The Truth About Hare Coursing: It's Not What You Think

Hare coursing? I love it.

Today's hare coursers

Hare coursing since the Hunting Act 2004 has a very bad rap. This has been exacerbated by certain denizens of society causing thousands of pounds of damage to farmers’ land and crops. We’ve all seen the photos of smashed in hedges and the ‘Twin Town’esque tyre tracks churning up fields. With the police able to seize the vehicles, a small part of me wants to stockpile a few Subaru Foresters away somewhere before they become extinct. 

While these characters ruin fields, abandon dogs if necessary and leave any killed hares lying where caught, never mind the violence they show if confronted, these people cannot be called hare coursers. How do I know? Because pre-ban I was a hare courser. 

Hold on a minute..

Before you throw your hands up in outrage and stop reading, allow me to explain. I’m talking organised coursing meets. Meets where the goal was not to catch hares but to watch 2 dogs run and work a hare. Which dog could turn it best, which dog was the quickest on the run up, which dog could turn it most. Let me repeat, louder again for the people at the back. Hare coursing was not about killing hares. 

Dad and I used to travel up from Cornwall where we living at the time to our Cheltenham, the Waterloo Cup. For those who don’t know, the Waterloo Cup was held in Great Altcar, Lancashire on land owned by the second Earl of Sefton. Held over 3 days, 64 greyhounds competed in a knock-out competition. The first and last day were held at The Withins, with the second day at the Lydiate. This was wide, flat land with a hellishly cold wind coming from the Irish Sea. It didn’t matter how many layers you had on, that wind was insidious and could find the smallest gap to make you regret your life choices. I have vivid memories of being stood on the Public Bank (there are drainage dykes everywhere) drinking a shot of Tesco value (I’m talking blue and white stripes label here) whiskey which some bloke was walking around selling just to stay warm. Everyone would drop behind the bank to get out of the wind in between runs and then run back up to get a good vantage point. I’ve been to Mongolia in -15 and I still think the coldest I’ve ever been was at the Cup. 

The demise of modern society

The Waterloo Cup was so popular that one winner, Master M’Grath who had won 3 times in 4 years was taken to Windsor Castle at Queen Victoria’s behest. This is a far cry from the property damage of modern ‘hare coursers’. I can’t speak for everyone but I’ve had conversations with people who would have less of an issue with the poaching if it didn’t come with the damage, threats and violence that it seems to now. Maybe this is the disintegration of the modern race, where they’re too bone idle to get out and hunt on foot. Yes, it’s still illegal but at least the fields aren’t looking like a poorly held banger race afterwards. 

Quick trip to Ireland anyone?

As an artist hares are one of my favourite animals to draw. I live on the outskirts of Cheltenham now and the terrier and I see plenty of them when we’re out beating. I was 17 when the Hunting Act came into legislation and hunting animals with dogs has been illegal for most of my life. I do a considerable amount of beating each season around my day job and the art side hustle, but my first love will always be watching dogs work, whether thats hounds, terriers, lurchers or gun dogs. I’m very much toying with the idea of a trip over to Ireland next spring to watch the Clonmel Cup. Have I finally reached the age where I’m harking back to the days of my youth? Very probably yes. My next question to you.. do I fly or drive?