Leading figures philosophical after second lockdown forces new closure

Two kicks in a week would be upsetting for any horseman or woman, but a national lockdown in England followed by the short-term closure of point-to-pointing have been a pair of painful blows.

Wednesday’s announcement by the Point-to-Point Authority (PPA) that, in common with sports like golf and tennis, point-to-pointing in Britain is shutting down for the duration of the ‘four-week’ national lockdown, means the sport and its competitors have been double-
barrelled twice with both hind feet.

Forced to end last season in March, three months earlier than planned by the first nationwide order to stay at home, point-to-pointing in Britain rallied and with a wealth of collective enterprise opened the 2020-21 season three weeks ahead of schedule.