Mid-Antrim Hunt point-to-point this Saturday

The Mid Antrim Hunt are preparing for their Spring point-to-point at the usual venue of the Higgins’ estate, Moneyglass on Saturday, May 4,
Jockey William Thompson with Joel Johnston of Donnelly & Taggart.Jockey William Thompson with Joel Johnston of Donnelly & Taggart.
Jockey William Thompson with Joel Johnston of Donnelly & Taggart.

Organisers are delighted to welcome a new sponsor for the Open Race - Donnelly & Taggart, part of the Donnelly group, the prestigious motor dealers, who have branches all over Northern Ireland.

Donnelly and Taggart are sponsoring the race as they are very keen to support the equestrian community, many of whom drive their vehicles. Joel Johnston is the dedicated 4x4 specialist and he has been in agricultural sales for seven years so he knows the local farming community well and appreciates the conditions many of them have had to put up with particularly in the recent snowy weather.

In the photo Joel is pictured with William Thompson, who is the main jockey for the well known Ballymena trainer Ian Ferguson. He is holding Ronnie Bartlett’s 5 year old gelding Medieval Chapel which has won twice this year.

William is very much an up-and-coming amateur jockey who, at the time of writing, had ridden 13 point-to-point winners this season as well as two on the track. He is snapping at the heels of Ben Crawford who is currently one win ahead in the Ulster Riders Championship.

William, who started his riding career by hunting with the Mid Antrim Hunt over ten years ago and acted as junior whip for most of his teenage years, is 21 and in his fourth season as a jockey. He recently lost his weight claim as a novice jockey when he clocked up 21 winners.

The Mid Antrim Hunt are very grateful to all the sponsors whose generosity is very much appreciated. Wilson Dennison, who has been recovering from a serious riding accident and is such a faithful supporter of local point-to-pointing, is sponsoring the Maiden race for 4 year olds, and Ronnie Bartlett of Albert Bartlett & Sons is sponsoring the Maiden Race for 5 year old geldings.

The Confined Maiden Hunt Race is sponsored by Sunstart Bakery, the Maiden Race for 5 year old plus mares, by The Diamond Bar and McBurney Transport are sponsoring the final race which is the Maiden race for 6 year old plus geldings.

Topping Meats are sponsoring the Best Turned out prizes, James Kernohan is sponsoring the Race Reader and Wilson’s Auctions and Mr Barry Gibson are sponsoring the Form Card. The Point-to-Point committee are very grateful to all the sponsors and advertisers in the race card.

The preparations are well underway for the May point-to-point and thanks to a great turnout of helpers ranging from the very young to the rather more mature, the fences were all recently re-birched in record time.

The Higgins Estate provides excellent viewing for spectators and as always the committee are hoping for some good weather to encourage punters to come and enjoy a great day’s racing.

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