28 COURSING 



surprise — brought out for the fifth year in succession, and 

 though he got through one course, his first display clearly 

 showed that he was not the old Fullerton, but a decidedly 

 deteriorated greyhound. Flashes of his former prowess were 

 visible both in the course he won, and again when he was 

 beaten by Full Captain, but it was nevertheless evident that he 

 had lost a great deal of his fire, that his pace was not what it 

 had been, and also that his stamina was nothing like so pro- 

 nounced as in earlier days. 



At the same time it can be truly urged that Fullerton 

 struggled gamely under difficulties, and had he killed his hare 

 early in his first course, instead of merely flecking it, he might 

 once more have gone far down the stake. As a matter of fact, 

 however, the hare stood up marvellously after her lucky escape, 

 and Fullerton was fairly pumped out when his opponent killed. 

 The first part of the course had been all in favour of Fullerton, 

 so that although Castlemartin scored the final points, the old 

 dog deservedly gained the award. In the second round 

 Fullerton's opponent was Full Captain by Millersdale out of 

 Dear Eleanor, and the latter had also been rather hard run in 

 his first course, but had got off more lightly than Fullerton. 

 The pair seemed to be about equally matched for pace, for 

 though Fullerton scored the turn, he had a slight inside, and 

 Full Captain had shown in front as long as they were running 

 straight. Fullerton also scored a second point, and then after 

 an exchange or two fell into a drain. He joined issue again, 

 but was being beaten when he came down heavily, leaving Full 

 Captain to bring off the kill and secure the verdict. After- 

 wards it was found that Fullerton's knee was a good deal 

 bruised and swollen, but whether he wrenched it when the 

 course was in progress or when he fell will of course never be 

 known. 



Increasing years had probably a good deal to do with 

 Fullerton's defeat, but it must be stated in defence of the dog 

 that he had, previously to this defeat, been sent to the stud and 

 found wanting. That Fullerton was unable to perpetuate his 



