[point-to-point-racing/2022/meynell-south-staffs-garthorpe-1jun22" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Photos of the Meynell & South Staffs meeting]
The Meynell & South Staffs brought the curtain down on possibly their longest season ever with an evening meeting at Garthorpe to take advantage of the start of the extended Jubilee weekend. The going was good after a refreshing amount of rain in the run-up and the six-race card was bookended by local winners for long term supporters in the form of the Bevin family and Nick and Laura Pomfrets.
In between the results went the other way entirely, with a treble going to Luke Price and James King, taking the latter four winners clear of Will Biddick in the National Jockey Championship.
Before all that we had four pony races to start the evening.
The first was a race for those who hadn't qualified for the championship races which followed and after an unfortunate false start which saw three ponies expend a lot of valuable energy, it was 16-year-old Billy Louchnane and Annie R U OK who were victorious.
After this we moved on to races which were championship finals, the culmination of a whole season of point-to-point course qualifiers, very generously sponsored by Treehouse Sporting Colours.
Garthorpe" class="wp-image-22644"/>The first was for Novice riders on mixed height ponies and this produced a remarkable turnaround. When the starter brought down their flag the grey Tincho was facing in the wrong direction and lost a considerable amount of distance on the leaders. 10-year-old jockey Harley Blackwood navigated the pair back to the field and picked off the opposition one-by-one until a furlong to go when they eased in front of the last two to the cheers of onlookers.
A tearful but delighted Blackwood then jumped on Africa to compete in the next race, the 138cms Open Championship but this time it was 12-year-old Albert Man and Bombay Moonstone who won after a good finish with Myla Coppins, riding Maesteg Ruth, with Gil Holman and Tigga in third behind them.
The 148cm Open Championship went to Rosie Cooke on her 8-year-old bay mare Follow The Fox. Second place went to Eliza McPherson and She's A Lady, and third to Follow The Star under some very familiar colours worn by Jude Brace. We saw some really tidy race riding in these pony races and hope that as many as possible of these talented young riders continue to race when they move up onto horses.
The first horse race of the evening turned up a bit of a surprise when William and Louise Bevin's Wayupinthebox got up to lead at the start of the final straight and held on well to beat the odds-on favourite Roevin Star (Henry Crow) into second by half a length, with Direct Flight (Will Biddick) twelve lengths behind in third. Wayupinthebox's victory was perhaps even more remarkable when we consider that it was touch and go as to whether the twelve-year-old gelding would ever race again after a hoof injury was picked up on a day's hunting, which he will now go back to enjoying in his retirement.
Garthorpe" class="wp-image-22646"/>The next three races were dominated by the Luke Price stable and Champion Jockey elect James King, who scored a treble in little over an hour.
The first of these was the PPORA Club Members Conditions, a match race between Lords Park Star (Paddy Barlow), hoping to provide another local winner for Nick and Laura Pomfret, and Spencer Moon. the talented pointer bought at Exeter Sale for £500, looking for his fifth consecutive winner. Not your typically cagey match race, Lords Park Star led this one for much of the race and wasn't really out of touch until turning back onto the final straight, when Spencer Moon showed his class and won with ease.
The Intermediate race which followed was a quick and one-sided affair as odds-on favourite Captain Mc overpowered a rather indolent Beauvallon Bay (Tom Chatfeild-Roberts) to win in an impressive time of 6m 10s despite carrying an extra 5lb.
There was no time for post-race interviews as James King was quickly legged-up onto the next Luke Price contender, Jack Dillinger in the Mixed Open. This time favourite status belonged to multiple course winner Badbad Leroy Brown, looking to make up for an unfortunate fall at the last when set to win here at the Melton Hunt Club meeting. The Alan Hill-trained Tidal Flow (Ben Sutton) made much of the running in this quick race, but faded with three to jump, leaving Kilbrew Boy (Charlie Case), Badbad Leroy Brown (Zac Baker) and Jack Dillinger (James King) to battle it out. King's mount went on to win by 15 lengths leaving Kilbrew Boy and Badbad Leroy Brown to battle it out and finish a length apart in that order.
Garthorpe" class="wp-image-22647"/>The Novice Rider Conditions Series has been popular all season, always providing good fields and some excellent performances from young jockeys and more established horses. This meeting's race produced one of the fastest times of the day as Commanche Red romped home by ten lengths under Freddie Gordon, beating favourite Ballydonagh Boy (Rosie Howarth) into second and Stay Out Of Court (Jessica Smith) in third. "He was a good horse under rules, but lost his way" trainer Jenny Gordon told me, "but we nearly didn't make it today after we had a blow out on the M1!" In the end a long trip from Hampshire was worthwhile.
Garthorpe" class="wp-image-22649"/>It was fitting that the last race of the season was won by local trainers and long-term supporters of point-to-point racing in the area, Nick and Laura Pomfret. Nick is one of the unsung heroes who helps to erect and move the extensive irrigation system at Garthorpe which enables racing at this time of year to take place on such good ground. They have two horses in training, the first of which, Lords Park Star, ran earlier in the card for a creditable second place. The other is Courtly Love which won the 2m 4f Maiden race under Paddy Barlow - giving him a double on the card - in fine fashion, making all the running. Lord Daresbury's Huriel was second and Bite My Tongue (J. W. Stevenson) was in third place.
We will update this website with dates for next season as soon as we have them confirmed - several fixtures have opted to move to very different dates so this will be a different looking season next year.
There will be another of our popular Midlands Region PRA/PC Pony Racing Training Days on 13th February 2022.
It will be held at North Lodge, Barrowby, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England, NG32 1DH by kind permission of the Bealby family.
The children will take part in a number of different sessions including both riding and non-riding exercises, teaching them about balance and fitness required for pony racing.
If all goes well and they are happy to do so, they will ride on the gallops. If the instructors are satisfied they are safe and in control of their pony, they will be qualified to ride in PRA and Pony Club Pony Races in 2022.
These days are designed for children with their own pony or access to a pony that they can race which they will bring to the day.
Jockeys without a pony, please see our Youth Training Scheme information.
Entry Details
Approximate timings: arrive 9am for a 9.30am Start.
This is a day of tuition in pony racing which can qualify the combination of pony and rider for Point-to-Point Pony Races and Pony Club Pony Race Days in 2022. It costs £30 per jockey/pony combination and includes ridden and non-ridden sessions.
Timings are TBC and will be confirmed by email nearer the time.
There is no catering on site. Please be sure to bring refreshments with you.
A guide to the day AND tack list is available on the Training Day page of this website. Ponies will need an overgirth and neck strap. They MUST also be microchipped AND be fully vaccinated against Equine Influenza. Please see our Rules & Regulations for Vaccine Requirements. In line with BHA rules, we are moving towards boosters for Equine Influenza every 6 months.
Please note that this booster must be more than 6 days before the Training Day which means that if you vaccinate on a Monday, you are not clear to attend a PRA event until the following Monday. Passports will be checked and ponies not complying will sadly not be allowed to take part.
Please be sure to enter your pony using the registered name on their passport.
Entries close up to 1 week before the day or when full.
Spaces are strictly limited and early booking is advised.
For further information and with any questions, please email verity@ponyracingauthority.co.uk or telephone 07887 541571.
Treehouse Sporting Colours have agreed to support PtP Pony Racing during the 2020 season and will be supporting the Rider Championships and the Championship Finals. The season kicks off at the Heythrop point-to-point at Cocklebarrow, on Sunday 26th January and runs through until the last fixture of the season on Saturday 13th June, the Torrington Farmers at Umberleigh in the Devon & Cornwall Area. All in all, there are sixty-nine point-to-point pony racing fixtures due to be staged. Points will be awarded for all wins and placings.
The Point to Point National Pony Racing Championships will once again be held at the Meynell and South Staffs Point to Point at Garthorpe on Saturday 6th June.
There is also a Midlands Area Leading Rider award for the rider residing in the Midlands Area who has gained the most points.
The 2020 Point-to-Point Pony Racing Planner is a must-have publication for everyone wishing to take part in point-to-point pony races this season and is issued to all PRA members or available from Mrs Lucy Felton.
Pony racing is designed to encourage children aged nine to sixteen into racing competitively, with races held across two height categories (138cms & under and 148cms & under). All point-to-point pony racing fixtures are kindly hosted by the organising committees of those Hunts / Clubs who stage point-to-point racing and run in conjunction with the sport’s governing body, the Pony Racing Authority (PRA). Since the sport became regulated in 2004, more than 150 riders have graduated onto horses both between the flags and under Rules, with many more also working within the horseracing industry.
Pony racing is a great opportunity for young children from a variety of backgrounds to have the chance to experience the thrill of riding in a race. It’s lovely to see teenagers coming through and making their mark in the professional ranks, and going into other areas in the racing industry too. We wish all those taking part this season the very best of luck.
Lucy Felton, a Director of the PRA and who oversees point-to-point pony racing, said: “The generous sponsorship provided by, Treehouse Sporting Colours means we are able to put on a superb programme of point-to-point pony racing. The PRA is widening its reach to new riders – with training programmes designed for children who have little or no experience of ponies, and are therefore creating more opportunities for them to be able to get involved and ultimately have a go.”
Keen pony racing jockeys attended a rally with former professional jockey Andrew Tinkler at Chris Bealby's yard this weekend.
After time on the simulator the jockeys were saddled and sent out into the school and then on to the circular gallop to hone their skills.
We have a Pony Racing Training Day arranged for Sunday 28th October, at North Lodge, Barrowby, Grantham, by kind invitation of Mr and Mrs Chris Bealby.
If you fancy giving Pony Racing a whirl or need to qualify for the coming season please click the link below. This training day is beneficial for children interested in all disciplines. It teaches a balanced seat, and how to ride safely, as well as being great fun!
http://www.ponyracingauthority.co.uk/race/pra-pc-training-day-midlands-2/
Click the youtube link to watch a Training Day,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tw0tF3lvMSI#action=share
PRA/PC Training Day – Sunday 28th October
These are a joint training initiative run by the Pony Racing Authority and the Pony Club.
Experienced Pony Club Instructors teach alongside BHA accredited Jockey Coaches and provide the best possible introduction to pony racing. These days not only allow children to ride their own pony in a controlled environment and on the gallops but also provide an insight into balance and control in a forward seat with the simple use of wobble boards, space hoppers and stepping stones, running alongside the use of traditional racing equipment such as an equicisor.
In addition to riding tuition, the training programme includes advice on rider and pony fitness and nutrition, tack guidance and race day procedures and etiquette. These days qualify the combination of the Pony and Rider to compete in a Pony Club or Point-to-Point Pony Race.
The day consists of 3 sessions in the morning – one ridden and 2 dismounted. Then the children will all have an opportunity to ride on the gallops in the afternoon.
The day will be taken by a Pony Club instructor supported by a BHA Jockey Coach. The aim of the day is to have fun whilst learning about pony racing.
By kind permission of Chris Bealby, North Lodge Racing, Barrowby, Grantham, Lincolnshire NG32 1DH.
A day of tuition for pony racing which will qualify the combination of pony and rider for Point-to-Point pony races and Pony Club pony race days in 2019.
All ponies MUST have up to date vaccinations.
For further enquiries please email clarissa@ponyracingauthority.co.uk
Calling all Pony Racers.
The Pytchley Point-to-Point at Guilsborough on Sunday 15th April is holding Pony Racing. Entries close; 8pm Sunday 8th April ONLINE at www.ponyracingauthority.co.uk
148cms TREEHOUSE SPORTING COLOURS Novice Rider Race, For riders who as of the 1st January 2018 have not won any pony race and who have never taken part in the Summer Racecourse Series. For ponies measuring 148 cms & under which have not been placed 1st-2nd since January 2016 in any race. Shouls and eligible combination win or be placed during the current season in any race, the above conditions will not apply. If the combination wins two qualifying races within the series, they will not be able to enter any more than the finals.
There is also a 128cm and under Open Race and a 148cm and under Open Race.
The Midlands Area has Pony Racing at the Fernie Point-to-Point at Dingley on Sunday May 6th and the Melton Hunt Club Point-to-Point at Garthorpe on Sunday May 13th.
For more information contact secretary@midlandspointing.com
Photo credit and copyright Rose Rodgers Photography, all rights reserved.
What an achievement for Midlands Area Pony Racers - Millie Parrington and Nia Kerslake to reach the Charles Owen Pony Racing Finals, held today - 14th October, on the Rowley Mile course at Newmarket.
We are equally proud of Violet Barton and Henry Main for taking part in the Charles Owen (Race Course Summer Series), although they did not attend the final today.
All three of them started off at Garthorpe on 'Hairy Hunting' type ponies a couple of years ago, and through enjoyment, hard work and alot of support from their parents are testament to the fun and camaraderie of Pony Racing.
We look forward to seeing Nia making a debut in the Point-to-Point ranks in 2018, and all the Pony Racers in the coming season.
Midlands Pointing hosts Pony Racing at Guilsborough, Dingley and Garthorpe in 2018 - Further details will be posted at a later date.
Image of Millie Parrington - Please feel free to send us any others!