Last season, the Jumping For Fun website – via its message board, “The Pointing Forum” – which has long been the go-to destination for point-to-point fans, embarked on a journey to give back to the sport its members cherish.
Led by Jumping for Fun founder Dom Bradshaw, the JFF sponsorship team of Mark Elliott (aka Maelstrom), Charlotte Fuller (Teller Of Tales), Bob Mackenzie (Leicesterbob) and Gordon Phillips (Gordonwp) started a crowdfunding campaign with the aim of sponsoring one Hunter Chase, but thanks to the overwhelming generosity of the JFF membership, they didn't just meet their goal but (in Dom’s enthusiastic words) “smashed it”, allowing sponsorship of four races, at Fakenham, Leicester and two at Stratford. Winners of the sponsored races included John Corbet Cup hero Sine Nomine and Aintree Foxhunters fifth Time Leader.
An added bonus to the sponsorship was the chance for “forumites” to meet on the racecourse – often for the first time in person, allowing contributors to put faces to pseudonyms. The team were even interviewed on Racing UK, and Dom claims to have been recognised when out shopping as, “that racing bloke from the TV!”
Dom has to wear shades to stay anonymous after his TV debut
“We all thought it was brilliant,” enthused Gordon about last year’s involvement. “From what started as a fun idea, we were shocked to raise enough funds for four races – we thought we’d struggle to get one! Thanks to everyone who donated – we had some cracking days out and, at the last fixture of the season at Stratford (where Kaproyale - pictured - won the two-mile Hunter Chase), we were already being offered donations for this year. We’d also like to thank the courses who staged our races and all the help they gave.”
Given the incredible success of last season's initiative, the Jumping for Fun team are repeating their endeavours and aiming to raise enough funding to sponsor at least as many races as they did during in 2022/2023. The new season will be with us before we know it, and so the team are reaching out again to supporters of point-to-pointing to contribute.
“We’d like to sponsor as many races as we can,” added Gordon when asked about targets for this year, “And the more money we receive, the more we’ll do – every penny will go into the sponsorship. We’d like to spread the races across the country as much as we can and hope to go to Catterick this season, as the planned race there was abandoned.”
Gordon (left) and Bob (right) discuss their Hunter Chase selections
Donations can be made at the Jumping for Fun team’s Just Giving page and this season, forumite Michael Sloman (mandrabelle) will again be awarding a £50 prize to the JFF member who picks the most Hunter Chase winners during the season in a competition that Gordon runs to promote the sponsorship and Hunter Chasing in general.
Jake Exelby - South Midlands Area Press Officer