19 December 2008 Season Preview: North Western Area
WESTON PARK: has yet to fully recover from the summer deluge during the V Festival
The first meeting of the season usually takes place at Weston Park, but due to the damage caused by the V Festival in August in heavy rain, the course was rendered unraceable for our two fixtures - the Albrighton and the Meynell & South Staffs normally hold their Point-to-Point meetings there. However all is not lost, as both meetings have been rescheduled.
This means that the opening meeting of the new season will be the Albrighton Hunt, which will be held at Bangor-on-Dee on Sunday January 25th , this will be the first of three meetings held at the North Wales course. It is fitting that the opening meeting takes place at the Welsh course as they will be celebrating 150 years as a racecourse in 2009, the first meeting under rules took place on February 25th 1859.
The next meeting on the card will be the Tanatside meeting at Eyton-on-Severn on Sunday February 22nd. This fixture is always one of the best-supported and last season 103 runners contested 8 races.
Bangor-on-Dee stage their second meeting of the season on Sunday March 8th with the Flint and Denbigh fixture, this meeting features a joint Members race with the Wynnstay. The Cheshire Hunt stage their traditional meeting at Alpraham, Nr Tarporley on March 28th and attracts very large crowds but the new entrance to the course has greatly improved the flow of traffic to the races.
Moving on to Grand National Sunday on April 5th at Tabley, this meeting is regarded by many as the fourth day of a racing festival, after three days of the John Smiths Grand National meeting. Easter is the busiest time in the North Western Area with four meetings taking place.
The North Staffs meeting takes place at Sandon , Nr Stone on Easter Saturday April 11th and also taking place on Easter Saturday is the Vale of Lune meeting at Whittington, Nr Kirkby Lonsdale and the latter attracts huge crowds.
The traditional Easter Monday fixture at Eyton-on-Severn features the South Shropshire meeting this year, as the hunt alternates each year with the North Shropshire.
Easter Tuesday April 14th is the High Peak meeting at Flagg Moor with the traditional Members race over the famous limestone walls. Flagg Moor is our oldest racecourse in the North West dating back to 1892.
The Holcombe race next at Whittington, Nr Kirkby Lonsdale on April 26th then the North Shropshire at the popular Eyton fixture on May Bank holiday Monday.
The North West Hunts Club meeting at Tabley on Sunday May 17th always attracts large crowds.
The Wynnstay Hunt race later than usual on May 23rd.
The final meeting between the flags in the North Western Area will be the Meynell & South Staffs fixture at Garthorpe on Sunday May 24th.
The North Western Area Point-to-Point Championship is at Bangor-on-Dee on Saturday May 16th. The Scally Muire , worth £500 in prize money will be run at the Wheatland fixture as a Ladies Open at Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday May 10th.
George Barlow, the North Western Area chairman was looking forward to the new season ahead with his usual pre-season message, he said:
"Following a successful season in 2008, it became obvious in August that the course at Weston Park had been so badly damaged by the Festival that it would not be possible to race there. I am pleased to say that following some quick negotiations both meeting will take place. The Albighton will be at Bangor-on-Dee and the Meynell & South Staffs at Garthorpe. I am pleased to announce that the Dobson and Horrell PPORA Club Members race for the Novice Riders Championship will once again be held at the North West Point-to-Point Club Meeting on Sunday May 17th and stabling can be arranged for horses traveling over 150 miles. I am sorry to have to announce that we have lost two stalwarts in the North Western Area in the summer. Edward Crow and Jeremy Beasley will be sadly missed in the forthcoming season. I wish everyone involved in the sport an enjoyable season and look forward to 2009 with enthusiasm."
