Waterloo sunset
Shooting Times & Country|May 06, 2020
Now illegal under the Hunting Act, hare coursing has a rich history, from the Romans up to the Blair government, says Sir Johnny Scott
Sir Johnny Scott
Waterloo sunset

Sometime during the first century AD, continental brown hares were introduced to Britain as being stronger and more suitable for coursing than the indigenous mountain hare. Every wealthy Roman Briton, particularly landowners with their extensive estates, aspired to owning several leashes of vertigo — greyhounds — and coursing had developed into social occasions, with owners traveling considerable distances to match their dogs against those of others. When a hare was sighted and given a decent head start, the vertigo was unleashed simultaneously and the one closest to the hare before it escaped was judged the winner.

Such was the popularity of match coursing that, early in the second century, the Roman historian Arrian recorded the rules: “Whoever courses with greyhounds should neither slip them near the hare, nor more than a brace at a time… The true sportsman does not take out his dogs to destroy the hares, but for the sake of the course and the contest between the dogs and the hares, and is glad if the hares escape.”

Sport of pharaohs

The ethos of match coursing, where the object was not to kill the hare but a competition between two of the fastest breed of dog and the fastest land mammal, was already many centuries old. The Romans adopted coursing from the Gauls, but greyhounds and coursing date back to the pharaohs.

There are frequent historical references to greyhounds and hare coursing over the following millennia, both in art and literature, but the next time the rules were written in detail was during the 16th century.

Denne historien er fra May 06, 2020-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

Denne historien er fra May 06, 2020-utgaven av Shooting Times & Country.

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA SHOOTING TIMES & COUNTRYSe alt
United we stand
Shooting Times & Country

United we stand

Following United Utilities' decision to end grouse shooting on its land, Lindsay Waddell asks what will happen if we ignore our vital moors

time-read
5 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Serious matters
Shooting Times & Country

Serious matters

An old gamebook prompts a contemplation on punt-gunning

time-read
3 mins  |
August 02, 2023
They're not always as easy as they seem
Shooting Times & Country

They're not always as easy as they seem

While coneys of the furry variety don't pose a problem for Blue Zulu, he's left frustrated once again by bolting bunnies of the clay sort

time-read
5 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Debutant gundogs
Shooting Times & Country

Debutant gundogs

There's lots to think about when it comes to making the decision about when to introduce your dog to shooting

time-read
4 mins  |
August 02, 2023
When the going gets rough
Shooting Times & Country

When the going gets rough

Al Gabriel returns to the West London Shooting School to brush up on his rough shooting technique

time-read
5 mins  |
August 02, 2023
The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition
Shooting Times & Country

The Field Guide To British Deer - BDS 60th Anniversary Edition

In this excerpt from the 60th anniversary edition of the BDS's Field Guide To British Deer, Charles Smith-Jones considers the noise they make

time-read
4 mins  |
August 02, 2023
A step too far?
Shooting Times & Country

A step too far?

Simon Garnham wonders whether a new dog, a new gun and two different fields in need of protection might have been asking too much for one afternoon's work

time-read
6 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Two bucks before breakfast
Shooting Times & Country

Two bucks before breakfast

A journey from old South London to rural Hertfordshire to stalk muntjac suggests that the two aren't as far detached as they might seem

time-read
6 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Stalking Diary
Shooting Times & Country

Stalking Diary

Stalkers can be a sentimental bunch, and they often carry a huge attachment to their hill

time-read
2 mins  |
August 02, 2023
Gamekeeper
Shooting Times & Country

Gamekeeper

Alan Edwards believes unique, private experiences can help keepers become more competent and passionate custodians of the countryside

time-read
3 mins  |
August 02, 2023