148 Modern Hogs. 



Swaffham (Norfolk) Coursing Club, the earliest of its 

 kind, and contemporary writers tell us this was the 

 turning point in the popularity of the pastime. In 

 1798, the club numbered twenty-four members, there 

 being one vacancy, and in addition there were a 

 lady patroness, the Marchioness of Townsend ; 

 vice patroness, Countess of Cholmondeley ; assistant 

 vice patroness, Mrs. Coke, and one honorary member, 

 the Earl of Montraith. Following Swaffham in 1780 

 the Ashdown Park Meeting was established by Lord 

 Craven, Lord Sefton, and Lord Ashbrook, and this 

 exists at the present time, and is by far the oldest 

 established coursing meeting we possess. The 

 Altcar Club, established in 1825, and the Ridgway 

 Club, in 1828, still amongst the leading meetings 

 of the year, are well supported, and appear to have 

 a long and useful existence in front of them. 

 Swaffham was resuscitated on more than one 

 occasion, and in 1892 a meeting was held there. 

 Other old fixtures that may be mentioned are Malton, 

 in 1781; Louth, 1806; Newmarket, 1805; Mid- 

 lothian, 1811; Ardrossan, established a few years 

 later, and, although there is no specific date given, 

 the keeper of the " Stud Book " believes that the 

 Biggar meeting was in existence prior to the present 

 century, but, like many other of the early gatherings, 

 it has long been discontinued. 



