Major blow to Ireland’s hare coursing as “trials” hit by new restriction!

international | animal rights | opinion/analysis

Friday October 27, 2017 18:45

by Ban hare coursing in Ireland

Latest blow to credibility of vile blood sport

Ireland’s hare coursing fraternity has taken a big hit. Coursing “trials” - big money spinning events in which hares are terrorized and subjected to agonizing injury or death- are to be downgraded to one- day sessions aimed purely at familiarizing hares with coursing venues.

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Animal protection groups will settle for nothing less than an outright ban on hare coursing in Ireland...but this new rule has fans of the blood sport in turmoil. It means further regulation of their “sport” and less hare coursing!

Each season, almost all coursing fixture are preceded by so-called trials. These have, up to now, been de facto dress rehearsals for the official meetings and have been used to the utmost by greyhound owners to test their dogs, in addition to facilitating alleged “training” for captured hares that are then also coursed at the official fixtures.

Trials routinely involve huge levels of side betting and organisers have been known to require “bookings” from greyhound owners wishing to bring their dogs along.

We reproduce below comments from coursing fans posted on “Greyhound Knowledge Forum” referring to money changing hands at trials, and “bookings”.

That’s how trials worked up to this week. But all that is about to change, partly due to the decision of the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to send rangers to observe and report on the recent trials held by Kilflynn Coursing Club in County Kerry.

While NPWS rangers attend a number of coursing fixtures each season they have not, until the Kilflynn event, attended trials, despite the fact that live hares are used at all of these. Several animal protection groups had contacted the NPWS after being tipped off that hares might be fare badly at the Kilflynn trial event.

The NPWS has since compiled a report on the Kilflynn Coursing Trial which reveals that 10 hares were struck by dogs at the event. Seven of them were injured and two died as a result.

Now, partly thanks to the Kilflynn coursing trial fiasco, the Department of Art and Heritage license governing the capture and coursing of hares in Ireland has been amended. A new condition states: “Trials should only be run for the express purpose of familiarising hares with the most direct route to the escape and no more than one dog should take part in any trial run.”

A second condition stipulates that each trial should last only one day.

This new rule will come into effect on November 15th and will remove a huge chunk of both the social and gambling appeal of hare coursing.

Understandably, hare coursing fans are raging, and objecting vehemently to what they see as a clampdown on their fun and games.

The campaign to rid Ireland COMPLETELY of hare coursing continues, but one could perceive this latest development as a further step towards the complete abolition of this vile blood sport.

Here are typical references to coursing trials (and their real purpose) on the “Greyhound Knowledge Forum” internet site, with relevant details highlighted:

Example 1)

Amy Oconnor
Ireland
(Verified User)
Posts 14
Dogs 0 / Races 0
12 Dec 2016 21:41

Trials will be on saturday 17th December at 11.30 sharp they must pre booked by calling Amy Rose O'Connor on 0863313306 . Trials cost €50 a buckle

Please be on time thank you!

Limited trials available!
Ger Lynch
Ireland

Example 2)

Coursing Trials on Monday next in Ballyduff weather permitting; limited bookings available; double dog trials; contact Mike Slattery on 086 6889061
For directions to Ballyduff Coursing field see our websit EXTERNAL LINK

Example 3)

Liam O Keeffe
Ireland
(Verified User)
Posts 997
Dogs 17 / Races 3
01 Dec 2008 19:56

hi paul there are trials next sunday in dungarvan co.waterford it costs 50 euro for a pair of dogs... its great for dogs that need a reminding of what they are chasing and the scent is the main thing its not like a rabbit scent it is much much stronger ... how long a trial last can vary for 10 secs up wards to 30 secs as anthony said you do not want your dog gruelled
all the best

liam

end of examples of references to coursing trials and their purpose.