’ f and wh d Reprieve beat Mr G. W Stevens’ brdl and wh d The Waif. Cobgate, an accidental bye.

SECOND BOUND. Cobgate beat The Squib. Te Anau beat Dragoon. Explosion beat Reprieve.

Second Day—Saturday, August 18. Champion Collar Stake: Winner £l2 and trophy presentdd by the club; runner up, £5; third dog, £3. third bound. Mr B. Buttimore’s brdl and wh d Hector Macdonald, by Maxim —May Queen, beat Mr J. 3 Appleby’s brdl and wh d Picklock. Mr 8. Mack’s blk and wh d Garfield a bye. Final. Hector Macdonald, by Maxim—May Queen, beat Garfield, and won the stakes. Recovery Stakes : Winner, £5; runner-up, J £3; third dog, £l. THIBD HOUND. Mr J. Appleby’s blk and wh dTe Anau beat Mr X N. Christian’s blk and wh d Cobgate. Mr J. Ryan’s blk and wh d Explosion, a bye. FINAL. Explosion, by Melos —Hard Case, beat Te Anau, -?? and won the stake. Supplementary Maiden Stake : Winner, £4 10s ; runner-up £1 10s. first bound. Mr J. Carlisle’s blk and wh b Sweetbriar beat Mr A- Hooker’s wh and blk d Highwater. Mr J. Carlisle’s wh and blk d Springwater beat Mr G. W. Steven’s fn and wh d The Gale. Mr F. Kelly’s fn d Firelock beat Mr 0. Gray’s fn d Straybird. Mr J. Appleby’s blk and wh d Blackberry beat Mr R. J. Elliott’s blk and wh d Balance 11. second hound. Firelock beat Sweetbriar. Springwater beat Blackberry. FINAL. Springwater, by Frisky Lad—Sweetwater, beat Firelock, and won the stake. W