A POTENTIAL levy on the sale of point-to-pointers was put forward as the Point-to-Point Handlers Association held an open meeting for handlers in the sales ring at Goffs recently.

Insurance proved to be the hot topic at the 90-minute forum as the Association’s chairman Gerry Kelleher informed those in attendance that the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) had shared details at the recent season review meeting of the requirement for the sport of point-to-pointing to contribute a significant six-figure sum for the next three years towards insurance cover.

In order to achieve a total of over €200,000 alone from handlers and owners in each of those years, the INHSC had proposed increasing the fees for hunter certificates and handler permits to €100 each, in addition to a €10 entry levy for the next three years.

The audience, which consisted largely of the sports more commercially-focused handlers, voiced concerns over the impact that these increased charges could have on smaller handlers and on the older horse population.

Instead they united behind their own counter proposal suggesting that there should be a levy on the sale of point-to-pointers at public auction.

It was proposed that any additional money that this levy could raise above what was required to cover their part of the insurance bill could then also be used to the betterment of the sport.

The meeting also heard calls for an increase in prize money for those races with horses aged six and older, the removal for the need to present a passport when declaring a horse, and demands for the season to return to its original finishing date on the June bank holiday weekend.

A number of handlers spoke in favour of introducing four-year-old races to the month of January, whilst there was considerable discussion surrounding the growing number of paid officials that the sports regulator was sending to each fixture and the costs associated with this.

“We were very pleased with the turnout from handlers and it proved to be a very constructive meeting,” Kelleher said.

“There was a real consensus that a sales levy would protect the smaller handlers within the sport from further increased costs and I think we have taken a good step forward now.

“We have a clear message on the issues that handlers would like addressed and we will now begin working with the authorities to make progress on them.”