Clarissa gets on course for dog race day

TELEVISION cook Clarissa Dickson Wright has entered a greyhound in the UK’s last major hare coursing event, it was revealed today.

The East Lothian-based chef, who is famous for starring in the hit TV cookery series Two Fat Ladies, will pit her hound against 63 other runners including that of ex-footballer turned actor Vinnie Jones.

Both have runners in the controversial 157th Waterloo Cup, which takes place next week. Animal rights campaigners, who claim the sport is cruel and should be banned, will be protesting at the event. Coursing enthusiasts say the idea of the sport is not to kill the hare but to test the speed and agility of the dogs.Charles Blanning, secretary of the National Coursing Club, confirmed that Ms Wright and Mr Jones had entered dogs in the event.

He said: "There are 64 runners in the event and Mr Jones and Ms Dickson-Wright are among the owners."

More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the three-day Waterloo Cup in Altcar, Lancashire, which starts on Tuesday.