Point to points are wonderful days out: as well as the racing, there’s the betting, the fairgrounds, the food, the hounds and of course the social life, to name but a few. All the great jump-racers have started off at their local point-to-point, so find out where your nearest is, support your local hunt and place some pennies on a future champion all at the same time.
Essential point-to-point gear includes a good pair of wellies, something in a glass to warm the cockles, a car that won’t get stuck in the mud (or a friendly farmer with a tractor), and a keen eye for a winner in the paddock. Buy a programme from local pony clubbers, find yourself a really good spot from where to watch the action and get stuck in (hopefully not literally, but it’s all part of the fun!)
A welcome addition to the point-to-point calendar is pony racing, which has gathered a huge following since it’s relatively recent inception. All those marked with a * include this exciting scurry to the finish line as fast as little legs can go. Saturday April 25 Berkeley, Woodford Fife, Balcormo Mains Four Burrow, Trebudannon Old Surrey, Burstow & West Kent, Penshurst* Pentyrch, Bonvilston* Teme Valley, Brampton Bryan Sunday April 26 Atherstone, Clifton-on-Dunsmore Axe Vale, Stafford Cross* Holcombe, Whittington* West Norfolk, Fakenham* York & Ainsty, Easingwold
Saturday May 2 Devon & Somerset Staghounds, Holnicote Llangeinor, Laleston* Modbury Harriers, Flete Park* Radnor & West Hereford (Day 1 of 2), Cold Harbour* Southdown & Eridge, Godstone*
Sunday May 3 Fernie, Dingley Lauderdale, Mosshouses* Pendle Forest & Craven, Heslaker* Radnor & West Hereford (Day 2 of 2), Cold Harbour
Bank Holiday Monday May 4 Banwen Miners, Pentreclwydau* Cambridgeshire with Enfield Chace, Northaw* Cotley, Cotley* Hursley Hambledon, Hackwood Park North Ledbury, Maisemore Park* North Shropshire, Eyton-on-Severn* Stevenstone, Vauterhill Warwickshire, Ashorne Zetland, Witton Castle
Saturday May 9 Bilsdale, Easingwold Cumberland, Aspatria Minehead Harriers & W Somerset, Holnicote* Surrey Union, Peper Harow Vale of Aylesbury with Garth and S Berks, Kingston Blount*
Sunday May 10 Melton Hunt Club, Garthorpe* Tredegar Farmers, Lower Machen Wheatland, Chaddesley Corbett*
Wednesday May 13 Weston & Banwell Harriers, Cothelstone*
Saturday May 16 Chiddingfold, Leconfield & Cowdray, Parham Dulverton West, Bratton Down* Golden Valley, Bredwardine South Durham, Mordon
Sunday May 17 Clifton-on-Teme, Upper Sapey* Grafton, Whitfield Haydon, Hexham* North West PtP Club, Tabley
Saturday May 23 Dulverton Farmers, Treborough Hill Gelligaer Farmers, Lower Machen Sir W W Wynn's, Bangor-on-Dee
Sunday May 24 Berks & Bucks Draghounds, Kingston Blount* Meynell & S Staffordshire, Garthorpe
Bank Holiday Monday May 25 Albrighton Woodland, Chaddesley Corbett Countryside Alliance Club (Wales), Bonvilston* South Tetcott, Upcott Cross
Saturday May 30 Exmoor, Bratton Down Harborough Race Club, Dingley
Sunday May 31 Border, Hexham Larkhill Racing Club, Larkhill*
Saturday June 6 Pembrokeshire, Trecoed
Sunday June 7 Tiverton Staghounds, Bratton Down
Sunday June 13 Torrington Farmers, Umberleigh
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A well-connected rural playground with 23 acres on the edge of the South Downs National ParkOld House Farm is an impressive family home with a wealth of amenities that would inspire any rural passion.
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The UK gets its first ‘European stork village’ — and it's in West SussexAlthough the mortality rate among white storks can be up to 90%, the future looks rosy for breeding pairs in southern England.
