THE Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club got the season got under way last weekend at Sheriff Hutton in tremendous style, as runners from all across the country provided some useful horse and exciting finishes.

Up-and-coming Yorkshire trainer Justin Landy started this term in the same flying form as he finished the last, with two of his four runners winning maidens, and stable stars Knocklong and Ardea just denied in the opens.

Landy's double started in the Open Maiden courtesy of Sir Lonica and went off the 2-1 favourite under Joe Wright. The pair were always prominent through the race, and the race was never in doubt as they turned for home despite a small mistake two out and pulled well clear of runner-up Pads by 25 lengths.

The second leg of the double was completed in the two mile four furlongs maiden with Ballinahow Bill under last year's leading lady rider Lottie Crane.

Having travelled strongly all the way, the pair strode on from two out to win by an eased-down eight lengths, and the six-year-old looks to have found a new lease of life with his trainer.

Maguires Bridge was another young horse to make his presence felt on the day in the Restricted Race under Tom Strawson, pulling clear of Monsun Storm and Crazy Penguin two out.

He made a good impression last year when scoring on his debut, but flopped when running at this course in April. However, he looks to have returned to his earlier promise, and could be an exciting recruit for trainer Jane Kent and owner Victoria Cottingham.

Due to a high number of entries, the Club Members' Race was split into two.

Division one saw an exciting finish as winner Dance Of Time, piloted by John Dawson, battled it out with southern raider You Too Pet. The returning Greensalt finished third under Will Easterby.

Division two saw last year's winner, Grandturgeon, take the race again. The 4-5 favourite, trained by Philip Rowley and ridden by Alex Edwards, never looked likely to be caught once committed down the home straight.

There was a big upset in the Ladies' Open as outsider Global Power, for southern owner-trainer Heidi Brookshaw, overthrew the very short-priced favourite Knocklong, whose late surge saw him come third only by a head and a neck.

The Men's Open saw another great finish, as Ardea under Joe Wright looked to be getting on top over the last, but John Dawson's One Conemara used his bundles of stamina to fight back and deny the favourite.

One Conemara is a dual Grimthorpe Gold Cup winner, staged at this track in April, and no doubt he will be returning to make it a hat trick - an effort that has only ever been accomplished once before.