COURSING

Evening Star, Issue 22145, 27 September 1935, Page 5

COURSING

■ —— NOTES AND COMMENTS [By Plumpton.] Taieri Club’s Meeting. The Taieri Coursing Club staged the Keith Cup, for which 11 clogs were slipped, six representing the Taieri Club and five representing the Balclutha Club. The Keith Cup, presented by Mr F. Keith, of Henley, is a handsome trophy, which has to be won twice in succession or three times at intervals by the same owner before becoming his own property, and with it goes an engraved miniature cup to be held by the winning owner. The conditions drawn up for this cup provided for representation from the Dunedin Club, which for some unknown reason would not take part in this sporting event. It was to have been for 16 dogs, but with the Dunedin Club not competing only 11 dogs were left. The day was fine, but owing to the heavy rain experienced a few days previously the fields were very heavy, and in many places the water was still lying. This made the going very heavy for the dogs, and also for the large number of enthusiasts who were following the sport. Hares were very plentiful and strong, with the result that some excellent coursing was witnessed by those in attendance. The success of this fixture is in no small measure due to the efforts of Mr F. Frew and Mr C. C. O’Hara. Mr A. M‘Donald, of Dunedin, gave every satisfaction as judge, his decisions being very promptly given, and they were all well received by owners and spectators alike. The slipper, Mr F. Johnson, gave every satisfaction, his task being made very difficult by the ground conditions, and the fact that the hares were rising a long way off. The winner of the cup was Mr C. Bower’s brilliant bitch Smart Terms, by Again Terminus—Miss Mickey, who gave a great exhibition of clever work-, ing throughout the event. Following arc the results: — FIRST ROUND. Smart Terms beat Bonny Worry. The dogs were slipped on a hare that rose far off, and alter a long lead up the hare evaded the dogs, and the decision was given to the former, who hold a commanding lead in the lead-up when the hare went out of sight. _ Cay Blonde bent Bon Again. The dogs were slipped to a very fast hare. The latter was in the lead until nearing the hare. The former then went teethe front, and, working the hare cleverly, won nicely. Red King beat Lady Jane. This was a very ■ hard and strenuous course, in which the winner showed superior speed and won his course comfortably. Toodles beat Gipsy Moth The former led and did most of the work in the first part of the course, but the clever Gipsy Moth came to light, and working the game beautifully, was very unlucky not to wipe off the score made by her opponent m the first part of the course. ' Digger’s Terms beat Ben Gold, m this course the winner was far superior in both speed and cleverness, and won easily. Shipmate ran a bye. SECOND ROUND. Smart Terms beat Gay Blonde. Ihe dogs were slipped to a strong-running hare, and it was a great course, in which both dogs proved to be very selfish workers. Toodles beat Red King. This was a hard and strenuous course, in which the winner was much superior throughout. Digger’s Terms and Shipmate were slipped to a very fast hare, and were even on points when the hare disappeared from view, .but before they con'd bo caught they again sighted the ha-o, who gave them a very hard and gruelling course, after which both i.ogs hud to be withdrawn from the ‘take. • FINAL. Smart Terms beat Toodles on a very fast hare. In the lead-up, the winner allowed far superior speed, and working the hare beautifully won very easily. During this course Toodles fell very heavily. Notes. Toodles, who is only a young dog, put up a great performance to reach the' final. This dog should be very hard to beat on a plumpton next season.

Gay Blonde was racing in great heart, and will be a very hard dog to beat in the Dewar Cup, being run by the Taieri Club to-morrow. Gipsy Moth was very unlucky in the Keith Cup, and with a little luck Mr Finnic’s clever bitch will be another hard dog to beat in the Deivar Cup event. Digger Terms is a much improved dog, and it would be pleasing to see him among the place-getters at an early date. The biggest surprise of the meeting was the improvement shown by Shipmate, who has develoiped into a big dog, and he is clever when in on the hare. ~ , Red King is a fine-looking greyhound, who possesses a fine turn of speed.

The resignation of Mr T. M. Connors has deprived the Dunedin Coursing Club of a highly efficient secretary, and it would be difficult to secure the services of a man possessed of greater enthusiasm or general knowledge of the sport. Mr Connors has been untiring in his efforts to revive interest in coursing in Otago, and it will be a pity if Ins services are lost to the sport altogether. Tho Dunedin Coursing Club can illafford to lose such a capable official.