THE third and final Point to Point took place at Lydstep on Sunday – this time it was the turn of the Tivyside and Carmarthenshire Hunts, who with a combined effort, pulled off a thoroughly enjoyable day for all, writes Maria Evans.

Jodie Hughes stole the headlines again, riding another double, putting her winning tally up to five, all of which have come in the last ten days. Her first winner came for her father Graham in the Maiden Conditions Race. Toolatetobeearly, who is trained by her partner Paul Tolman, went one better than last week, making nearly all from flag fall to come away an easy winner. Her second came in the race that followed, the Ladies Open, aboard Bay Central for trainer Luke Price. Hughes and the horse were lead down to the start early, after an unpredicted event at the Llangeinor last weekend, where the horse decided to run four circuits of the course with jockey on board – but all unfortunately before flag fall! This time, the pair went off in front setting a decent pace, but were never headed by either of the three other runners.

The first race of the day, the Hunt Race, was won by another horse that went off in front and made all of the running. That horse was Wiston Dreamer, who was confidently ridden by Evan David, and together added another winner to trainer Robert Luke’s growing tally. The Men’s Open Race saw a disappointing two head to post, but after Changing Lanes and jockey Bradley Gibbs parted company at the fourth fence, John Mathias and Rosie’s Peacock were left alone. Mathias made the job look easy on a horse that can be quite a quirky sort.

The second Maiden Open of the day went to Nicky Williams aboard Shanks A Lot, for Amber Griffiths. The seven year old was arguably Griffiths’ second string in the race, with John Mathias opting for the favourite Jossestownlad, but jockey Williams rode a patient ride on a horse that made a couple of jumping mistakes on route to victory. Sean Bowen got winner number nine for the season, when George Reid came out on top in the Restricted Race. The horse ran in snatches, and Bowen did well to get a tidy run out of the horse, eventually winning by one and a half lengths to James Tudor and Colley Row.

The final race, the West Wales Club Members Race, was won by Zac Baker and Arthurian Legend, who travelled up from the Vine and Craven Hunt to win race number six in a row. The next West Wales meeting is this Monday, May 5, with the Banwen Miners hosting their card near Resolven.