THE CARMARTHENSHIRE HUNT CLUB held their Point-to-Point meeting at Trecoed in Pembrokeshire last Sunday (May 14) when an appreciative crowd enjoyed good racing on a sunny, but blustery, day.
Event organiser, Annette Kemp, was keen to point out that the Hunt Club had decided to go it alone after a number of years of joint meetings. “Since 2010 we had joined with other local hunts,” she said. “However, it was mutually agreed that we should go it alone this year and, fortunately, the day was a brilliant success.”
“We had made numerous enquiries and inspected a couple of potential venues within Carmarthenshire but they were not suitable to hold a meeting of this size. Thankfully the Pembrokeshire Hunt offered us use of their Trecoed course which we were grateful to accept.”
Kemp added: “With 93 entries for our seven races we hoped to pull in a large crowd and we were not disappointed.”
The day got off to a strange start when the Hunt Members’ Race was won by Lorcan Williams on Desertmore View, which was the only horse to finish.
The second race was The Jockey Club Open Maiden for Mares and Fillies which proved to be far more competitive as Conor Orr on Mountain of Angels just got the better of Which Sky.
The Maiden Race for Horses and Geldings, which had nineteen entries, was won by James Bowen riding Fateh which had been a well fancied pre-race favourite.
However, the race was not without its drama as Matthew Barber on the Irish trained Peddlers Lake took a tumble after the third fence. Racing was then delayed by ninety minutes as he was transported to the nearby Withybush Hospital. Fortunately he had suffered no serious injuries even after having been trampled by most of the horses which had been following him.
When racing did resume the fourth race on the card, The Men’s Open was an easy canter for James Bowen on Universal Soldier.
Then came The Ladies Race in which Spencer Moon ridden by Jodie Hughes won by four lengths. The penultimate race, The Restricted, with Bradley Gibbs up, won by a neck which was the tightest margin of the day.
The meeting finished with what was probably the highlight of the card; the PPORA Club Members Race for Veteran and Novice Riders. It was eventually won by Teenage Kicks which was owned and ridden by Steph Rogers.
Annette Kemp was delighted that the meeting went off so well. “It was a fabulous team effort by Hunt members and supporters. The attendance was way above what we expected, no doubt, in part, to a fine and warm day. Roll on next year.”
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