A chill easterly wind blowing across the course, coupled with a temperature of just three degrees above freezing during the morning, failed to deter a huge crowd of point to point enthusiasts from attending the regular Easter Monday event at Lydstep on April 1 - they also drew a measure of consolation from the fact that the Bank Holiday next year will be a full three weeks later!

With the Monmouthshire chase called off on the previous Saturday, there was added enthusiasm from owners and riders for supporting this South Pembrokeshire Hunt meeting.

Despite a week of overnight frosts, ground conditions along the course were firm and some excellent racing was seen, with a number of exceptionally close finishes, not least in the Ladies' Race where popular local riders Lucy Jones and Charlotte Evans had the crowd on tenterhooks.

Early arrivals had already seen Charlotte successfully ride Mrs. D. H. Mathias's 1- 2 on favourite, the nine-year-old US-bred bay gelding Lydstep Hills and local qualifier to success, before Lucy spurred home Wyn Morris's 11-year-old Irish bred chestnut, Fair Point, at 11-4 in the Ladies'.

Owner David Brace claimed both divisions of the Open Maidens with his bay geldings, the seven-year-old Irish-bred Respectueux under James Tudor and the four-year-old Dbobe with Alan Biggs on board.

There was also noteable successes for an up-and-coming young Pembrokeshire rider, Alan Johns, who gained a place in four of races on the card.

It was a fair day also for the punters who obtained reasonable odds throughout but best of all for those who stayed to see No More Whispers win the last race on the card at generous odds of 20-1.

Through the continued support of his widow, Mrs. Margaret Lewis, the meeting retained the support of the late Mr. Stuart Lewis, of Vauxhall agents, W. P. Lewis and Son. It was said that Stuart had been a great devotee to the community and he had long enjoyed supporting the excellent work that the South Pembrokeshire Hunt each year put into making the day extremely enjoyable for all.

To complete an entertaining programme, three exciting pony races were run at the end of the afternoon.

Also a timely reminder that there will be another full card of point to point steeplechasing at Lydstep next Sunday with a West Wales Area club meeting commencing at 2 pm.

Results

Members (sponsored by Owen and Owen Chartered Surveyors) - 1. Lydstep Hills (C. Evans) 1-2f; 2. Dewi (D. Poke); 3. Hocinail (R. Bockhart). Four ran.

Maiden, Division I (Castlemorris Feeds) - 1. Respectueux (J. Tudor) 7-4f; 2. Putiacca Bella (R. Leyshon); 3. Mizen Mix (W. Maskill). Eight ran.

Maiden, Division II (Dunraven Stud) - 1. Dbobe (A. Biggs) 9-2; 2. Drombeg West (A. Johns); 3. Easily Pleased (J. Tudor). Eight ran.

Ladies Open (Ungoed-Thomas and King Ltd) - 1. Fair Point (L. Jones) 11-4; 2. Pathian Prince (C. Evans); 3. Lady Myfanwy (H. Lewis). Seven ran.

Open Maiden (Peter 'Big Brum' Graham) - 1. Always Archie (P. Gibbs) 6-1; 2. Mishay (A. Johns); 3. Coolbach (H. Lewis). Thirteeen ran.

Men's Open (Sara Alderman, NFU Mutual, and Margaret Lewis, W. P. Lewis and Son) - 1. Findlay's Find (N. Williams) 3-1; 2. Tiermore (A. Johns); 3. Pelennor (B. Morecroft). Ten ran.

Intermediate (Welsh Game Fair) - 1. Renta Gallery (J. Tudor) 4-5f; 2. Verumontanum (M. Barber). Five ran, two finished.

Restricted (Robin Williams - Farrier) - 1. No More Whispers (P. Mayman) 20-1; 2. Hawkeye Native (M. Barber); 3. Wiston Dreamer (A. Johns). Ten ran.