COURSING

Evening Star, Issue 23371, 14 September 1939, Page 4

COURSING

NOTES AND COMMENTS OUNEIKH CLUB'S MEETING

[By Plumptox.]

The Dunedin Coursing Club held its first fixture to decide the Boyle Cup and the Dewar Cup. The club has been unfortunate this season in having to abiindon the opening fixture so often on account of the weather conditions. The committee is to be congratulated on having made a start, but even on the day the ground was not at its best, and in many places water lay inches deep. Considering the adverse weather conditions experienced lately and the state of the ground, the hares raced in great heart, and were a credit to their trainer and feeder. Mr E. J. Scanlan, the secretary, has 'he.en untiring in his efforts to further the activities of the club, and it is very pleasing to note that his efforts are being appreciated. ... , The judge (Mr A. L. Mitchell! carried out his duties most capably. Mr J. Marks, the club’s slipper, had an unenviable task, as trying to slip hard-pulling and keen dogs is a most difficult job on heavy ground. No fault could be found with the way in which he got his charges away. It was unfortunate that in the Boyle Memorial Cup Stake Fairy Divot, when opposed to Cheetah, broke .loose from the slips, ahd had on his own the biggest and most strenuous course of the day.

Boyle Mamorial Cup. The winner of the Boyle Cup, Messrs Smart and M'Pherson’s Royal Ensign (Why Wory—Sultana) was racing well on the day, and, although he thoroughly deserved his wm was fortunate in the final when opposed to" a very tired dog in Fairy Divot. In the first round Royal Ensign defeated Bev’s Worry by 4 points to 2 after having led up by two lengths and turned. Bev’s Worry secured two ■ turns, after which the winner again turned. In the second round, when opposed to Native Lupin, Royal Ensign led up nicely, and went on to secure a .comfortable win on a very faat arid tricky hare by 7 points to 4J. In the final course, when opposed to Fairy Divot, Royal Ensign led up by three' lengths and turned, thus scoring 4 points, after which he swmred a wrench. Fairy Divot scored freely when in, but before he could reduce the points scored by his opponent in thri lead-up the course ended, with the final points at 4}-3i. Mr E. C. Robertson’s (N.S.) Fairy Divot, Divot’s Pride (imp.)—Fairy Tetms, runner-up in the Boyle Cup, though beaten on the day, was the most ■ outstanding performer at the fixture. There > is no doubt but that for the gruelling course he had in the first round, when ha slipped his collar and coursed the hare on his own, he would have won the stake. (The judge said that in this course alone he must havd scored at least IE! points. It was very praiseworthy that the. Judge after this run allowed the trainer a few minutes’ spell before going back into the. slips. When finally released for the first round Fairy Divot led Cheetah up nicely and on a good hare secured a convincing win by 5J points to ; 3. ■ In the second round, when opposed to Surry Away, - the latter-led him up well and opened his score .with 4 points, after which ' Fairy Divot got in and worked well to win the course by si . points to 4. ; In the, final Fairy Divot was a very tired dog, and even then put up a game

showing to be defeated by one point. Fairy Divbt is considered by hound in the South Island, if not in New Zealand, and this is the only time he can remember* that this great son of Divot’s Pride (imp.) has been led up in three seasons of coursing. Both Royal Ensign and Hurry Away are fast performers, especially the latter, but the writer is of the opinion that, had he hot had such a strenuous time of it to win the first round, Fairy Divot would have led them both up. Mr A. Whittington’s Hurry Away' (Invader —Gay Lass) showed that he had plenty of pace in the first round when opposed to The Jewel. He led up by four lengths to win by 4 points to 0. In the next round he also showed pace to lead up and open his score with 4 points, this being when opposed by Fairy Divot. After leading up Hurry Away was hampered by the soft going and could hot settle down. He is a good one, and one that will reach top class. Mr W. Easton’s Native Lupin (Native Chief—Miss Lupin) showed pace to lead up and win by 7 points to 3 in the first round when opposed to Even Money, and in the next round when beaten by Royal Ensign by 7 points to 4} she also went a good course. This fawn bitch shows every promise, Mr J. Debb's The Jewel (Happy Tornado—Presentation!, besides not relishing the going, did not appear to be in her best form. She was expected to do better. Mr A. Howell’s Cheetah (Royal Sovereign—Miss _ Mannequin) will have to show much improvement to win a stake among the class of greyhound she met in this stake. Mr J. T. Jarvis’s Even Money (Even Lad —Electric Alma) was seriously affected by the state of the going. This dog is_ anything but a spent force. In the pink of condition he will again score a win. Mr T. M'Dowell’s Bev’s Worry (Why Worry—Gay Parade) is still capable of heating the best of performers, but not on the local enclosure, to which she has become too accustomed, and on which she will not do her best.

Dewar Cup. Mr I. Latimer’s Pink Lad (Royal Sovereign—Miss Mannequin), winner of the Dewar Cup, meed his best to date. He was a fit dog. In the first round he led up and worked nicely to beat Atua Rere by 5 points to 2. In the second round he led up well and tvem from Pop Eye’s Mate by 2 points to 1 after an undecided course in which both dogs scored 3 points each. ' In the final, when opposed to Determination, he led up and won comfortably by 4 points to 0. : Miss P. Collins’s N.S. Determination (Happy Tornado, irap.,-t-Presentation), runner-up in the Dewar Cup put up a fine performance. This bitch was still affected by her accident when thrown from the dog box on a train to Balclutba and on the day should not have raced. In the first round against . Gun Play she won nicely by six points to four. There was no lead-up m this course. She had a bye in the next round, and in the final was beaten by Pink Lad. Master A. Low’s Popeye’s Mato (Grand Laddie—Lady Diana) is a dog showing promise, and one well worthy of being persevered with. Mr.J.T. Jarvis’s N.S. Gun Play (Bold Brigand—Electric Almal shows of being a fast performer. As

yet he is very young, hut next year when properly matured he is going to he very hard to beat. Miss P. Collins’s Atua Rero (Invader—Sylvandale) showed great promise for a pup only 13 months old. This bitch needs only experience to win in good class company. When slipped with Pink Lad she was inclined to play but when she sighted the hare she settled to her task well although the ground did not suit her lone stride.

Mr A. J. Wilson, who recently took out a trainer’s license, had three dogs at the meeting—Atua Rere, Determination, and Fairy Divot. All looked pictures of health and fitness, even Determination, despite her ininries. Since he took out the license this is the first meeting that dogs trained by Mr Wilson have raced at, and to gain two second places on one day is no moan achievement.