Sporting Prints

27/08/2026

The last time we were at……………………………Erw Lon was on the 27th February 2010 for the Carmarthenshire Hunt Point to Point.

Like many of us many happy hours were spent at Erw Lon in all sorts of weather. They raced at the Carmarthenshire Course from 1979, sometimes holding two or three meetings a season.

Whatever misgiving there were about the course at Erw Lon, it served Welsh Point to Pointing very well over the years.

If you have any memories of this unique course, please share your thoughts with us.

The going on that day was described as “Soft, Holding in Places”.

The results: Hunt Members Race:
1st Pelennor (4/7F) ridden by Rhys Hughes.
Trained by Robert Scrine/John Moore for Carl Pyne.
2nd Pussigny ridden by Jessica Jones.
3rd Last Symphony ridden by Dai Jones.
5 Ran.
Mens Open Race:
1st Makena (7/2) ridden by John Mathias.
Trained by Kristal Harris for Mr D L Evans.
2nd Balearic Star ridden by Paul Tolman.
3rd Alfabet Souk ridden by J Hooper.
6 Ran.
Connolly’s Red Mills Intermediate Race;
1st Oca De Thaix (5/2) ridden by John Mathias.
Trained by Robert Luke for Charlotte Evans.
2nd Crofton ridden by Josh Harris.
3rd Banbury Babe ridden by Ben Poste.
7 Ran.
Ladies Open Race:
1st Warsaw Pact (4/7F) ridden by Chloe Roddick.
Trained by Robert Scrine/John Moore for Mrs C Rhead.
2nd Naughty by Nature ridden by Lucy Jones.
3rd Back the Bid ridden by Sally Randell.
5 Ran.
Restricted Race:
1st Rith Bob (1/2F) ridden by John Mathias.
Trained By Dai Rees for Mr D Rees.
2nd Farnogue ridden by Dai Jones.
3rd Duggan’s Forge ridden by Paul Tolman.
9 Ran.
Open Mares Maiden Race:
1st Princesse De Rome (3/1) ridden by Rhys Hughes.
Trained by Robert Scrine/John Moore for Mr M J McMahon.
2nd Bunny McDougall ridden by Nathan Deakin.
3rd Little Miss Monty ridden by Emily Farr.
12 Ran.
Open Maiden (Horses & Geldings):
1st Mr Who (3/1) ridden by Ruth Birt-Llewellin
Trained by Ruth Birt-Llewellin for Mr J Birt-Llewellin
2nd O’Rage ridden by Richard Woollacott.
3rd Willottie ridden by Emily Farr.
11 Ran.

26/08/2026

For your diary.

23/08/2026

Chepstow Centenary.

If you are an enthusiast of “racing between the flags”, the Dunraven Bowl Open Hunters’ Steeplechase at Chepstow at the end of April is the place to be.

David Brace OBE first sponsored this race in 1996, when the first winner was Miss Millbrook ridden by Evan Williams. Evan won the race on a further two occasions with Cherry Gold in 2003 and 2004. Cherry Gold won it again, for Bob Mason in 2005, with Jason Cook in the saddle.

The present Clerk of the Course at Chepstow, Dai Jones, was a winner in 2006 with Keith Pritchard’s Cannon Bridge.

As for the race's sponsor, David Brace OBE, his dream come true in 2019 when his home bred Pink Eyed Pedro, given a great ride by a then 16-year-old Jack Tudor, romped home by eleven lengths.

David won it again in 2022 with Gats and Co (Tristan Durrell) and in 2025 again with Pink Eyed Pedro, James King in the saddle.

Bradley Gibbs has always had a close connection with David Brace, winning the race himself with the mare, My Coranna, in 2016.

At a later date we will have a look at some of the other winners of this great race.

14/08/2026

Memories of Chepstow.

March 1892.

Inaugural 2-Day meeting of Chepstow Steeplechases took place at St. Arvans , barley two miles from Piercefield Park on the 22nd/23rd March 1892 with Henry Hastings Clay owner of Priestfield House acting as Steward. He later became director of the Chepstow Racecourse Company.

Fast forward to the early 2000’s, when a series of Charity Races were held for amateur riders.

Who do you recognise?

12/08/2026

On Saturday at Perth and Market Rasen the National Hunt season resumes after its summer break.

Before that we can have a quick look to see how our jump jockeys’/trainers have fared since the start of the current season in April.

Harry Skelton leads the way with 64 wins (38% strike rate) from Sean Bowen with 51 wins (24%). Maybe stating the obvious, but it is beginning to look like a two “horse” race already. Sean is up against the mighty Dan Skelton yard, with 65 winners already this season. Sean, who is the defending his National Jump Jockeys title will not be too disappointed with the season so far, knowing there is a long way to go yet.

Somebody who will be very pleased is Sean’s brother Mickey Bowen, who sits second in the trainer’s championship (to Dan Skelton) with 21 wins and £241k in prize money.
Back to the jockeys, Ben Jones and James Bowen have 10 wins each, Jack Tudor has 6 wins.

Charlie Price and Callum Pritchard have 4 wins each, Conor Ring (3), Lorcan Williams (2), Lewis Saunders (1), Ellie Williams (1) and Ellis Collier (1).

Christian Williams has seven entries at Perth on Saturday (one twice), that is a journey of around about 450 miles for Christian and his staff to have to make from their stables at Ogmore-By-Sea. Even further for Mikey Bowen who has three entries at the Perthshire track. Mickey Bowen also has three entries at Market Rasen.

This affectively the middle part of the season where we start to head for the beginning of October, this is when the National Hunt season really begins with a the three-day meeting at Chepstow.

11/08/2026

09/08/2026

A post card from Chepstow Racecourse 1926.

It was 100 years ago in August 1926 when Chepstow Racecourse opened its gates for the first time.

The inaugural 2-Day meeting at Piercefield Park was staged on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th August 1926 when a record crowd of 20,000 were in attendance.

The opening race, the St Lawrence Selling Plate for 2 year olds over 6 furlongs, went to Lord Harewood's Corca D'Oro (7/4 Fav) trained by Basil Jarvis and ridden by Henri Jelliss.

The image is AI generated.

07/08/2026

Wales Area Point to Point Awards 2025/26.

Welsh Champion Horse. For horses qualified in the Wales Area, gaining the most points in races held in Wales.

Is Our Otis owned by Robert Jones and trained by Joanne Priest.
Up For Appeal owned and trained by Dewi Haddock.

Welsh Champion Horse. For the horse qualified in Wales Area gaining the most wins in races held in the UK.

Lavorante owned by Mr D Van-Poucke & Luke Price and trained by Luke Price.

Wales Champion Maiden Horse. For the Horse Qualified in the Wales Area who gained the most points at meetings held in the Wales Area. Horses must be maidens at the start of the season.

Mini Yeats Trained and Owned by Tim Vaughan.
Shareyourbiscuits owned by The Win or Lose We are on the Booze Partnership trained by Luke Price.
Laura’s Girl Owned by Gary Barber and trained by Abbi Willmott.

Welsh Champion Owner. For the owner gaining the greatest number of wins at meetings held in Wales.

Robert Jones (Is Our Otis) & Dewi Haddock (Up for Appeal).

Leading Trainer. For Welsh based trainers gaining the greatest number of wins at meetings held in Wales.

Dewi Haddock & Luke Price.

Leading Trainer. For the Welsh based trainer gaining the greatest number of wins at meetings held in the UK.

Luke Price.

Champion Welsh Gentleman Rider. For the gentleman rider resident within the area and holds a rider’s certificate granted by a hunt in Wales who gains the most points at meetings held in Wales during the season.

Edward Vaughan.

Leading Rider Outside Wales. For the rider resident within Wales holding a rider’s certificate granted by a hunt in Wales who records the greatest number of wins in races held in the UK.

Edwards Vaughan.

Champion Welsh Lady Rider. Lady rider resident within the area and who holds a rider’s certificate granted by a Hunt in Wales who gains the most points at meetings held in Wales during the season.

Carys Morris.

Champion Welsh Novice Rider. Novice Riders who have not ridden more than five point-to-point winners at the start of the season. Riders must be resident in Wales and hold a rider’s certificate granted by a Hunt in Wales who gains the most points at meetings held in Wales during the season.

Dewi Haddock.

Well done everybody.

29/07/2026

Bradley Gibbs - Read Carl Evans's report from the gbpointing.co.uk web site.

Bradley Gibbs has moved yards ahead of gaining a full trainer’s licence, but says he will continue to ride as an amateur for the forseeable future. He has also gained a talented new addition to his team by employing Ed Vaughan, Britain’s former national novice men’s champion. The move complete...

13/07/2026

🍾Happy Birthday, Brian Lee, 90 years young today.
Wishing you all the best on your special day.🎉