Hare coursing is very much a sport. Apart from it's ancient Irish heritage, right back to Irish mythology; it is one of the few country sports in which the Royals and the lowest commoner took part on an equal footing.
It involves a large cross section of a rural community, from the trapping of hares to course, the training, keeping and ecercising of hounds, the preparation of the Course, notwithstanding all the added economic and social advantages associated with a "countryside" event.
Remember, very few hares are killed in modern coursing events; there are strict and ever present rules regarding the release of coursed hares and their recapture for further coursing in the same season, and there are exacting welfare and animal health regulations, strictly enforced.
A basic fact is that by virtue of having "countryside sports" the countryside, it's flora and fauna are protected by the very persons who take part in countryside sports. When these sports are banned, become almost extinct, or worse, go underground there is little interest in preservation of the countryside, and the welfare issues are impossible to regulate. It is the worst of all events.
It is a sign of a small minded political party, (and seriously small minded they are ) motivated by urban based opinions about rural life, who just by luck find themselves with power over their larger partner by feeding their partner's lust to remain in power, that one of their principal demands is to try to end rural pursuits.
Be of no doubt, if they continue to get their way we will see an end to most rural pursuits, and even fishing with a rod and line. That is before they go on to more insane policies, taxing cattle because of their carbon emissions and the like!
It is not strange when considering hare coursing, their oposition to Hunting in general, we are seeing with the Greens the
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