Broadcast media services company RaceTech will again be supporting the grass roots of pony racing by sponsoring the Championship Rider Titles and Pony Racing Graduate awards during the 2016 point-to-point pony racing season. The season kicks off at the Cambridgeshire and Enfield Chase point-to-point at Horseheath in the East Anglian Area, on Sunday 7 February and runs through until the last fixture of the season on Saturday 12 June, the Torrington Farmers at Umberleigh in the Devon & Cornwall Area. All in all, there are seventy-nine point-to-point pony racing fixtures due to be staged. Points will be awarded for all wins and placings and winners will be presented with prizes and a training bursary at Cheltenham Racecourse in October.
In addition to the Championship titles and Graduate awards, new for 2016, RaceTech will also be sponsoring gallop sessions for young riders coming through the Pony Racing Authority’s youth training scheme during 2016.
Additional sponsorship has been confirmed in the form of Treehouse Sporting Colours which, for 2016, will be the title sponsor of the Novice Riders Race Series. Fourteen qualifying races will be held throughout the country where those finishing in the first four will qualify for the finals, to be staged by kind permission of the Meynell & South Staffordshire point-to-point at Garthorpe on 4 June.
The 2016 Point-to-Point Pony Racing Planner, in its fourth edition, has generously been sponsored by Bridgend-based Dunraven Stud. The Planner is a must-have publication for everyone wishing to take part in point-to-point pony races this season and is issued to all PRA members or available from Mrs Lucy Tucker.
Pony racing is designed to encourage children aged nine to sixteen into racing competitively, with races held across two height categories (138cms & under and 148cms & under). All point-to-point pony racing fixtures are kindly hosted by the organising committees of those Hunts / Clubs who stage point-to-point racing and run in conjunction with the sport’s governing body, the Pony Racing Authority (PRA). Since the sport became regulated in 2004, more than 150 riders have graduated onto horses both between the flags and under Rules, with many more also working within the horseracing industry.
Catherine Pullan of RaceTech said: “We’re delighted to continue our close association with pony racing for a fourth year, where young children from a variety of backgrounds have the chance to experience the thrill of riding in a race. It’s great to see teenagers coming through and making their mark in the professional ranks, and going into other areas in the racing industry too. We wish all those taking part this season the very best of luck.”
Lucy Tucker, a Director of the PRA and who oversees point-to-point pony racing, said: “The generous sponsorship provided by RaceTech, Treehouse Sporting Colours and the Brace family from Dunraven Stud means we are able to put on a superb programme of point-to-point pony racing. The PRA is widening its reach to new riders – with training programmes designed for children who have little or no experience of ponies, and are therefore creating more opportunities for them to be able to get involved and ultimately have a go.”
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Notes to editors
The 2016 Treehouse Sporting Colours Novice Riders Race Series
The series is designed for Pony Club and hunting-type ponies and novice riders, with qualifying races across the country at 14 fixtures. The first four past the post are eligible to enter and run in the Finals, which are due to be held at Garthorpe on 4 June. Secretary: Mrs Lucy Tucker – ptpponyracing@icloud.com / 01258 817604. Entries taken online via www.ponyracingauthority.co.uk
The Rider’s Championship Points Series
Points are awarded to those placed 1st – 4th on the following basis: 1st: 7 points, 2nd 5 points, 3rd: 3 points 4th: 1 point. The rider from each height category with the most points at the end of the season will be presented with their prizes in the main winners enclosure at a race meeting held at Cheltenham Racecourse. Prizes will be in kind and a training bursary.
The RaceTech Graduate Award
The Rider gaining the most points throughout the season via the Championship Points Series and who will be eligible to ride as an adult the following season (i.e. age 16) and who plans to ride in point-to-point races will be offered sponsorship by RaceTech via the Point-to-Point Riders Sponsorship Scheme (RSS). The 2015 RaceTech Graduate award winner Ben Godfrey will be riding between the flags during this season and will be making his debut kindly sponsored by RaceTech.
Sponsors of the 2016 Point to Point Pony Racing Planner – available from Mrs Lucy Tucker email ptpponyracing@icloud.com
For more information concerning Point-to-Point Pony Racing, contact: Mrs Lucy Tucker: ptpponyracing@icloud.com / 01258 817604 / 07771 518258
RaceTech www.racetech.co.uk
Treehouse Sporting Colours www.treehouseonline.co.uk
Dunraven Stud www.dunravenstud.com
The Point-to-Point Racing Company: www.pointtopoint.couk
