THE Newry Harriers hold their point-to-point next Saturday at Taylorstown, just outside Poyntz Pass.

Although different sides of the road and different fields have been used over the years, the townland has been a regular venue for the hunt and the meetings are usually very well-attended.

In 1977, when staged on March 12th, Ann Ferris won the opening Cantab Maiden Stakes on the Perspex gelding Mount Top while her sister, Rosemary Rooney, landed the concluding Huddleson Chase on Xandor. That Songedor mare carried the colours of Shirley Kernan who sadly died last month.

Ten years later, there was a very close finish to the three-runner open lightweight with the Denis Macauley-ridden Eurowin just holding off the Tony Martin-partnered Western Tint by half a length with Glancer a similar margin back in third.

The last-named was ridden by well-known veterinary surgeon Robert Steele who completed a double on Sun Yat Chen (Johnnie Walker qualifier) and Rainbow Brite (winners of one).

Ian Buchanan, who landed the winners of three that afternoon on Motalee, recorded a treble at Taylorstown in 1997 on Raleagh Native (division two of the four and five-year-old maiden), Pauls Point (seven and up maiden) and High Star (open).

Every race but the open was divided at the Newry meeting in 2007 to give an 11-race card. J.D. Moore recorded a double but it was a red letter day for Mark O’Hare who returned to the No 1 spot on six occasions.