Lure Coursing

Lure coursing at Kuraby is an organised dog sport run by the Queensland Lure Coursing Association at Wally Tate Park on Brisbane's southside. A stationary machine pulls a plastic lure along a rope threaded through low pulleys across a large sporting field, and dogs chase it flat out. It is the closest thing to a legal greyhound race for any breed, and it burns energy like nothing else.

The rules

All breeds and crossbreeds are welcome, not just sighthounds, provided your dog is fit and sound. Official point-scoring runs start at 12 months of age, with puppy and trial runs available from 6 months. Non-members are generally welcome at a couple of trial meetings before joining the club. Bring proof of current vaccinations to sign-in for your first meet. On the field, handlers and spectators need closed-in shoes, and dogs waiting their turn must stay leashed and under control near the running line and pulleys.

Max: the danger is not the run, it is the wait. Keep your dog leashed and calm near the pulleys, and walk the field with the crew before your first go.

What a meet looks like

Sign-in runs early, typically 8 to 8:30am, with puppy and trial runs before official racing starts. A field crew walks new owners through safety and field care, and water stations are set out so dogs can cool down between runs. Book online ahead of time because pre-registration is preferred and on-the-day entries can miss out on grading. The club occasionally runs events at alternate locations, so confirm the field on the event listing before you drive.

Getting there and parking

Wally Tate Park sits in Kuraby, reachable off the Gateway Motorway via Compton Road, and Kuraby station on the Beenleigh line is close by if you would rather walk in. Parking is on site or on surrounding streets, and it tightens up on weekend mornings when local sport is on at the same grounds.

Worth knowing

Early weekend mornings are the peak, so arrive for the first sessions to beat the queue. The field can hold water and turn soft after rain, so check ground conditions before committing. Bring your own water bowl as well, since one run is usually enough to send a keen dog to the shade.

While you're out there

For a slower off-lead session, Wally Tate Park Fenced Dog Park is the same precinct's everyday fenced run, and Nathan Road Park Fenced Dog Park at Runcorn adds separate big and small dog sections a few minutes away.

More options are on the Queensland dog parks guide and the Kuraby destination page.