BLUSTERY weather conditions meant a smaller crowd at the Lamerton Point to Point at Kilworthy on Saturday ? but the enthusiasm of those that attended ensured a successful day.

After a spell of dry ground, the mud-loving horses were out in force at a Kilworthy where tractor drivers were kept busy towing latecomers into, and most of the spectators out of, the car parks.

The event was organised by the Lamerton Hunt, and point-to-point secretary Belinda Fuller said the weather conditions meant the running was slower due to the muddy course.

?The weather was a bit mucky and very blowy on the hillside ? but it was a good day despite the weather.

?The going was soft and a bit tiring for the horses. Some horses prefer better going,? she said.

?The refreshment tent had to be tied down and anchored to a couple of Land Rovers because the wind was blowing so strongly at one point,? she said.

Gusting winds kept the commentator clinging onto his rooftop perch, and it was a leap of faith visiting the ?tardis? style loos, some of which were blown out of position! Fortunately, the racing was good enough to keep the crowd otherwise occupied.

During the event a presentation was made to Reed Dawe for having been clerk of the scales ? weighing the riders ? since the 1940?s.

Ashley Farrant, currently leading the national riders? championship, proved he doesn?t have to be on board a David Pipe trained horse to win.

He took the maiden, division two, on the Caroline Lawrence trained Zakley.

Pipe was back in the winners? enclosure after the mixed open though, when Farrant completed a double, coaxing an impressive round from Ballysycios.

The horse came home 25 lengths clear of his nearest challenger, Bill Me Up (Colin Heard) in a time 10 seconds faster than any other race.

Sue Young likes to ride a waiting race and finished with a wet sail on Lirsleftover in the confined. Off the pace two from home, Young launched her challenge and flew home ahead of Sarah Gaisford on Dark Challenger and Mandy Hand on Lets Fly, who had appeared to have the race between them.

Former national champion Leslie Jefford recorded his first win of the season with a members? race victory on the admirably consistent Butlerdidit.

Jefford was in with a shout of a double in the second division of the restricted but Aller Coombe had to settle for second behind Stone Valley (Alex Charles Jones).

Richard Woollacott had taken the first division, State Medlar revelling in the conditions.

Blinkers got Bak on Board back on track and Lucy Gardner partnered her horse to win the Intermediate in the second fastest time of the day, in the muddiest conditions. Favourite Sea Snipe (Tabitha Cave) finished third but Cave had taken the second division of the maiden on the Mike Biddick-trained Rare Gem.

Cornishman Biddick had been prevented from throwing his hat in the air by the fact he had it tied on with a tartan scarf!

Results

Members: 1, Butlerdidit, L Jefford; 2, Damiens Pride, T Dennis; 3, Lydford Castle, L Heard. Four ran, 2l, 1l, 6.52.

Confined Hunts maiden Division One: 1, Zakley, A Farrant; 2, Kyalami, Mrs M Hand; 3, Albamart Wood, J Young. 13 ran, 2l, 8l, 6.51.

Division Two: 1, Rare Gem, Miss T Cave; 2, Sound Sense, J Young; 3, O?Ech, C Heard. Nine ran, 5l, 2l, 6.56.

Mixed Open: 1, Ballysycios, A Farrant; 2, Bill Me Up, C Heard; 3, Fossy Bear, Miss S Young. Eight ran, 25l, 3l, 6.41.

Confined: 1, Lirsleftover, Miss S Young; 2, Dark Challenger, Miss S Gaisford; 3, Lets Fly, Mrs M Hand. Six ran, 8l, 1/2l, 6.56.

Restricted Division One: 1, State Medlar, R Woollacott; 2, Pinmoor Hill, M Munrowd; 3, Sutton Courtenay, J Jenkins. Nine ran, 15l, 8l, 7.04.

Division Two: 1, Stone Valley, A Charles Jones; 2, Aller Coombe, L Jefford; 3, Lingering Fog, Miss M McCarthy. 12 ran, 12l, 8l, 6.54.

Intermediate: 1, Bak On Board, Miss L Gardner; 2, By My Side, A Charles Jones; 3, Sea Snipe, Miss T Cave. 10 ran, 12l, 6l, 6.51.