REPORT AND PICS BY MEYRICK BROWN

The season of point to point steeplechases opened in fine style on Easter Monday with the localities biggest outdoor sporting event of the year, the South Pembrokeshire Hunt meeting over the excellent left handed Lydstep course.

With going rated as good to soft, the course, first opened in 1948, is slightly undulating and almost square with two particularly tight bends which, some consider, do not suit big long-striding horses. The two downhill fences can also prove to be demanding.

Enjoying a brilliant sunny afternoon and a temperature in excess of 20 degrees, the huge crowd of supporters enjoying a family day out, many travelling well over 100 miles, saw several very exciting races with a minimal of mishaps to horses and riders.

Mr. Hugh Harrison Allen, who has a long association with the event, likened the day to that of 1983 when the organisers reported a record attendance.

Another question being asked, not least by one of the clerks of the course, David (D.R.) John, was when did the Ladies Race last see as many as seven riders? It was in this race that local owner, M. Douglas-Brown, who had never previously owned a horse, saw his nine-year-old bay gelding, Highly Unlikely, romp home under Charlotte Evans.

From a total of 85 original entries, local jockey, John Mathias, riding over his 'favourite' course had a couple of winners and there were also good results for other experienced owners and riders from the immediate locality.

Race results:

Members (sponsored by Owen & Owen, Chartered Surveyors) - 1. Harsy Cord (John Mathias); 2. Lydstep Hill (C. Edwards); 3. Seondeok (Jodie Hughes).

Open Maiden over 2.5 miles (Castlemorris Feeds) - 1. Star Rise (Matthew Barber); 2. Moontripper (Brian Moorcroft); 3. Boost the Power (Nick Williams).

Ladies Open (Bay Tree Restaurant and Four Seasons Farm Shop and Florist) - 1. Highly Unlikely (Charlotte Evans); 2. Findlay's Find (Helen Lewis); 3. Kisha King (E. Nicholas).

Open Maiden over three miles (Ungoed-Thomas & King) - 1. Mister Bricolage (Jodie Hughes); 2. Brideberry (Matthew Barber); 3. Lucy Lane (Brian Moorcroft).

Men's Open (NFU Mutual, W. P. Lewis & Son and Whitewell Holiday Park) - 1. Sir Du Bearn (Peter Bryan); 2. Rosie's Peacock (John Mathias); 3. Anger Management (Evan David).

Intermediate(Welsh Game Fair) - 1. Desertmore View (John Mathias). One finished.

Restricted (Peter Graham's Big Brum) - 1. Dunraven Royal (Bradley Gibbs); 2. Dream Bolt (W. Maskell); 3. Hunky Dorey R Patrick).

Two pony races (sponsored by Starre Gorse Caravan Park and Robin Williams, Farrier) each over seven furlongs, completed the card.

Further point to point meetings over the Lydstep course include the joint Tivyside and Carmarthenshire Hunts on Sunday, April 26, and that of the West Wales Area Club on Sunday, May 24.