The Ancient Sport of Coursing Hares With Greyhounds

Despite the illogical Ban on coursing by Blair's Labour government in 2005 the sport has continued to thrive and be enjoyed in Ireland.    British coursing supporters still travel to the ports of  Rosslare, Dublin or Belfast and some bring runners to compete for the valuable prizes at the major meetings.
      Since I became a teenager I got much enjoyment from watching lurchers, collies or greyhounds chasing hares in meadows or foothills.  The nearest tracks to me were at   Derry and Lifford but  I did not see any racing until I was almost twenty years of age.   I did however  read about big races that were run at tracks in Belfast and Dublin.   I gradually had thoughts or dreams of going as far south as Clounanna the great meadow where the Irish Coursing Cup was staged.
The hares there were noted for their strength and stamina.and the majority were able to outwit the hounds.   Their fitness was due to the efforts and enthusiasm of all of the committee, stewards, and  landowners. They ensured that, when the pasture was frozen, sheaves of oats were provided for the hares. At coursing meetings, it was not uncommon to see a pair of hounds stop for a rest whenever a tired hare rested.

Reg Fowler from Luton

One of the greatest characters I have ever met in the greyhound world is Les Fowler from Luton.   He arrived at my kennels with an injured greyhound one day in 1957.   He was accompanied by his wife Gwen.  They immediately impressed me as a couple with a deep love of dogs.  They were to become regular and highly respected clients.   They treated their hounds as if they were children and aimed to keep no more than four.   Whenever one of their runners sustained a serious injury they never considered the financial loss they might suffer.   Their sole concern was the pain it might be feeling.  The more I saw of them the more I respected them.   They were always so grateful for everything I tried to do for their hounds.    The manner of Les was so humble that initially I did not recognise what a brave and famous client had come so far to see me.
There came a day when I visited them because they had a hound who over the telephone seemed
too ill to travel.  The patient was in their warm kitchen and wearing a coat.   When I had examined it I looked around.   My gaze lingered on the decorations  -- four pairs of them - - on the left lapel of his black uniform.
This is Les in his uniform which  until recently he  has worn regularly on Remembrance days.

When war declared in 1939 Reg signed up. 

Charley - A true friend

On the last Saturday in March we were shocked by a fatal heart attack to Charley  our precious Jack Russell at the age of eleven.    He had spent the morning with me at the weekly market in Beverley.    He was his usual self and  enjoyed meeting all our human and canine friends.   When we went home Jane declined to go to the library with me for lunch.   She had something to do on the computer and wished me to leave Charley  with her.   I left the back door open so that he could go out on the lawn when he wished.   When I returned he was not in the house and  Jane went to call him in.
  She was awfully shocked  and burst into tears on finding him dead under a tree.
     I tried to console her by saying he could not have suffered..  I went to fetch a spade but she found one before I did and  insisted on doing the depressing digging.
Charley had been popular with all who knew him and we are still receiving expressions of sympathy over our loss.   He was the closest to us of all the wonderful dogs whose company we had enjoyed - maybe because in retirement we always had time for him.  I remember the first Jack Russell we had in 1947.    We have since had eleven, and every one was a truly honest and loyal friend.   I often have reason to wish why more of us cannot behave as well as the great majority of the dogs we have known.
Many people prefer a Jack Russell to pedigree breeds of dog because the Jack Russell is not inbred the way many pedigree breeds are.

                During the first twenty four hours of life without Charley I never considered replacing him.   The thought seemed unreal.  I also wanted time to discuss with Jane how we could transfer the love we had for Charley to a stranger.    If I did think of  having another I would favour one who moved at our own speed.