Insurance crisis threatens link between pointing and hunting for a first time

Hunting and point-to-pointing have been linked since 1752 when the famous first steeplechase took place between Messrs Blake and O'Callaghan, but the current insurance difficulties facing the sport risk breaking the link for the first time.

Point-to-pointing takes place at courses which are inspected twice by the IHRB. Flags, fences and bypass arrangements are all considered in the pre-course inspection, while on the day itself doctors and vets are on course should they be needed with suitable medical equipment.

All riders have undergone a licensing course which is overseen by the IHRB and each handler is also licensed by the regulator.