A HUGE sense of relief certainly epitomises the emotions of so many after the opening weekend of the new point-to-point season brought to an end the 27-week long drought without any action between the flags. The appetite for the sport’s return was certainly evident with divided races featuring on the opening weekend for the first time in eight years.

The scene at Ballingarry and Oldcastle was certainly an unfamiliar one. Temperature checks and compulsory mask wearing greeted those on arrival, and inside the venues much was different to ensure compliance with public health guidelines matching that of racecourses.

Spectators absent

The shed in Ballingarry, typically home to the weigh-room, instead played host to cones highlighting a one-way system for declarations that took place behind perspex screens.

Twenty-four hours later at Oldcastle, four horse boxes positioned adjacent to the parade ring filled the same administrative functions, while the viewing hill alongside the run-in lay bare as the cars of spectators were absent.

Having passed the first test of the comprehensive protocols put in place by the IHRB to allow the sport to resume, these building blocks have paved the way for the very welcome move today at Necarne where owners are the next group to return to the pointing fields.

Secretary’s relief

Reflecting on last weekend, for Jessica Cahalan, point-to-point secretary of the Ormond Foxhounds who organsied Saturday’s racing, relief after a job well done was the overriding emotion.

“There was a lot of pressure to get it right as the first fixture and it was a huge sense of relief afterwards, just with the importance of getting the sport started again. That was hugely down to the support that we received and I can’t thank everyone enough who contributed in any way to the day.

“There was a real sense of togetherness about the whole thing. I have to say Ray Bergin in the IHRB, the work that he had put into the protocols and coming to visit us and spending that time with us to make sure that we were happy with everything, that was a massive help. The protocols are long, but there was probably only about six pages that were specifically for us and it was hugely helpful.”

IHRB helpful

That is a sentiment reiterated by the Ballymacad Foxhounds point-to-point secretary, Rachel Gilsenan.

“I couldn’t be more thankful for the support that we received from the IHRB and Point-to-Point Services for the past couple of weeks, they couldn’t have been more helpful. It was an unknown going into the weekend, but sincere thanks to the owners, handlers and riders who put their trust in us and entered knowing that we would have everything in place to make it a safe day for everyone and especially those that made a contribution to the event.

“Some committees might be wary that it could be harder to get people to volunteer with all that is going on, but we found that wasn’t the case at all. People wanted to make it work because they know how tight things are.

“Our members know that we haven’t had any fundraisers over the summer and they want to play their part. Members were ringing me and offering before I had to reach out for help.”

Entering into the season and the prospect of racing taking place without spectators unsurprisingly led to concerns over the viability of fixtures. However, both secretaries are unanimous in their view that for their respective hunts, staging racing last weekend will be considered as nothing but a financial success for them.

“It has brought us out of a very dark place and we now have light,” said Cahalan. “The summer was very tough because usually we have our point-to-point in June which carries us until the hunting season begins, but we didn’t have any income and we have always relied on the point-to-point.”

Business support

Rachel Gilsenan echoed this sentiment and expects Sunday’s fixture to play a significant part in funding the hunt’s sizeable annual costs.

“Financially it is definitely worth anyone’s while to run the point-to-point this autumn, and we have seen that, we were very happy with the return that we made from Sunday. We are very lucky to have our local businesses getting behind us with sponsorship and we are already looking forward to running our Christmas fixture now,” she added.

The efforts of both secretaries, their respective committees and those behind the scenes who have worked towards the sport’s return was not lost on those handlers who were racing across the weekend.

“Full credit to those hunts that are putting the work in. Look at what was done, you have to appreciate what they have put into this. They don’t get the recognition that they deserve. It is savage, there is no point saying that it is not. I think it is fabulous,” said Wexford handler Mick Goff.

Aidan Fitzgerald, who supported Saturday’s fixture by sponsoring a race with friend and fellow handler Sam Curling, is keenly aware of the need for everyone to play their role in supporting the events.

“I think it is very important that people help the hunt in whatever way they can, be it sponsorship or donations. A lot of the credit has to go to the two hunts who ran at the weekend and the protocols from the IHRB are very good, it is all very safe.”

Tomorrow’s fixture at Monksgrange has received that support from local yards, with races sponsored by Colin Bowe, Denis Murphy, the Monbeg team of Sean, Donnchadh and Cormac Doyle, and the Baltimore Stables of James and Ellen Doyle.

Bartlett supports northern points

COMMITTEES in the northern region have also been boosted by the news that Ronnie Bartlett, mindful of the current circumstances of racing taking place behind closed doors, has extended his regular support of spring fixtures to now also include all pre-Christmas point-to-point meetings in the region. Today’s action at Necarne is the first to benefit from the increased support of the Albert Bartlett company.