Dog Sports – Lure Coursing

This month we showcase the Queenslandd Sighthound Association Inc and the American Staffordshire Terrier Club Of Qld Inc Annual Winter Coursing Carnival at Lowood Showgrounds on the first weekend of June 2021.

– Nic Mather

Lure Coursing is a performance event developed in the early 70’s by Lyle Gillette and other California sighthound fanciers who hunted jackrabbits in the open field, which risked harm caused by barbed wire fencing. They invented Lure Coursing as a safer, more controlled sport for sighthounds that would recreate the physical requirements of open field coursing, allowing them to continue testing the functional abilities of their sighthounds. The hounds chase plastic bags on a course laid out to simulate escaping game. Lure coursing is a sport for dogs that involves chasing a mechanically operated lure.

In Australia, all dogs are eligible to compete in Lure Coursing as long as the dog is registered with the ANKC and the owner is a member of the member body in their state.

Dogs are separated into two main categories: Pedigree Registered Sighthounds and All Other Breeds. For the purpose of Lure Coursing in Australia, the Basenji and Rhodesian Ridgeback are considered Sighthounds.

The lure used in Australia is white plastic bags, tied to a cord which travels as a continuous loop around a field via pulleys and driven by a motor. The purpose of the lure and course, is to imitate a rabbit/hare running in a field.

Lure Coursing is a wonderful sport for fit and healthy dogs who love to run. It is not a sport suited to all breeds of dogs (ie: some brachycephalic and giant breeds may not be a good fit for the sport).

Lure Coursing is a sport based purely on instinct and your dog’s ability to hunt using their sight.

As a handler, your duty is to make sure you’re strong enough to walk your dog out on a lead and that you’ve trained the dog to have good enough recall to come back at the end.

The renovation of the field at Durack and COVID hit Lure Coursing with a massive blow in 2020, however the sport is bouncing back with the Queensland Sighthound Association Inc holding three trials in October 2020 (the first of which was their 50th ANKC Lure Coursing Trial and the first in Australia to be officially held under lights!). Several training days were also held by the Brisbane Lure Coursing Club Inc in the second half of 2020.

Unfortunately, a few days after celebrating their 50th ANKC Lure Coursing Trial, the sport lost a legend when “Badger” (Neut Ch. vFCh. Wildhare Simply Scherzando SC [IMP USA]) gained his wings. Badger had extensive experience Lure Coursing whilst in the USA and was able to be used at the “experienced dog” required in a Qualifying Course to allow Sighthounds to run in the Open Stream. Sometimes Badger could run up to six times at a trial, but that didn’t phase him. It just simply made his smile even bigger.

A photo of Badger Lure Coursing, was actually the front cover of the very first edition of the Dog World as we know it today (see below).

“Badger’s Bunny Buddy” was created in memory of Badger and his gigantic Lure Coursing smile with the winner of 2020 being “Spud” (Greyhound [Unnamed Qiady]) who competed in his very first ANKC Lure Coursing Trial at the 50th trial for the Queensland Sighthound Association Inc.

The Queensland Sighthound Association Inc and the American Staffordshire Terrier Club of Queensland Inc held their annual Winter Coursing Carnival at Lowood Showgrounds on the first weekend of June. The overall winners for the weekend were “Pretzel” (Alarves Gotcha For Life) – Top Sighthound (via countback to “Spud” [Unnamed Qiady]) and “Enzo” (Rizenstar Never Let Me Go JC (AI) – Top Coursing Ability (by one point to “Dollar” [Ch. Ravensnite Betya Bottom Dollar CA]). Both clubs were extremely thankful to Lowood Show Society for allowing them to use their grounds for the weekend and Bay City Pet Travel for their extremely generous sponsorship of the event.

There are currently four clubs holding ANKC Lure Coursing Trials in South East Queensland:

• Queensland Sighthound Association Inc • American Staffordshire Terrier Club of Queensland Inc • Brisbane Lure Coursing Club Inc • Whippet Club of Queensland If you want to have a try at Lure Coursing with your dog, check out “Dogs QLD Lure Coursing” on Facebook to see trial dates and upcoming trials/training days and enter your dog in the Novice class.

INFORMATION ON LURE COURSING

If you want to have a try at Lure Coursing with your dog, check out “Dogs QLD Lure Coursing” on Facebook to see trial dates and upcoming trials / training days and enter your dog in the Novice class.

For further information on the sport, contact Dogs Queensland on 3252 2661 or email info@dogsqueensland.org.au.

‘SPUD’ – winner of the Badger’s Bunny Buddy 2020 and runner up on countback to ‘Pretzel’ for Winter Coursing Carnival ‘PRETZEL’ – winner of the Winter Coursing Carnival (Sighthound)

‘REBEL’