Pack a picnic and head to a point-to-point this Easter

Easter weekend remains one of the highlights of the point-to-point season, with a packed schedule of meetings taking place across the country over the Bank Holiday weekend.

Attending your local point-to-point is a fantastic way to enjoy thrilling racing, catch up with friends, and support a long-standing rural pursuit so we encourage you to pack a picnic and find your local meeting over the Bank Holiday weekend.

This year, the Easter action kicks off on Good Friday with the Essex & Suffolk fixture at Higham in Suffolk, followed by a busy Saturday featuring multiple meetings. Easter Monday sees the sport continuing in full swing, with fixtures stretching from the Four Burrow’s meeting in Cornwall all the way up to the Tynedale at Corbridge in Northumberland.

Each meeting relies on the dedication of dozens of volunteers, making every event not only a celebration of grassroots racing but also a vital show of support for the local hunts who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

Organising a point-to-point requires major investment in the infrastructure and the weather plays an influencing factor in not just the attendance of the public but also in the quality of the racing. The recent dry spell has caused headaches for many Clerks of the Course who have been battling the hard ground and finding ways to water or ease the going to encourage as many runners as possible. Sadly, the Seavington’s meeting at Cotley has been a casualty of the lack of rain due to them having no way of watering the course so has been cancelled.

If you’ve never been to a point-to-point before, it’s a form of amateur steeplechasing held at racecourses across the UK. Set in scenic countryside locations, these meetings are perfect for a day out with family or friends. Bring a picnic, enjoy top-quality racing, and soak up the atmosphere. Most courses offer on-site catering, bars and betting facilities, with many also featuring trade stands, a dog show and children’s entertainment. Point-to-pointing is also where many future stars get their start - both horses and jockeys.

Full details of the Easter weekend fixtures can be found below - click on any meeting to view the racecard and plan your day out.

Friday 18 April            

Essex & Suffolk at Higham, Suffolk

Saturday 19 April      

Flete Park Races – Dartmoor Foxhounds at Flete Park, Devon

Kimblewick at Kimble, Bucks

North Staffordshire at Sandon, Staffordshire

Pytchley with Woodland at Dingley

Worcestershire at Chaddesley Corbett, Worcs

Monday 21 April

Four Burrow at Trebudannon, Cornwall

North Cotswold at Paxford, Gloucestershire

Old Berkshire at Lockinge, Oxfordshire

South Shropshire at Eyton-on-Severn, Shropshire

Taunton Vale Foxhounds and Taunton Vale Harriers at Cothelstone, Somerset

Tynedale at Corbridge, Northumberland

For more details visit www.pointtopoint.co.uk