Meet suspended

THE 91st meeting of Wexford & District Coursing Club has ben suspended following the confirmed cases of Rabbit Haemorrhagic Disease (RHD) found in the wild.

The suspension of coursing licences also led to both New Ross and Enniscorthy also having to forego their annual coursing meetings.

Wexford & District Coursing Club secretary Des McCabe has confirmed that the club’s annual meeting has been suspended.

‘Owing to the rabbit disease our Christmas meeting has been suspended. A diseased hare was found on the Sloblands which confirmed the decision. We hope to be fully back for next year,’ he said.

The highly contagious disease does not affect humans, but is fatal to rabbits and hares. Hares have been confirmed in County Wexford, Co. Wicklow and Co. Clare. There were confirmed cases of RHD in domesticated rabbits in Ireland last year, but this is the first time it has been confirmed in the wild.

RHD causes death within a few days and an affectred animal will show signs of swollen eyelids, partial paralysis and bleeding from the eyes and mouth.

This is the first time for Wexford & District Coursing Club to lose out on a full meeting which is disappointing to members, owners and trainers, as it always attracted quality coursing in all its Stakes.

The Loch Garman Cup is one of the most prestigious stakes on the coursing calendar, but McCabe is confident they will be back fully next year.

‘Hopefully we will be back with a full meeting next year,’ added McCabe.