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Origin of Coursing Clubs

- Clubs then sprang into existence, the first of these in stitutions being located at Swaffham, in Norfolk, with Lord Orford as its founder.

There is a Swaffham Club at this present day, but it is only a recent namesake of the old association, though coursing over the very same ground. Coursing clubs quickly became the fashion, after the foundation of the Swaffham Club, and one of the earliest was Ashdown, in Berkshire, under the patronage of the then Earl of Craven. Successive owners of this incomparable coursing country have been actively identified with the sport, but the club long ago dropped out of existence, whilst the splendid open meetings which followed frequently lasting over a week-have at last dwindled away.

The numberless coursing clubs that at one time or other in the latter part of the last and in the present century were in existence, are, with very few exceptions, extinct.

Amongst the oldest yet living may be mentioned the Altcar Club, the Ridgway Club, the Scottish National Club, and the North of England Club. The Altcar Club, established in 1825 by the then Earl of Sefton, has all these years enjoyed the privilege of using the fine lands of the Sefton estates, near Liverpool, and the present peer, his father, and grandfather, were successively president. The Ridgway Club was founded some years later than the Altcar Club, and the membership of the two is at the present time, and has long been, identical. The ground coursed on is the splendid Clifton Hall estate, near Lytham, in Lancashire. The club owes its now his- [COURSING torical name to Mr. Thomas Ridgway, its first president. Of the Scottish National Club it need only be said that, having passed through many vicissitudes in consequence of loss of ground, it is now apparently firmly planted on the Kinmount estate in Dumfriesshire, through the kindness of Mr. Charles Brook, who takes an especial interest in its fortunes, although not a courser himself.

In Ireland, where the instinct of sport is naturally keen, many old and influential coursing clubs of times past are now forgotten, not to omit the open meetings which for many years were held over the historical Raughlan and Derrymacash meadows of the late Lord Lurgan in county Armagh, and attracted crowds of sportsmen from every corner of the kingdom.

SO Laws of Coursing. - Reverting to the laws that govern coursing, the old system of the Duke of Norfolk's time was pretty well done away with early in the present century; indeed, in 1828, the members of the Ashdown Park Club compiled a code of their own. Half a dozen years later a new set of rules was promulgated for general use by Mr. Thomas Thacker, who also introduced a yearly calendar of the sport. These latter rules were more or less in use until 1858, when it was universally agreed that coursing having become popular in England, Ireland, and Scotland, the time had arrived when an association should be founded for its government on some such lines as the Jockey Club, which controls racing. Accordingly a small committee, consisting of Mr. Edward Marjoribanks, Mr. W. G. Borron, and "Stonehenge" (of The Field) was deputed to draw up rules for the establishment of the National Coursing Club. The first president was appropriately Mr. Marjoribanks, and on his death he was worthily succeeded by the fourth Earl of Sefton, who was succeeded by his son. The National Coursing Club itself is composed of delegates from the different clubs, with a certain number of elective members. Meetings are periodically held during the year in London and Liverpool, whilst business matters and cases of complaint are dealt with by a standing committee. With the founding of the National Club, coursing was at length put upon business-like basis, as, though hitherto there had been rules for deciding the merits of the competing greyhounds' work, regulations for the mere conduct of a meeting had been almost unknown. As time rolled on the necessity for a systematic record of a greyhound's breeding and antecedents became most apparent, and in 1882 a After W. Frank Calderon.

COURSING.

THE TATE CENTRAL LIBRARY BRIXTON, S.W.

COURSING] the Greyhound Stud Book was instituted, by means of which it is, in many instances, possible to trace back the genealogy of an animal to the eighteenth century; but, most important of all, no greyhound can be registered without a pedigree, and no greyhound is qualified to run in public unless its name appears in the "Stud Book" [see STUD Books]. In these directions complete control has been acquired over coursing in the United Kingdom by the National Coursing Club, and it is a safe assertion that no field sport is more systematically conducted than is coursing at the present day.

The passing of the "Ground Game Act" in 1880 undoubtedly arrested the prosperity of coursing throughout the kingdom-indeed, in very many quarters it was feared that a crisis had come, and that the total extinction of the old pastime was but a question of a few years at the utmost. The effects of the measure were more especially and speedily felt in Scotland, meeting after meeting dropping out of existence through force of circumstance. A striking illustration of the extent to which coursing has fallen away over the Borders may be gathered from the fact that, whereas up to the year 1880 nearly a hundred days' running was customary during the six months' season, for years past no more than a dozen or fourteen days can be mustered.

In England and Ireland, however, the storm has been successfully weathered, and coursing farmers are strong enough in numbers to ensure a supply of hares for many a year to come, in co-operation, of course, with landed proprietors like Lord Sefton, Lord Kimberley, Lord Londonderry, Sir Charles Scarisbrick, Sir Richard Graham, Sir Thomas Gooch, Mr. Clifton, Mr. Birkbeck, and many others; while Scotland may still count upon the cordial assistance of Sir Robert Jardine, Bart., Mr. Edward Brook, and Mr. Charles Brook.

NATIONAL COURSING RULES.

CONSTITUTION AND BYE-LAWS, AND CODE OF RULES, AS REVISED AND ADOPTED BY THE NATIONAL COURSING CLUB, JUNE 28, 1893, WITH ALTERA- TIONS AND ADDITIONS UP TO FEBRUARY 15,1910.

CONSTITUTION AND BYE-LAWS. (a) The National Coursing Club shall be composed of Members elected by the Coursing Clubs of the United Kingdom of more than one year's standing, having not less than twenty-four Members each, and of Members elected as hereinafter provided. (b) No Coursing Club shall elect more than two representatives, the names and addresses of the representatives so elected to be sent to the Secretary of the National Coursing Club; and should any Club fail to hold a Coursing Meeting for two consecutive seasons, that Club shall cease to send representative members. (c) The National Coursing Club may elect as Members of the Club (the number of Members so elected not to exceed twenty-five) any wellknown supporters of public coursing, who have been proposed and seconded by two Members of the National Coursing Club, at either of the Club meetings held in London on the last Wednesday in June, or in Liverpool on the day of are entry for the Waterloo Cup.¹ Members elected by the National Coursing Club for five years, and are eligible for re-election. A month's notice must be given to the Secretary of the names of candidates for election to the National Coursing Club, with their addresses, and the names of their proposers and seconders, before they can come up for ballot. The election shall be by ballot, in which one black ball in seven shall exclude. If a quorum of Members be not present, then the election shall stand over till the next meeting of the National Coursing Club.

The Secretary shall insert in the notice of business to be transacted at the meetings of the National Coursing Club the name of any candidate for election, with his address, and the names of his proposer and seconder. (d) The National Coursing Club shall annually, on the day of entry for the Waterloo Cup, elect two of its members as President Treasurer, and two of its members as Auditors.

At all its meetings seven shall be the quorum.

The Standing Committee to appoint Secretary and Keeper of the Stud Book, at such remuneration as they from time to time shall decide. (e) Coursing Clubs desirous of joining the National Coursing Club must send evidence of their qualification to the Secretary. All clubs having joined the National Coursing Club, must subscribe £2 annually, and all Members elected by the National Coursing Club LI annually, to the funds of the National Coursing Club, payable on the Ist of January of each year to the Secretary of the National Coursing Club. No representatives of any Club which has not paid its subscription, and no members elected by the National Coursing Club, who have not paid their subscriptions on or before the day of entry for the Waterloo Cup, shall be allowed to attend the meeting of the National Coursing Club on that day. All Clubs, with their representatives, and all Members of the National Coursing Club whose subscriptions have not been paid on or before the first day of June in each year, shall cease to belong to the National Coursing Club. At the Summer Meeting, in each year, a statement of income and expenditure shall be submitted by the Treasurer and Secretary. (f) Every Coursing Meeting shall, unless the contrary be declared by the Programme of an Open Meeting or by Club Rules, be subject to all the Rules and Regulations of the National Coursing Club. Every question or matter in dispute connected with coursing can be brought before the National Coursing Club for its decision. (g) The affairs of the Club shall be administered by a Committee, called the Standing Committee, consisting of the President of the Club, and not less than seven members annually elected, of whom five only shall be eligible for re-election. Except as hereinafter provided, three members of the Standing Committee shall form a quorum, with full and absolute power to deal with all business under the Constitution and Byelaws, and Code of Rules of the Club. All business dealt with, including all complaints made to, heard before, and decided by, the Standing Committee, shall be reported annually to the Club 1 See Bye-law (1). meeting, held at Liverpcol, on the day of entry for the Waterloo Cup. The Standing Committee shall have power to appoint Sub-Committees to deal with Irish and Scottish business, other than complaints of discreditable conduct investigated under Rule 41 of the code of rules and bye-law (h). (h) The Standing Committee shall have full and absolute power to inquire into, and determine, all complaints of discreditable conduct investigated under Rule 41 of the Code of Rules of the National Coursing Club, and when such complaints are found to have been proved, to impose such penalty or penalties as may be authorised by the Constitution, Bye-laws, and Code of Rules of the National Coursing Club upon the offenders.

For the conduct of such investigations the Standing Committee shall consist of not less than five members, and if any person shall feel himself aggrieved by the decision of the Standing Committee, he may appeal against it to the members of the Club at its next meeting for the dispatch of business, held in Liverpool on the day of entry for the Waterloo Cup. Notice of appeal must be given by the person aggrieved to the Secretary within fifteen days of the date of the decision of the Standing Committee. The members of the Club attending the meeting shall re-hear the case, and may by a majority of at least two-thirds of those present confirm or vary the decision of the Standing Committee, as well as any penalty imposed under it; but if less than two-thirds vote to confirm, or vote to vary the decision, it shall be deemed to be rescinded and annulled by the Club. Before any complaint of discreditable conduct is investigated by the Standing Committee, the Secretary shall give notice to the person implicated of the time when, and place where, the Standing Committee will investigate such complaint, and if he appears in pursuance of such notice, shall give him an opportunity of being heard by himself and of calling evidence in his defence. Any person appealing from a decision of the Standing Committee shall have the same right of being heard by himself and of calling evidence in his defence on such appeal; but neither before the Standing Committee, nor at the meeting of the Club, shall any person be represented by solicitor or counsel. The decision of the Standing Committee is to be in force unless and until reversed by the National Coursing Club. (i) Every decision of the National Coursing Club shall be final, and the National Coursing Club may order that the expenses attending any case or matter in dispute brought before it, shall be borne by the parties interested as the National Coursing Club may direct. (j) The Secretary shall place on record in the minutes of the business of the National Coursing Club all complaints investigated by the Standing Committee under Rule 41 of the Code of Rules, and their decisions upon such complaints, and if no notice of appeal against any decision of the Standing Committee be lodged with the Secretary within fifteen days of its pronouncement, the Secretary, subject to the direction of the Standing Committee, shall be empowered to publish it in the "Greyhound Stud Book" and in the newspapers. The same right of publication, subject to the direction of the Standing Committee, shall exist in regard to complaints heard on appeal by the members of the National Coursing Club in Liverpool, on the day of entry for the Waterloo Cup, where the appellant has failed to obtain the rescission of the decision of the Standing Committee. (k) Except as hereinbefore provided under Bye-law (j), the Secretary shall place on record [COURSING in the minutes of the business of the National Coursing Club, and may forthwith send to the Keeper of the "Greyhound Stud Book," and make public, every question and matter in dispute brought before the National Coursing Club or the Standing Committee, with the decision arrived at. (1) Meetings for the despatch of business shall be held in London on the last Wednesday in June and first Wednesday in December, and in Liverpool on the day of the draw of the Altcar Club Meeting in November, and on the day of entry for the Waterloo Cup. The revision and alteration of rules can only be made, and the election of Members can only take place, at the Summer Meeting in London and at the Meeting in Liverpool on the day of entry for the Waterloo Cup. The Secretary, upon a requisition addressed to him in writing by any Three Stewards of a Meeting held under the National Coursing Club Rules, or by Six Public Coursers, Members of an established Coursing Club, may call a Special Meeting of the National Coursing Club at such time and place as the President may appoint.

NOTE. - A motion was adopted at the meeting of the Club, February 20th, 1900, that the meetings of the Club, other than the annual meeting on the day of entry for the Waterloo Cup [Bye-laws d and l], be left at the option of the Standing Committee. (m) A month's notice must be given to the Secretary of any business or proposed alteration of Rules before it can be discussed at an Ordinary Meeting of the National Coursing Club; and at a Special Meeting nothing but the special business for. which the meeting was called can be brought before it. (n) The Secretary of the National Coursing Club shall be allowed, subject to approval by the National Coursing Club at the Summer Meeting, all expenses incurred by him in connection with the National Club during the preceding year. (o) Every person who enters a dog at any meeting held under the Rules of the National Coursing Club submits himself to the Constitution, Bye-laws, and Code of Rules of the National Coursing Club, and to the jurisdiction of the Standing Committee, and of the Club, and consents to the publication of any matter or decision permitted under and governed by the Rules and Bye-laws of the Club. (p) Any person running a greyhound at an advertised meeting not under the bye-laws and rules of the National Coursing Club shall be disqualified from running a greyhound at any regular meeting during the pleasure of the Standing Committee, and every greyhound the registered property of such person shall in like manner be disqualified.

CODE OF RULES. 1. The Secretary and Stewards. For any proposed Open Meeting a Committee of not less than three shall be formed, who, with the Secretary, shall settle preliminaries. The management of the Meeting shall be entrusted to this Committee, in conjunction with Stewards, who shall be elected by the subscribers present at the first evening of the meeting. The Secretary, if honorary, shall be a member of the Committee and a Steward ex officio. The Stewards alone shall decide any disputed question by a majority of those present, subject to an appeal to the National Coursing Club. No Steward shall have a right to vote in any case relating to his own dogs. The Secretary shall declare, on or before the evening preceding the last day's running, how the prizes are to COURSING] be divided; and shall give a statement of expenses, if called upon to do so by any six of the subscribers, within fcurteen days after the meeting. No stakes shall be paid until fourteen days after the completion of a meeting; but all stakes must be paid within thirty days. 2. Ex Officio Stewards. - Members of the National Coursing Club present at any Coursing Meeting shall be ex officio Stewards of such Meeting, together with the Stewards elected by the subscribers present on the first evening of the meeting, provided always that such Stewards ex officio shall not exceed three. Members of the National Coursing Club may be elected by the subscribers as Stewards of a meeting. the 3. Election of Judge.--The Judge may either be appointed by the Secretary and Committee acting under Rule 1, in which case his name shall be announced simultaneously with the meeting, or elected by the votes of the subscribers taking nominations; but each subscriber shall have only one vote, whatever the number of his nominations. Not less than ten days' notice of the day of election shall be given to the subscribers, and the appointment shall be published at least a fortnight before the meeting. The names of the subscribers voting, with the votes given by them, shail be recorded in a book open to the inspection of the Stewards, who shall declare the number of votes for each Judge, if called upon to do so by any of the subscribers. When a Judge is prevented from attending or finishing a meeting, the Committee and the Stewards (if appointed) shall have the power of deciding what is to be done. 4 Description of Entry. Every subscriber to a stake must name his dog before the time fixed for closing the entry, giving the names (the running names if they had any) of the sire and dam of the dog entered. The Secretary shall publish on the cards the names of those who are subscribers, but do not comply with these conditions. These nominations shall not be drawn, but must be paid for. For Produce Stakes the names, pedigrees, ages, colours, and distinguishing marks of puppies shall be detailed in writing to the Secretary of a meeting at the time of the original entry in all Puppy Stakes, and a subscriber must, if required, state in writing to the Secretary, before or during the meeting for which such entry is made, the names and addresses of the parties who reared his puppies; and any puppy whose marks and pedigree shall be proved not to correspond with the entry given shall be disqualified, and the whole of its stakes or winnings forfeited. No greyhound is to be considered a puppy which was whelped before the first of January of the year preceding the commencement of the season of running. A sapling is a greyhound whelped on or after the Ist of January of the year in which the season of running commenced. 5. Registration. Every litter of Puppies shall within two months of the date of whelping be registered free of charge, with the names of the sire and dam, and the colour (subject to correction within six months of the date of whelping), sex, and number of the Puppies, under a penalty of fi A fee of five shillings shall also be paid for the Registration at the time of naming of each puppy not registered according to the above requirements. The Colours, Sex, Names,