Point-to-point meeting in Ballymena on Saturday

After the excitement of the Grand National last Saturday, it’s Ballymena’s turn to host its very own version this weekend!
Point-to-point racing will return to Ballymena for the first time in more than a decade next month.Point-to-point racing will return to Ballymena for the first time in more than a decade next month.
Point-to-point racing will return to Ballymena for the first time in more than a decade next month.

The Mid-Antrim Hunt point-to-point returns to the town this Saturday after an absence of more than a decade.

In years ghone by, the point-to-point races at Galgorm and Ballymarlow were an integral fixture on the borough’s sporting calendar but in recent years, the event has taken place at the Higgins estate in Moneyglass.

Now, however, it will be held at a brand new venue close to Ballymena in the Caherty townland near the Michelin factory, and the entrance will be off the Caherty Road, Broughshane.

Clerk of the Course, David Crawford and his Assistant Paul Ferguson, are very excited by this new course which should provide excellent racing and it will be a great day out for all the family.

The committee are very grateful to welcome back their faithful sponsors who so kindly support the point-to-point, notably McBurney transport who are providing use of the land and are sponsors of the fourth race, the Open Lightweight Race.

The first race at two o’clock will be for Maiden 4 Year Olds and will as usual be sponsored by Wilson Dennison, through whose hands so many brilliant young horses have passed.

The second race is a Maiden Race for 5 year old Geldings and sponsored by Albert Bartlett and Sons Ltd.

The third race which is the Confined Hunt Race for 5 year olds plus, is a Memorial Chase for both Jack Russell who sadly died recently and was

a past Clerk of the Course for over 20 years, and Andy Hamilton who was a Master of The Mid Antrim Hunt until his death 16 months ago.

The fifth race is sponsored by another generous sponsor, Donnelly & Taggart and is a Maiden Race for 5 year old and upwards Mares.

The point-to-point committee are delighted to welcome a new sponsor to the programme, Brendan Kerr, whose company, NewFerry Fast Freight, based in Bellaghy, are sponsoring the race for Maiden 6 year old and upward Geldings.

It should be a very exciting new addition to the list of point to point venues in Northern Ireland, with great viewing, many new features and improvements.

The committee are very grateful to McBurneys for this opportunity and look forward to a tremendous day.