The Stewards of the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee (INHSC) have today released the fixture list for the upcoming Spring 2021 Point to Point season. A total of 78 fixtures have been scheduled between Sunday 3rdJanuary 2021 and Sunday 30th May 2021.
Following the enhanced Autumn 2020 fixture list of 38 fixtures, the Spring 2021 Point to Point season is just two fixtures less than the 80 fixtures originally scheduled last Spring.
All scheduled Point to Point fixtures will adhere to Government guidelines applicable at the time and in line with the Covid-19 Protocols for holding Point to Point meetings, which have been successfully used throughout the Autumn season.
Paul Murtagh, INHSC Registrar, commented: “We were presented with quite a number of operational challenges this year due to the pandemic, and as a result we have had to make a number of changes to the Spring season schedule. Traditionally the season would open on 30th December at Duhallow (F) Kanturk at Dromahane but for this year we have had to bring this fixture into the Autumn Season and it will now take place on 20th December. Instead, the opening fixture of the Spring season will take place at United Hunt (F) Lisgoold on 3rd January 2021. Also, in Spring 2020 we scheduled 79 meetings over 21 weekends finishing on the traditional June Bank Holiday weekend, whereas this year we have scheduled 77 fixtures spread over 22 weekends yet finishing a week earlier on 30th May 2021 at South Union (F) Kinsale. In between we have had to make various other changes to Hunt’s traditional dates and I would like to thank all those Hunt Committees that accepted a move from their traditional date so that we could produce a balanced fixture list with fixtures scheduled appropriately throughout the season.”
Commenting on the Autumn 2020 Season to date and the Spring 2021 fixture list, Martin O’Donnell, Senior Steward of the INHSC. said: “The Stewards of the INHSC would like to compliment all the Hunts that agreed to race behind closed doors this Autumn at a time when there was so much uncertainty. We have been delighted with how the Point to Point Community has rallied together and adhered to all the protocols to ensure each fixture could be run off in a safe environment. We look forward to the Spring season and again are grateful to those Hunts that have agreed to hold fixtures behind closed doors. Furthermore, we appreciate the flexibility shown by various Hunt Committees in the scheduling of the season. We hope that owners and the general public can return to Point to Points before long, but in the meantime it is vital that everyone continues to adhere to all the Protocols and Government guidelines. I want to reassure Hunt Committees that the Stewards of the INHSC, the Registrar, Paul Murtagh, and all IHRB staff will continue to assist in every way possible to ensure a successful Spring season.”
