Thousands gather for annual hare coursing event

Tipperary will become the Mecca for hare coursing fans during the next three days.

The 82nd annual Irish Championships meeting in Clonmel will draw 30,000 fans and generate €18m for the local economy.

Thousands of spectators from Britain, continental Europe and the US will pack Powerstown Park, which has hosted the annual showpiece since 1925.

The venue will stage the Oaks and Derby competitions, each of which has a winners’ prize fund of €35,000.

Jerry Desmond, who has been Irish Coursing Club chief for 20 years, said the weather may provide a minor worry.

“We’re expecting some frost which will harden the ground. However it should burn off by mid-morning and not affect the running too badly.”

“Betting patterns have pointed to Newry-trained dog Wizard as the favourite for the Derby and local competitor, Quality And Gold for the Oaks,” he added.

Former Republic of Ireland football international, Niall Quinn will have a dog running in the Oaks as will film star Vinnie Jones.

Quinn, who has Co Tipperary roots, also co-owns The Local Bar in Clonmel.

Irish sports minister, John O’Donoghue is also a coursing supporter and is due to attend.

It is not yet clear if animal rights activists will picket the event.

The famous Powerstown Park course has been used for horse racing since the early 1800s and the first coursing meeting was held in 1925.

The venue is considered more difficult than most because of the famous ’Powerstown Hill’ which slows down weaker greyhounds.

A pool of about 200 hares will be used during the event. Each ‘course’ is run between two greyhounds and the fastest to the hare qualifies for the next round.

Hare coursing was banned in the UK in 2005 which resulted in an increased influx of British to Irish events.