‘It’s A Bloodbath’

Away from the carefully choreographed media statements made by the British Field Sports Society (BFSS) in defence of this ‘sport’ League Against Cruel Sports undercover investigators discovered altogether more sinister sentiments among the crowd.

This is how one of them described what they witnessed and filmed:

It is inevitable that, in public, those defending this activity attempt to play down the number of hares killed and the manner in which they are killed. They also deny that the crowd derive any satisfaction from the kill.

For instance, claims were made by BFSS representatives that only 1 in 8 hares coursed would die and that, in any case, due to the dog/hare weight difference, the kill is instantaneous. Well, as I have learnt from personal experience whilst watching hare coursing, such claims do not tally with reality.

This year’s Waterloo Cup was certainly no exception.

I didn’t have to wait too long for the first example of ‘conservation-minded fieldsportsmen’ in full cry. Struck once by the leading dog the hare span round, got to her feet and run on. The dog, back on its feet, attacked her a second time and again she continued her struggle. Clearly weaker by now she was lunged at for a third time and grabbed across the back before being carried off. A lad with a ginger beard, wearing an orange Subbuteo top and grey woolly hat shouted ‘rip its f****n’ head off. I felt sick and couldn’t help thinking that the future look bleak for the hare with moronic thugs such as these pretending they have the hare’s interests at heart when, in truth, all they do care for is their so called ‘right’ to kill for kicks.

In another typical example of ‘how to maintain a healthy hare population’ both dogs, closing in, pounced on the hare and pinned her to the ground. Wriggling free she ran on and the coursing continued. Looking from my vantage point I could see her back end flapping and, indeed, as she ran back past I saw her rump was bloodstained. ‘So much for the notorious instant kill and hares escaping unharmed’, I thought.

Shortly before 2.15 p.m. I witnessed a sight I shall never forget. Coming onto the Withins, a hare, running at first, slowed to a walk before stopping and collapsing at the feet of an official. Picking her up, he unceremoniously wrung her neck before placing her body in a black plastic bin liner. ‘Did you see that? She just dropped dead’. The lads around me laughed incredulously and waited for another victim.

By now it was becoming clear to me that the hares were suffering considerably due to being forced to run in absolutely appalling weather conditions. The high winds, driving rain and waterlogged ‘arena’ made escape all the more difficult. Yet the coursing and killing continued. Furthermore, the number of hares that had a clear opportunity to escape at the end of the Withins, but turned and ran back the way they had come, inevitably stood every chance of being recoursed.

Furthermore, it was beginning to look very much the case that hares were not behaving as they would if they knew they lay of the land and places of safety.

Later that day comments made by a former hare courser on Talk Radio certainly seemed to give credence to my suspicion. Born in East Anglia, ‘Herbie’ denounced the Waterloo Cup as ‘murder’ and went on to say that, ‘those hares are brought into those fields, surrounded by people, they’ve got no idea where they are or where they are going to run…’

The claim of the ‘instant’ kill was not borne out by my observations. To suggest otherwise would make one a liar or at least in need of a good optician.

In short the Waterloo Cup has nothing to do with conservation and everything to do with making money out of animals’ misery. You can buy the T-shirt, the woolly hat and the book. You can even buy it on video and enjoy the hares’ torment in the comfort of your favourite chair. And don’t forget the considerable sums of money that exchange hands during the gambling that accompanies this tawdry spectacle.

The message from Altcar in 1997 is clear. If barbarity and the infliction of abominable cruelty upon a threatened wild mammal is your thing then you’ll have a great day out. If not, then for the sake of the hare, make sure your vote at the General Election supports a candidate opposed to this mindless thuggery and help the hare in its struggle for survival.

Eyewitness Report by Ryan, Wildlife Guardian, Issue 36 - Spring 1997