Winners at Sheriff Hutton point-to-point (From Gazette & Herald)

Winners at Sheriff Hutton point-to-point

12:12pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Equestrian

THE flag was raised and the first point-to-point meeting in the Yorkshire area got off to a flying start at Sheriff Hutton on Sunday.

It was second time lucky for the Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club as the meeting finally got underway after being postponed earlier in the month due to frozen ground.

Pony racing preceded the main event, providing aspiring young jockeys with the opportunity to enjoy the thrill of race riding. The 138cm flat race attracted four entries and took place over a distance of five furlongs.

First past the post was Emma Chaston, 13, riding her bay gelding, Tigga.

Just three runners and riders lined up for the six-furlong 148cm race which saw Judge Fox clinch a useful victory under last year’s 138cm winner Lily-Grace Frank, 14.

The members’ race got the jumping action underway at noon and heralded a useful victory for husband and wife team, Guy and Freya Brewer.

Ridden by Guy and trained by Freya, Dark Moon notched up his second victory at this track after winning the restricted race here last year.

One cloud that could not darken the day was the Gill Walford-trained Bright Cloud. The useful grey mare ran on well under jockey Mark Walford to secure victory by a good margin in the restricted race when finishing eight lengths ahead of the Richard Garton-trained Kiestown Chief.

Nine starters lined up for the men’s open race which saw Special Portrait in the frame for trainer Mark Hughes. The eight-year-old grey gelding was expertly guided home by jockey Will Kinsey to finish two lengths clear of the Vicki Dobbintrained Harmony Brig.

There was to be a memorable moment for owner/trainer/rider Lucy Egerton as she secured her first point-to-point win with a crowdpleasing victory in the members’ race for novice riders. It was to be a hard-fought battle for the Birdsallbased rider and her mount Desert Tommy as the determined combination fought off fierce pressure from The Ring, ridden by Will Milburn, to clinch victory by the narrowest of margins.

The ladies’ open saw Jacque Coward enjoy her share of the limelight as she cantered home to an easy win by a good margin on the top-class hunter-chaser, Amicelli, trained at Scackleton by Cherry Coward.

The Open Maiden was split into two divisions to accommodate the high number of entries. Division One went the way of the bookies’ favourite Classinaglass trained by David Easterby. The well-fancied mount of jockey Tom Greenall finished strongly, clinching a two-length victory ahead of Harbour Way and Max Johnson.

Division Two saw jockey Will Kinsey notch up the second leg of a double. On this occasion he was on board the chestnut gelding, Mac Steamy, trained by Julia Kinsey.

The combination finished two lengths clear of the hot favourite Sous Mix, trained by David Easterby.

The results were:

138cm Pony Race: 1 Tigga (Emma Chaston), 2 Becca Walk on the Wild Side (Jade Heward), 3 Rumworth Cock Robin (Lucy Smith), 4 Foalsyke Diesel (Nick Barratt-Atkin).

148cm Pony Race: 1 Judge Fox (Lily- Grace Frank), 2 Tennants Super (Harry Phipps), 3 Green as Grass (Tom Broughton) Club Members’ Conditions Race: 1 Dark Moon (Guy Brewer), 2 Keeverfield (Samantha Drake), 3 Sea Senor, 4 Elusive Swallow (Jacque Coward).

Restricted Race: 1 Bright Cloud (Mark Walford), 2 Kiestown Chief (G. Crow), 3 Jasper Massini (Richard Smith), 4 Ramborob (Guy Brewer).

Men’s Open: 1 Special Portrait (Will Kinsey), 2 Harmony Brig, 3 Borero, 4 Joseph (C. Clark).

Members’ Race for Novice Riders: 1 Desert Tommy (Lucy Egerton), 2 The Ring (Will Milburn), 3 Nippy Des Mottes (J.

Gillam), 4 Bet Out Of It (C. Clark).

Ladies Open: 1 Amicelli (Jacque Coward), 2 Sea Scout (Claire Metcalfe), 3 Optimistic Harry (Samantha Drake), 4 Impact Zone (Joanna Mason).

Open Maiden (Divison one): 1 Classinaglass (Tom Greenall), 2 Harbour Way (Max Johnson), 3 Ellerslie Ali (Samantha Drake), 4 Raasay (Guy Brewer).

Open Maiden (Division two): 1 Mac Steamy (Will Kinsey), 2 Sous Mix, 3 Dead Ringa (Mark Walford), 4 Moscow Menace (James Hamilton).