Go point-to-pointing this Easter

Easter weekend is traditionally one of the busiest of the season for point-to-point meetings with 16 fixtures scheduled to take place across the country over the coming bank holiday weekend.

The Essex & Suffolk's meeting at Higham in Suffolk takes place on Good Friday with six meetings taking place on Saturday, 16th April. A further nine fixtures throughout the length of the country are scheduled for Easter Monday from the Four Burrow's meeting in the west of Cornwall up to the Tynedale at Corbridge in Northumberland.

With dozens of volunteers required to ensure the success of every fixture which takes place, attending your local point-to-point at any time throughout the season is not only an opportunity to watch some great racing and enjoy the social aspect of the day, but it is also a way of showing your support for those hunts which work tirelessly to put on their meeting.

Point-to-pointing can be where superstars – both equine and human – begin their careers. Recent Aintree winner Ahoy Senor was victorious in a point-to-point at Kimble before being sold to run under Rules, whilst the recently-retired Grand National-winning jockey Sam Waley-Cohen, who won the world's most famous race on his final ride last Saturday (9th April) has been a regular on the point-to-pointing circuit for 20 years.
The sport's leading female jockey, Gina Andrews, fresh from her win over the Grand National fences on Latenightpass in the Foxhunter's Chase at Aintree last Thursday (7th April) is expected to be in action again over the weekend.

For those who have never been to one before, a point-to-point is a form of amateur horse racing which takes place over fences held at a variety of point-to-point racecourses throughout the UK. It's a great day out in the countryside where people come together to enjoy the sport and to socialise, providing the perfect opportunity to watch thrilling racing over a picnic with friends and friends. All courses have a bar, catering and toilets, with many also having trade stands and children's entertainment too.

Details of the Easter weekend's fixtures can be found below – click on the meeting to see the racecard for each meeting.

Friday 15th April
Essex & Suffolk at Higham, Suffolk

Saturday 16th April
Dartmoor Foxhounds at Flete Park Races, Devon
Glamorgan at Bonvilston, South Glamorgan
Kimblewick at Kimble, Bucks
North Staffordshire at Sandon, Staffs
Pytchley with Woodland at Dingley, Northants
Worcestershire at Chaddesley Corbett, Worcs

Monday 18th April
Aldington Races at Aldington, Kent
Cresselly (formerly South Pembrokeshire) at Lydstep, Dyfed
Four Burrow at Trebudannon, Cornwall
North Cotswold at Paxford, Glos
North Shropshire at Eyton-on-Severn, Glos
Old Berkshire at Lockinge, Oxfordshire
South Notts at Thorpe Lodge, Notts
Taunton Vale Foxhounds & Taunton Vale Harriers at Cothelstone, Somerset
Tynedale at Corbridge, Northumberland

PLEASE NOTE – the Ashford Valley Tickham meeting due to be held on Saturday 16th April at Charing has been abandoned.

For full details, click here.

Image credit; Tim Holt