COURSING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1940, Page 7

COURSING

MEETING NEXT SATURDAY. CHALLENGE MATCH & COOPER CUP CONTEST. On Saturday next the Wairarapa Coursing Club’s activities at the Akura Plumpton will be advanced a stage further when the Cooper Challenge Cup will be competed for in a 16-dog stake. This valuable trophy is sure to draw a good representation of firstclass dogs from outside towns, as well as the best in Masterton and district. Last season’s winner, Mr La Roche’s Desert Storm may not contest the stake this year, but strong competition from Wellington is anticipated in Messrs Cook and McGrath’s team and in Mr P. H. Donoghue’s Red Chief, which competed with success at Oamaru recently, when it reached the semi-finals of the Waterloo Cup. The supporting event on the programme is a return challenge match for maiden dogs between Hastings and Wairarapa for the banner now held by the Wairarapa Club. This will prove to be an exciting contest, as Hawke's Bay enthusiasts have spared no efforts to secure a good team of fast dogs in an endeavour to take the banner home. However, local owners are confident of retaining the banner, as some consistent dogs are receiving a thorough preparation and should be difficult to beat on their home ground. As the hares have received their usual training and are in good form, splendid coursing is assured. Fast dogs will be needed to turn the hares, and some spectacular exchanges should result. Several improvements have been carried out on the baulk, which are expected to facilitate the coursing. The escapes have also been overhauled and found to be in good order. An eight-dog maiden stake will also be run during the afternoon. This will give owners who cannot compete in the Challenge Stake an opportunity of seeing their dogs in action.