It is all hands on the water pump as Britain’s newest point-to-point course prepares to open on Saturday at Pusk Farm, Leuchars in Fife.
Louisa Cheape, master of the organising Fife Bloodhounds and whose family own the land on which the course is situated, paused to update on preparations at the Scottish track while helping with the task of irrigating.
She said: “The fences are all in situ, the marquees are up, trade stands are booked and we are expecting six different food outlets. There will also be bouncy castles and inflatables for children. Entry is £15 for adults, children under 13 are admitted free.”
Cheape said she was “really happy” with an entry of 57 for the seven-race card, and added: “By comparison with some meetings that number would not be huge, but historically in recent years the Fife meeting entries began with a four.”
A hunt scurry was held at Leuchars last year as an initial test of the course
Easter Monday’s fixture at Corbridge in Northumberland could have put a dent in entries, but that meeting was abandoned midway through the card after a bitterly disappointing turnout which resulted in a match in the first race followed by two walkovers. Cheape said she took no pleasure in another meeting’s misfortune, but conceded it could have resulted in a few extra entries for the new Leuchars fixture.
Watering is continuing there through the week in a bid to produce ground as close to good as possible.
The now disbanded Fife Foxhounds raced at nearby Balcormo Mains for more than 100 years, so while the new venue is Britain’s most northerly it is an area with history in the sport of point-to-pointing. It is said to be easily accessible by road, while Leuchars train station is just one mile away.
Racing starts at 2pm, although two pony races are set to open proceedings at 1pm.
Leuchars may be Britain’s newest point-to-point course, but it is not expected to hold that title for long as another new venue, at Ffynnon Druidion in Pembrokeshire, is set to open on Saturday, May 24 when staging the Welsh International meeting.