With the final two and a half months of last spring’s point-to-point action having been claimed by the Covid-19 pandemic, an enhanced autumn schedule has been announced for 2020, featuring an earlier start date and additional fixtures.
Strong demand from hunt committees who were unable to stage their spring fixtures, has bolstered the autumn schedule with many who lost fixtures earlier in the year electing to transfer their fixture to the autumn this year.
That includes Ballingarry who will have the honour of hosting the season’s opening fixture on September 19, having traditionally played host to the season finale on the Bank Holiday Monday in June.
A total of 13 fixtures will take place in the month of October, with 14 following in the month of November, whilst racing before Christmas will now conclude on December 13 at Oldcastle, Stradbally and Boulta.
In all 37 fixtures have been scheduled, with Ballingarry, Oldcastle, Necarne, Monksgrange, Courtown, Curraghmore and Stradbally among the spring venues that will hold racing this autumn in a change to the schedule.
The release of the 2020 autumn fixture list follows on from the welcome news for owners and handlers that the Hunter Certificate fees of 927 horses which did not get to run last season have been refunded to connections, whilst a total 144 handlers who did not have a runner during the 2019/20 season due to Covid-19, will also have their Handler Permit fees refunded.
Publication of the autumn point-to-point fixture list comes after the resumption of equestrian sport across the country, with show jumping and eventing, just two of the other disciplines to have taken full effect of the very low virus transmission rates outdoors by returning to stage their events.
Writing in his Racing Post column earlier yesterday, Richard Forristal pointed to the benefits point-to-point has as a solely outdoor event when addressing how racecourses may begin to open their doors once again, writing: “If that means running race meetings more like point-to-points, as primarily outdoor events but in manageable, confined spaces, then that is something to be seriously explored.”
The government is now set to lift restrictions on outdoor gatherings on August 10th, when crowds of up to 500 people will be allowed to gather which will offer hunt committees a further boost, and all scheduled Point to Point fixtures will adhere to Government guidelines applicable at the time.
Consequently, Covid-19 Protocols for holding Point to Point meetings will be drafted in consultation with the IHRB Senior Medical Officer, Dr. Jennifer Pugh. The I.N.H.S.C. will now begin liaising with Hunts and circulate the protocols to all the industry stakeholders once finalised.
Dr. Jennifer Pugh, IHRB Senior Medical Officer, commented:
“While there remains a degree of uncertainty surrounding the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic worldwide, I am confident that we will be able to hold Point to Point fixtures as scheduled under our Government’s guidelines.
“Our sport lends itself to the principles of social distancing, being a non-contact sport, outdoors and with large sites available to use and we will endeavour to ensure Hunt Committees are supported to ensure a safe return of our sport.”
Commenting on the Autumn 2020 fixture list, Martin O’Donnell, Senior Steward of the I.N.H.S.C. said:
“The Stewards of the I.N.H.S.C. appreciate that there will be an extra demand for opportunities this Autumn compared to previous years and this is reflected in the fixture list being published today. In an effort to balance the fixture list with the current levels of horses in training for Point to Points, we have widely consulted all Point to Point Handlers in recent weeks. These Point to Points will be run in line with Government guidelines applicable at the time and it is imperative that everyone in the Point to Point community adheres to the Covid-19 Protocols which will be circulated in advance of the Season.
“I would also like to thank all Hunt Committees who have applied to hold a fixture in the Autumn Season and for being so accommodating in ensuring we could produce a balanced fixture list geographically.
“I want to reassure them that the Stewards of the I.N.H.S.C, the Registrar Paul Murtagh, and all the IHRB staff will assist in whatever way is possible to ensure the Point to Points can be held successfully this Autumn and beyond.”
To view the fixture list, please click HERE or to download a printable PDF version click HERE.
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To view the fixture list, please click HERE or to download a printable PDF version click HERE.
