27 November 2010

on Riding : First Coursing Meet of Irish Wolfhounds

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from my collection,

captioned: The first coursing meeting in this country of Irish Wolfhounds took place on Wednesday near Amesbury (Wilts) Two of the dogs in the slips.

James and Florence Nagle were both very keen on animals being able to do the work they were bred for and he was a driving force behind the setting up of coursing meetings and the foundation of the Irish Wolfhound Coursing Club. The first coursing meeting was held near Amesbury, Wiltshire (the Nagle's home at the time) in February, 1925. .
"Mr. J. Nagle writes that he has some very interesting entries for the coursing meeting, and that several very well-known winners on the bench are to take part. Mrs. Southey is running Crewkerne Georgie (winner bitch challenge certificate at LKA) and another. Mrs. Beynon is running three or perhaps four. This is an interesting entry, as all her hounds have hunted big game in Kenya, and that good sportswoman is anxious to see how her hounds perform against the English-bred hounds. Lady Watson will probably run her hound, Sulhamstead Pedlar (the sire of Ch. F. Kilcullen). Pedlar is now in his sixth year, but kills hares regularly and will make some of the younger hounds gallop. The greatest support seems to come from the fair sex, and the entries by men are so far Mr. Nagle's Sulhamstead Thelma and the writer's Ch. Felixstowe Killcao.

"I know that Mr. Nagle has splendid and ample accommodation for the hounds that will take part, and that the air at Stourbridge is indeed very bracing, so that both owners and hounds should have an enjoyable outing. There are no fences or ditches, so that risk of injury is reduced to a minimum."

Another publication ran an article with several pictures, with the title "Irish Wolfhounds for Coursing: Some of the entrants for the forthcoming official meeting near Amesbury, Wiltshire. The idea of holding coursing meetings with Irish wolfhounds came some long time ago from Mr. James Nagle, of Amesbury in Wiltshire, and at last a meeting has been arranged to be held near Amesbury in January, under National Coursing Club rules. Support has been promised by many well-known breeders, and a good entry is expected. Mr. Nagle, who has had a very wide experience of these dogs, has found that they have plenty of speed, can outstay a greyhound over a long course and are only a little slower at killing. By reason of their great size the Irish wolfhound is probably the most powerful breed of dog in the world and Mr. James Nagle's famous Champion Felixstowe Kilcullen, a son of Lady Watson's Sulhamstead Pedlar, is of such giant proportions that he must be one of the largest dogs anywhere in the world. Although they are growing steadily in popularity here, wolfhounds are not in such great demand as in North America and such places where they are trained to combat the prairie wolves who prey upon the flocks. The projected meeting will be awaited with much interest."


All text linked- here

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6 comments:

  1. Reggie's sister, Camilla, has Scottish Deerhounds, which she takes coursing, and is very serious about such things. Reggie's pug, Pompey, is not inclined to pursue such activities, in the slightest, and the very thought of coursing with him fills Reggie with amusement. Reggie is enjoying this series of posts, m'dear, and notes that they are but yet another reason why he checks in with you daily, to see where you will take him, as he knows it will be interesting, to say the least, and often to an unexpected place.

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  2. Reggie darling, Pompeii would give you the slip no doubt.Now I think my Zet would do well as she has a bit of the hound (sometimes of the Conan Doyle type) She goes out about 11 to midnight and riles up the neighborhood dogs and shudders that anyone should be out on any night! Come along RD and bring Pompeii always with you.

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  3. As I write, my Russian Wolfhound is doing her best to avoid the concept of leaving her sofa for anything more than a nibble of left over turkey.
    Her single coursing moment was met with a roll of those big eyes which clearly asked to be taken home for more of what she truly does best: lounging on a stack of velvet pillows.

    I'm so enjoying these beautiful vintage photos.
    More please.

    judith

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  4. I have so enjoyed your latest posts on hunting and the pups associated with them.
    Lovely images, espescially the riding along the shore.What a sunrise that would have been.
    Thank you for taking us along on your pictorial reminisque.
    I so appreciate a good horse and hound tale.
    L.

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  5. Little A...I have always admired the Irish Wolfhound, but as my husband and I are (what we like to call) fine pony stock in a world full of stallions, our two Parson Russells will have to do. They regularly take down rabbits, snakes, and my female has 5 squirrel notches on her belt....They would love to be friends with the Wolfhounds.Thank you for the post...I love learning...and always do when I visit you...K

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  6. Judith-to my mind that is The perfect attitude to adopt. I do love the breed.

    La Maison- so glad, I do have some more that I will continue perhaps at the end of this week or over the weekend- of this sort and some great old circus images.

    Kathy, they do know what is what those Russells, My Zet is part jack russell and hound- the height of the hound and the sturdy build of the jr. Were she left to her own devices outside she would surely catch a squirrel. They loiter outside the fencing and in the morning she slinks out and makes a mad dash scattering them all. She loves it!

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