Hunt supporters from across Wales and as far afield as the West Country turned out in their thousands on a fine Easter Monday afternoon for the annual Point to Point steeplechases at Lydstep.

The sport of steeplechasing was originated by hunting men who - almost two centuries ago - raced their hunters over natural country from 'point to point' or from one church steeple to the next.

During the 19th century, steeplechasing became more sophisticated with enclosed courses and professionally trained horses, many of which were thoroughbreds, but all must - as today - have qualified by following a hunt at some stage during the previous season.

For the past 50 years, some politicians and certain sections of the community have attempted to bring in legislation which would have effectively banned hunting in any form.

So far every bill that has been introduced has failed at some point, but the threat to hunting increases over the years, and with it, the question mark hanging over the future of Point to Pointing and also, to a certain extent, to National Hunt racing remains.

The Lydstep races - the largest sporting event of the year in Pembrokeshire - very efficiently organised by the South Pembrokeshire Hunt, attracted an all-time record crowd, all of whom enjoyed the truly great atmosphere of a splendid social occasion.

Cars were still pouring in at the gates at the start of the third race in which there were thrills aplenty and the inevitable mishap or casualty which is only to be expected in a very fast and exciting sport.

The race of the day, with certainly the closest finish, was the Ladies race, in which the winner was the in-form De Chelley, ridden by Charlotte Owen and jointly owned with her sister, Louise Meyrick. Two Irish bred runners were in very close contention.

Rather disappointing was the usually very popular Men's race, which only attracted three starters and was won by the favourite, the Tredegar Farmers qualifier Red Neck, superbly ridden by Tim Vaughan.

The bookies' nightmare was the Open Maiden handicap, run over a shortened course and won by the 20-1 outsider, Ian's Boy, recently acquired by Chris and Lorna Williams, trained locally and ridden by Hywel Evans.

Local interest is usually focused on the Hunt Members race, first on the card, which was this year comfortably won by Charles and Charlotte Owen's Beasley, ridden by Mark Barber, who had such an excellent season in the saddle last year. Second and third were Frances Goldsworthy and Mike Spuffard's Ribble Assembly and Fred Mathias's Irish bred All for Jake.

Officials: chairman - Eryl Llewellyn; clerk of the course - David John; starter - M. Eynon; judge - Gwyn Williams; secretary - Jan Mathias.

RESULTS

Full card results (and sponsors) were:

Hunt Members, Subscribers and Farmers (Owen & Owen, Pembroke Dock): 1. Beasley (Mark Barber) 7- 4 fav; 2. Ribble Assembly (Jason Cooke); 3. All for Jake (Dai Jones). Seven ran.

Open Maiden (Hunt's Bakery): 1. Ian's Boy (Hywel Evans) 20-1; 2. Wiston Wizo (Paul Sheldrake); 3. Clarice Starling (William Oakes). Fifteen ran.

Ladies Open (Starre Gorse Farm Caravan Park): 1. De Chelley (Charlotte Owen) 4-6 fav; 2. Ashfield Orchestra (Isabelle Tompsett); 3. Berkley Frontier (Emma Jones). Five ran.

Open Maiden over 2.5 miles (Welsh Game Fair): 1. Pam's Oak (Fiona Wilson) 5-2; 2. Dan's Blarney (Dai Jones); 3. The Lord's Cross (Mark Barber). Nine ran.

Men's Open (S. G. Mercedes): 1. Red Neck (Tim Vaughan) 1- 2 fav; 2. Calhoun (Joe Price); 3. It's All In The Air (Dai Jones). Three ran.

Intermediate (Greathead and Whitelock, Pembroke): 1. Home Again (Mark Lewis) 2- 1; 2. Rostock (Fiona Wilson); 3. Arctic King (Dai Jones). Five ran.

Restricted (Homeleigh Developments Ltd.): 1. Peter The Painter (James Tudor) 9- 4 fav; 2. Batchworth Lock (Tim Vaughan); 3. Daisy's Choice (Paul Sheldrake). Seven ran.

There is Point to Point racing again at Lydstep on Sunday, May 30, organised by the Carmarthenshire Hunt.