A YEAR on from the Government’s ban on hunting, a new season of point-to-point is about to start.

Despite fears for the sport’s future, there will in fact be two additional days in the National Calendar and the local programme has emerged unscathed.

The first meeting in the South East is at Charing on Sunday, February 5, when the SE Hunts Club hold their fixture.

Racing then continues weekly until Saturday, May 13, when the Surrey Union run the final meeting of the season at Peper Harow.

Pony racing will continue and it is expected that some seven meetings will stage this in addition to the normal racing.

There are a few new regulations introduced by the Jockey Club Regulatory Board The most important concerns stricter checks before concussed riders are allowed to return to the action.

Another significant change is now four-year-olds will be allowed to run in points but only in 2.5 mile races. At present, confined to only five, six and seven year old Maidens.

However, should a four-year-old win one of these races, this will automatically preclude it from running in any other race that season.