The 2001 Point to Point Season had to be curtailed following the Foot and Mouth outbreaks and as a result only 30 of the 209 scheduled meetings took place.

National Hunt racing recovered quickly because it was able to comply with the strict biosecurity regulations. Point to Points however; take place on farmland and the remaining fixtures had to be cancelled.

All this years fixtures have to comply with D.E.F.R.A directives, but at least there is light at the end of the tunnel and the season should begin on schedule on Sunday 6th January.

If you look at the background of the winners of most of the big chases on the National Hunt calendar you will invariably find that they all began their careers in Point to Points and this is especially true of Irish bred horses.

Courses

ANDOVERSFORD

6 miles east of Cheltenham. Course compact; Car parking - good. Viewing reasonable

Meetings held = Cotswold - Sunday 7th April

MAISEMORE PARK Near A417, 3 miles N.W. of Gloucester. Flat course bounded on two sides by River Severn. Car parking reasonable. Viewing good from natural grandstand

Meetings held = Ledbury - Saturday 30th March. Cotswold Vale Farmers - Sunday 14th April

PAXFORD

2 miles east of Chipping Campden. Flat triangular course. Car parking good. Excellent viewing from natural grandstand

Meetings held = North Cotswold - Monday 1st April

UPTON ON SEVERN Water meadows adjacent to town, near A38. Flat but testing course. Parking plentiful and proper road onto course. Viewing excellent.

Meetings held = Croome and West Warwicks - Tuesday 2nd April

NATIONAL SPONSORSHIP

Corporate sponsorship is the backbone of any sport and after last years problems it is good to see that all of Point to Point Racing's longest and most loyalist supporters continue with their previous commitments.

2002 will be Land Rovers 17th year sponsoring the Men's Open Championship. Qualification for the Final at Towcester on Monday 13th May is open to horses, which have won any Men's Open prior to May 8th 2002. The winner of this £10,000 added race will also receive the free 12-month loan of a Land Rover Discovery and another £5,000 if the winner has finished first or second in one of the 30 qualifying races.

Local Qualifiers: Cotswold - 7th April

Dodson and Horrell, the Racehorse Feeds Manufacturers have been sponsoring races for 15 years. They support 31 races all over the country but these do not lead to a Hunter Chase Final.

Local events: Cotswold Vale Farmers - 14th April

A new sponsor has come forward this year to sponsor a Restricted Championship. There will be a final for this event but it will take place on a Point to Point course at the Melton Hunt Club meeting at Garthorpe on Sunday 19th May.

It will have £1,000-added prizemoney and there will be 14 qualifying events.

Local Qualifiers: Croome and West Warwicks - 2nd April

Local racegoers will be able to find details covering all aspects of Point to Point racing in this area on the West Midlands page of www.pointtopoint.co.uk.