Irish Coursing Club, Clonmel

Dodgykeeper

Was hoping to go down in Feb to cover the national Coursing meeting, anybody ever go, any ideas about accreditation etc....

magicbastarder

i'd wonder if the coursing club would be wary about press or photographer attention; they're the sort of group who attract a lot of attention they probably don't welcome, so they may be wary of requests to photograph without referral.

Ricky91t

magicbastarder wrote: »

i'd wonder if the coursing club would be wary about press or photographer attention; they're the sort of group who attract a lot of attention they probably don't welcome, so they may be wary of requests to photograph without referral.

I'd have to plus one this, I was planning to do this before and someone I know advised me against it due to the above problems.

nilhg

I can't see that there'd be a huge problem if you ring the ICC well in advance and tell them what you're about.

I don't know if you've ever been to Clonmel but if it's just the last day you were planning on going it'll be fairly packed and it'll be hard to get any decent shots of the dogs coursing the hare. I very much doubt if you'll be allowed on the field itself so you'd be stuck in the crowd on the rails and you'd need a long lens, not the easiest situation to get decent shots.


As for the ICC being wary of allowing photographers in, there are always plenty there, and you'll see plenty of shots in the papers. It's also completely open to the public, anyone can pay their money and walk in if they want to see what happens.

Mountainsandh

If you've a good telephoto lens, I think you can see the tracks from up the new M&S roof carpark .
Not too sure, if they've moved it or what, not one for the dogs myself, but I think that's whhat I spotted once from up the carpark.

City-Exile

Doubt you'd have a problem, DK.
There's always shots in the papers from Coursing.
It might be frowned upon, but they're not breaking the law.
Can't see them being afraid of press.

TippFan77

Not sure about the present situation, butI remember all those "unauthorised photography strictly prohibited" signs at coursing events in the 80s and 90s. Photographers had their cameras confiscated and even press photographers were thrown out of grounds on occasion.

It's important to bear in mind that this is a controversial activity involving deliberate cruelty to animals, which is why it's banned in Britain, Australia etc, and most recently Northern Ireland.

Coursing clubs make their own highly censored films of events for viewing in pubs, get-togethers, U tube etc (no maulings or tossings shown), but can be a bit paranoid about footage or snaps that might show up their "sport" in a negative light.

PCPhoto

would also be interested in covering this - if its going to be on at a weekend (any update on if there is any on over the coming weeks)

gsxr1

TippFan77 wrote: »

Not sure about the present situation, butI remember all those "unauthorised photography strictly prohibited" signs at coursing events in the 80s and 90s. Photographers had their cameras confiscated and even press photographers were thrown out of grounds on occasion.

It's important to bear in mind that this is a controversial activity involving deliberate cruelty to animals, which is why it's banned in Britain, Australia etc, and most recently Northern Ireland.

Coursing clubs make their own highly censored films of events for viewing in pubs, get-togethers, U tube etc (no maulings or tossings shown), but can be a bit paranoid about footage or snaps that might show up their "sport" in a negative light.

Really. Who give anyone the right to confiscate . Is it the Garda. There would be worse cruelty if some lad put a finger on my gear. Its like my baby

nilhg

PCPhoto wrote: »

would also be interested in covering this - if its going to be on at a weekend (any update on if there is any on over the coming weeks)

Fixtures are here, it's mostly open meetings left (the meeting takes place out in open fields, the hare can go anywhere she wants when the dogs are slipped), though the 2 biggest park meetings of the year are still to happen, Clonmel starts tomorrow and the Irish Cup meeting in Limerick at the end of the month.

tennisplayer

gsxr1 wrote: »

Really. Who give anyone the right to confiscate . Is it the Garda. There would be worse cruelty if some lad put a finger on my gear. Its like my baby

No its not the Gardai, I would say you wouldn't have a "snowballs chance in hell" if they decided to confiscate your gear.

pixbyjohn

Coursing protest in Clonmel
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/94835
ooops last years link.....sorry

Borderfox

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z00_ZiTx5C4

charybdis

My, what a classy "sport".

tennisplayer wrote: »

No its not the Gardai, I would say you wouldn't have a "snowballs chance in hell" if they decided to confiscate your gear.

You mean "steal"; "if they decided to steal your gear".

mrboswell

Photographs regularly appear in the ppai entries so I don't think there is that much of an issue with it.

I'd say the only real objections would come from the hare!

TippFan77

tennisplayer wrote: »

No its not the Gardai, I would say you wouldn't have a "snowballs chance in hell" if they decided to confiscate your gear.

If you look up the "Greyhound Knowledge Forum" you'll find a posting from high profile coursing fan Yvonne Harrington under the heading "Attention!" She warns that all photographers must have permission to film the action in Clonmel etc.

Dodgykeeper

Rang them over a week ago, very very cagey on the phone sent them a mail and have not heard a word since, with the meet starting tomorrow its not looking good...

Cranky Mc Funhouse

I think it's more to do with flash photography distracting the dogs.

Dodgykeeper

Cranky Mc Funhouse wrote: »

I think it's more to do with flash photography distracting the dogs.

I would never use a flash, maybe I should call back!

nilhg

Was I the only boardsie there? I only had my phone and only took one picture




Only posting it so anyone thinking of going in future would heva an idea what to expect. Hard to see from that shot but you are quite a distance from the dogs and hare.

BTW, saw plenty of folks with DSLR's there, mostly with normal lenses doing crowd/people shots.

pullandbang

I've been there before and it's as boring as horse racing.
You're always going to be too far from the action unless you have a decent telephoto and an unrestricted view. You'd probably have more fun with a nifty fifty taking pics of some of the characters in the crowd.