news

ICC Information Portal

Later this month the ICC will be launching an Information Portal on the ICC website to facilitate the sharing of news items. This is a ‘members only’ service and is intended to impart information in a timely manner and also to assist in engaging with members efficiently when time sensitive information needs to shared.

Membership of the Information Portal will be free but members must be verified/approved by their local club. To this end we recently contacted the Media Officers appointed by each club, asking them to collate the necessary details for each member of their club wishing to access the Information Portal and to return this data to the ICC by June 18^th (although more names can be added as they come on stream). This information will not be shared with third parties and member details will only be used to impart information from the ICC.

[Please note this is totally separate from the ordinary membership of the ICC website whereby individuals pay €50 annually to access draws etc. Existing members of the ICC website will have to register for the Information Portal and be verified by their Club Media Officer the same as everyone else.]

From June 20^th a member can log onto wwww.irishcoursingclub.ie and register to become a member of the ICC Information Portal. You will be asked to select the name of your Club from a drop-down list. However, membership will not be activated until such time as your name is cross-checked with the verification list submitted by your Club Media Officer.

Step 1: Inform the Media Officer at your local club that you wish to register as a member of the ICC Information Portal (before June 18^th if possible)

Step 2: The Club Media Officer sends the list of verified Club Members to the ICC (first list of names to be received by June 18^th if possible and thereafter whenever a Club Member requests verification).

Step 3: From June 20^th you can go to www.irishcoursingclub.ie and register online to become a member of the ICC Information Portal.

Step 4: Within 72 hours or as soon thereafter, the ICC will cross-check your name against the verification list submitted by your Club Media Officer. If your name appears on this list your membership of the Information Portal will be activated and you will be able to log-in. Should your name not appear on the list submitted by the Club Media Officer or if no list has been submitted, the ICC will undertake to contact the Club Media Officer to resolve the situation. If there continues to be a problem with verification the ICC will contact you directly by e-mail.

Illegal Hunting

ICC Launch Illegal Hunting Reporting Tool – REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING IN YOUR AREA

To further enhance the protection of the Irish hare from illegal hunting, the ICC is asking coursing clubs and the coursing public to report such incidences via the new ICC reporting tool on the ICC website (under Coursing drop-down menu). The native Irish hare is a protected species under the Wildlife Act 1976-2018, the Opens Seasons Order 2005 and the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013. The act of illegal hunting is unlawful and should be reported to the Gardaí and the NPWS, as they possess the powers of prosecution for such acts. As part of all coursing clubs’ role as guardian of the native Irish Hare, it is important to log all incidents of illegal hunting. It is important that if you witness illegal hunting that you do not engage with the transgressors and that immediate contact is made with the Gardaí and NPWS rangers in your area. Familiarise yourself with the type of necessary information that will assist with a prosecution by visiting the reporting tool link on the ICC website. Your personal details will not be shared with any third party without your express permission. The ICC may contact you to follow up on the incident and related matters.
The ICC Reporting Tool has been designed to gather the facts on each incident of illegal hunting and it is possible to upload images if available also.

How to complete the Reporting Tool: Simply click on the tab: REPORT ILLEGAL HUNTING and proceed as instructed to complete all details.
Once completed please click the SUBMIT link to upload your incident report and you will receive a receipt email to let you know it is lodged with the ICC.

Breeders Covid Scheme 2021

Breeders of coursing litters for the 2022/23 coursing season will receive a Covid-19 financial support package in the sum of €350 per litter earmarked at puppy stage subject to meeting eligibility criteria (see below).

The scheme is open to breeders that complete an application form (available now to download from ICC website – Go to ICC Forms on bottom left of Home page) and forward same with the litter declaration form within 14 days of whelping. (Please note the previous scheme which waived the litter declaration fee and mating cert fee is now expired).

Breeders of litters already whelped and registered since January 1st 2021 will also receive the Covid-19 breeder support payment, subject to meeting eligibility criteria (see below) and on completion of the application form (available now to download from ICC website – Go to ICC Forms on bottom left of Home page)

Eligibility criteria includes the mating of a recognised coursing bred bitch to a recognised coursing bred stud dog, the mating of a recognised coursing bred bitch to a recognised track bred stud dog and the mating of a recognised track bred bitch to a recognised coursing bred stud dog. Pups must be whelped no later than September 30th 2021.

In the event of clarification being sought on a particular mating in terms of eligibility for the support, a decision once provided is full and final with no right of appeal.

In the event that you are unable to download & print an application form from the ICC website please email eugene@sportingpress.ie with your name & address to have a form posted out to you).

Derby / Oaks 2019 whelps

In addition to a 64 Derby and 64 Oaks for 2020 whelps, as previously announced a 64 Derby and 64 Oaks for 2019 whelps is also planned for Powerstown Park at the National Meeting of 2022. Greyhounds that have won trial stakes during the 2020/21 coursing season stand qualified. All 2019 whelps that have not qualified during the 2020/21 season will have a further opportunity during the 2021/22 coursing season to qualify to ensure a full complement of runners.

In the event of a 2019 whelped greyhound qualifying for the National Meeting in 2022, and subsequently competes successfully in all age events during the 2021/22 coursing season, that qualifier is only eligible to compete in the Derby and Oaks for 2019 whelps and not in the Champion Dog or Bitch events to be held at the 2022 National Meeting.

The details of qualifier events will be settled and agreed with host clubs in advance of the commencement of the 2021/22 coursing season.

Our photo shows Pakie & David Hogan with Tromora Danny, first Derby qualifier of the 2020/21 season at Liscannor and which will hopefully have the opportunity to participate in the Derby for 2019 whelps at the 2022 National Meeting.

Extension to Membership

Due to the brevity of the 2020/21 coursing season it has been agreed to extend the membership period for all those who paid the €50 fee between 1st April 2020 and 31st January 2021 to become members of the ICC website. The new renewal date for all those members will be 31st March 2022 which means you will be able to access the draws, results etc for the 2021/22 season at no extra cost. We would advise you to make a note of your log-in details (Username & Password) as it can be very easy to forget same during a period of inactivity. We will remind you of all this again anyhow in early September. Thank you for your support.

ICC Statement January 24th

Following the High Court decision of Ms Justice Hyland today, the ICC has announced that the balance of the 2020/21 coursing season is concluded. The Judge, in her decision, referred to the strong arguable case in terms of lack of consultation and that the ICC has met the requisite standard in terms of obligations to give reasons as part of a Judicial Review hearing yet to be heard.
The Executive Committee of the ICC acknowledge the support and hard work of its constituent clubs, its greyhound owners, breeders, trainers and sponsors during this season. The Executive is cognisant of the lack of opportunity afforded coursing greyhounds, in what has been a very truncated season within a limited season. As a consequence of such lost opportunity, the Executive decided that it will hold a Derby and Oaks next season for 2019 whelps that have won a trial stake this season with additional qualifiers to reach the required number of entries to stage the event at the National Meeting in 2022.

The Licensing Committee is appointed by the Executive Committee to deal with all licensing issues for the forthcoming season and it has commenced that process.

While we all deal with the current situation, I can assure everyone that every effort is being made in preparing for a successful commencement of the 2021/22 coursing season and this is the focus of the Executive and its Sub-Committees over the coming weeks and months ahead.

DJ Histon

Jan 14th update from ICC

At call over this morning (14/01/21), Mr Justice Meenan has set Tuesday January 19 for hearing of ICC injunction.

D.J. Histon

ICC Registrations Office

Due to current Covid 19 restrictions the ICC offices at Davis Road, Clonmel are closed to the public. Registrations documents received by post or dropped in the letterbox will be dealt with as normal.

Telephone calls (Ring 052 6188503) will only be answered between 9am and 12.30pm every day, Monday to Friday incl.

Due to staff rotation there may be some delay in responding to emails (carmel@sportingpress.ie)

Matter will be reviewed after 29th January, 2021

Please note the list of Registration Fees is available to view by clicking on this link https://irishcoursingclub.ie/fees/

Jan 8th update from ICC

Last Monday, the ICC was granted leave to take judicial review proceedings concerning the delisting of coursing from SI 695/2020 on Christmas Eve 2020. The matter was before the High Court today, Friday 8th, to set a schedule for the hearing of the injunction, whereby the ICC’s Senior Counsel reiterated the urgency of the matter given the time remaining in the current season. Mr Justice Sanfey has put the matter in for mention next Tuesday (January 12) and a hearing date will be set at this time.

D.J. Histon

Thanks for your Support

The ICC executive wish to acknowledge the continued support from our members at the current time.It is hugely encouraging, with respect to the recent funding initiative, to see the desire of our members to provide ring-fenced financial support to the executive in respect of its ongoing and future legal and strategic endeavours. This financial support is much appreciated and shows the genuineness, decency and resilience of the coursing community.

The ICC executive would like to thank the organisers who took an idea and quickly executed a plan to successfully bring this initiative to fruition.

The ICC executive would especially like to express thanks to everyone for their positive contributions to date.

Ní neart go cur le chéile.