Report from Devon and Somerset Staghounds Point to Point meeting held at Holnicote on 5^th May 2007. 

 

I was pleased we were early at this meeting as the car parking arrangements had been changed from the previous meetings and we found ourselves in a different location on the racecourse, but nevertheless good viewing was still available and we settled in without having to cause the wrath of the car parking staff.  This rearrangement was due to the fact that re-seeding was necessary due to the damage caused when the rain fairly destroyed the fields used previously for car parking.  Thanks must be passed on to those responsible for the course as it was really good considering no rain has come in quantity since the first meeting was washed away.  The racing surface was in fact 'good' and would provide fast racing today. 

 

The first jockey we met was also from Cornwall and would be taking part in the second of the Pony races.  Ruth revived 13 year old Nicola (Woodley) from St Austell with a good slice of her boiled fruit cake as Nicola was terribly hungry and the breakfast tent was not quite ready even for a lady jockey who would be riding LITTLE EQUUS in the maiden 14.2 hh race.  The eleven year old bay then went on to win the best turned out prize as well as coming third in his race.  Well done Nicola the North Cornwall Pony club will be pleased with your sterling effort.

 

Unfortunately runners were in short supply for the main races and only 28 turned up, spread over nine races but this did not deter from the competitive nature of the fields.

 

Ryan Bliss had a very successful day bringing in three winners and clocking up his fifty mark whilst Darren Edwards also enjoyed success with three winners.  Diana Hobbs was the other winner, who took the Confined race on the family's MOUNSEY CASTLE in fine style coming home well clear of Merv Woodward on SPINNING SILVER.

 

I cannot close before reporting that both tin and bag had a very very successful day with both receptacles finishing the day brimming full.  I had five winners including one in the Pony races and topped it off with a winner at Huntingdon in their final race and the bag profited by investing in three winners. Great!

 

Apologies for this short report but we are on holiday and I think the Results page will suffice with detail for the time being as we go out and enjoy some beautiful walks on Exmoor but not until we get in the Stevenstone meeting at Vauterhill on Monday - BE THERE!

 

Fred and Ruth