By Meyrick Brown

THE organisers of the South Pembrokeshire Hunt Point to Point Steeplechases at Lydstep on Easter Monday were absolutely delighted with the attendance, believed to be an all time record.

The racing followers flocked in from late morning, some having travelled considerable distances, and the day proved very pleasant although a little chilly.

The going was considered good to firm and the whole card produced very little in the way of serious mishaps to the horses and their riders.

The keenest race of many on the day was the Open Maiden for seven-year-olds and over, which produced ten runners and was won by The Doc, a bay gelding owned by Mr de Lisle Wells and trained locally by Nathan Deakin.

There was also an exceptionally close finish in the other section of the Open Maiden where Irish bred horses both trained locally by Amber Mathias – Chasin Casey and Robin Des People – were virtually separated by a whisker.

The Ladies race also produced a close finish and was won for the Four Season’s Partnership with the 11-year-old Highly Unlikely trained and ridden by Charlotte Evans.

The race card included glowing tributes to the late John Russell, Point to Point Secretary from 1963-1982 and to John James who had also played a major role in the growing success of this popular annual event.

Results:

Members Race (sponsored by Owen & Owen Chartered Surveyors) – 1, Glenteeneasaigh (B I James) 5 – 4f; 2, Luke’s Hill (T David); 3, Gentleman Jeff (E Maskell). 5 ran.

Open Maiden for 7 year olds and over (Castlemorris Equestrian and Pets) – 1, The Doc (P Bryan) 8 – 1); 2, The Boss on the Hill (T Dawson); 3, Earth Tremor (S Rogers). 10 ran.

Open Maiden unrestricted (Ungoed – Thomas & King Solicitors) – 1, Chasin Casey (B Jones) 3 – 1; 2, Robin Des People (B Gibbs); 3, Milathlete (E Maskell). 9 ran.

Ladies Open (Lydstep Beach Village and Starre Gorse Farm Holiday & Caravan Park) – 1, Highly Unlikely (C Evans) 5 – 2; 2, Buck Mulligan (I Williams); 3, Force of Habit (A Lewis). 4 ran.

Men’s Open (NFU Mutual Pembroke, Whitewell Holiday Park and the Sun Inn/T-Cars) – 1, Universal Soldier (J Bowen) 4 – 5f; 2, North George (B Moorcroft); 3, Itchymei’mscratch (T David). 5 ran.

Intermediate (Connolly’s Red Mills) – 1, Tinker’s Hill Tommy (B Moorcroft) 5 – 4; 2, Carry On Nando (S Whittal); 3, Blazing Tom (J Bowen). 6 ran.

Restricted (Big Brum’s Superstore, Pembroke Dock and Milford Haven) – 1, Minella Arts (T David) 4 – 1; 2, Gone Platinum (W Maskell); 3, Manhattren Mead (B I James). 7 ran.

The card concluded with two pony races sponsored by C W Horseboxes and Robin Williams Farrier respectively.