The usual Easter Monday attraction, the South Pembrokeshire Hunt Point to Point steeplechase meeting this year celebrating 70 years at Lydstep, was run against an unfamiliar backcloth of snow on the hills and frequent cold showers that included lots of sleet.

Indeed, after almost continuous rain from the previous evening, during which a month’s rain fell, it came as a surprise to many that the course, showing very soft conditions, should have even been deemed suitable for racing.

However, the attendance, considered to be less than a third of that normally expected, witnessed some superb racing with exciting finishes and former amateur jockey, Glamorgan’s Bradley Gibbs, 23, recorded four excellent wins.

The only time that the meeting has had to be cancelled, other than due to foot and mouth livestock movement restrictions, was in 1959, but one of the organisers explained that, with just two months left, a postponement at this stage of the season was inadvisable due to all other suitable dates having already been filled from the many earlier cancellations.

Race results

Members (sponsored by Owen and Owen) - 1, Way Wild West (Bradley Gibbs); 2, Full Print (Norcan Williams); 3, Highly Unlikely (Charlotte Evans).

Open Maiden for seven year olds and over (Castlemorris Equestrian and Pets) - 1, Padre Toto (Bradley Gibbs); 2, Violet’s Wish (Byron Moorcroft); 3, Darwin Dancer (Jodie Hughes).

Ladies Open (Lydstep Beach Village and Starre Gorse Farm Holiday Park) - 1, Hold Court (Isabelle Williams); 2, Hospital (Emily Nicholas); 3, Tiger Rag (Anna Lewis).

Open Maiden for under seven year olds (Ungoed- Thomas and King) - 1, Court in Flight (Bradley Gibbs); 2, Stella Masini (Byron Moorcroft); 3, Buck Bravo (William Maskell).

Men’s Open (NFU Mutual) - 1, Moral Hazard (Bradley Gibbs); 2, Kelsey (Peter Bryan).

Intermediate (Connolly’s Red Mills) - 1, Thegirlfrommilan (Bradley Gibbs); 2, League of his Own (Byron Moorcroft).

Restricted (Big Brum’s Superstore) - 1, Mason Dixon (Byron Moorcroft); 2, Chasing Casey (Ben Jones); 3, Gone Platinum (Wayne Maskill).