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PPA E-Newsletter June 2015
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PPA E-Newsletter

Hello again and welcome to the latest PPA e-newsletter.  I can’t believe I have been at the PPA a whole year, how time flies!  I have very much enjoyed getting out and about and meeting so many of you, and wish to thank you for your valuable support. It is clear that the passion for our sport is very strong and that everyone is working hard to encourage newcomers to come to a meeting. 
Clare Hazell
 

Staff news
We are sorry to announce that both Kelly Jones (pictured below left) and Katy Arinc (pictured below right) will be leaving the PPA in June prior to the business moving to its new premises.  On behalf of the PPA I would like to thank them for their good work and loyalty over the years. We wish them both the best of luck in the future. A recruitment process is already underway and the initial response has been encouraging.
                                                        
PPA Office
The expiration of the current lease at Trull has given us the opportunity to review the needs of the PPA and how it delivers its services. It was decided by the Board to relocate the office to The Shrivenham Hundred Business Park near Swindon.  The new office benefits from a high level of security, improved technology, good transport links and communication.  In addition, it brings the PPA Office closer to representatives from other areas of the industry.
As from July 1st our new address is:
Unit 30A
Shrivenham Hundred Business Park
Majors Road
Watchfield
SWINDON
SN6 8TZ
Phone:  01793 781890
 
PPA Annual Report 2013/14
To view a copy of the PPA Annual Report for the period 1st July 2013- 30th June 2014 click here.
 

Regulatory

At a recent Board meeting the following items were discussed:

 

Horse Eligibility

Hunters’ Chase Eligibility (effective from 31st May 2015) can be viewed by clicking here. – HC eligibility is confirmed not provisional.

Provisional Eligibility (BHA Regulation 34) changes for the 2015/16 season can be viewed by clicking here.

Return of Medical Reports BHA Instructions (Section 8.7)  are to be updated to include Medical report return within 24 hours rather than 7 days.

Medical Record Books.  Discussions are on-going with regards to tightening up MRB procedure on race days.

Passing Fit to Ride – (BHA Instruction 8.7 (h)) The BHA Medical Department has requested that P2P Doctors should not have the responsibility of passing riders fit to ride when presented with documentary evidence from the rider’s GP following a fracture, dislocation or concussion.  The BHA Chief Medical Adviser (CMA) only should pass these cases fit to ride.

Body Protectors (BHA Regulations Appendix O) – A body protector must conform to (BS) EN 13158: 2009 or CSN EN 13158: 2009.

Review of Passport Procedure (BHA Instruction 7.1 (f)) - Where vaccination errors occur, owners are expected to send a passport with correct vaccination records within 72 hours of the meeting (where the error is identified), to the Point-to-Point executive at the BHA.  This time period is unachievable and so a review to extend this period is currently underway and an update on a realistic timeframe will be revealed in due course ahead of the 2015/16 season.

Spurs – (BHA Regulations Appendix G) Spurs were removed as acceptable equipment for riding in races under Rules on 28 March 2009.  The relevance of using spurs in race riding is questionable and the BHA further questions the welfare of the horse in using this equipment.

Stewards Panels – Conflict of Interest (BHA Instruction 8.1 (A)) The PPA Board suggests including keepers and agents in the examples of individuals who may affect a conflict of interest.

Starting Procedure The BHA Point-to-Point Regulations and Instructions are similar to the starting procedure introduced under Rules in October 2014. The BHA Executives propose that the starting procedure within Point-to-Point Steeplechasing is brought into line with starting procedures under Rules.  A review will be conducted with current P2P starting teams’ input and discussion with the Point-to-Point secretaries Association and Point-to-Point Owners and Riders Association; the subsequent outline of the procedure will be available ahead of the PPA Board meeting in September 2015. 

Division of Races at Declaration - Several fixtures have run unequal divisions this season. (BHA Instruction 4.4)  The wording shall be amended to reiterate that division of races at declarations must be equal.

Judging Procedure - Judges are increasingly using their own cameras to capture the finish on the winning line, the equipment used is of varying quality and accuracy.  Should the Judge wish to use photo finish equipment on the winning line, organisers must first seek approval from the BHA Inspectorate and confirm this with the BHA Point-to-Point Executive; this will be reflected in the BHA Instructions for the 2015/16 season. 

National Sponsorship Point to Point Finals – Congratulations to the winners

The Bonhams Mens Open Series
Well done to Alan Hill who legged up his son Joe to take the Bonhams Men’s Open Final on Quinz.  A strong field of 10 went to post with Quinz running out a 2 ¼ length winner and Joe celebrating his first success at the home of National Hunt racing.
 

The Connolly Red Mills Precision Nutrition Series
The eighth running of the sought-after championship looked a very competitive affair with 17 horses heading to post.  Congratulations to Paddy Gerety and the connections of Mr Mercurial who ran out a 4 ½ length winner.
 

The Subaru Restricted Series
The inaugural running of the The Subaru Restricted final produced a popular winner in the shape of Mrs F Marriott’s home bred Dabinett Moon.  Dabinett Moon had won four of her last six points the latest in a good time.  Making her rules debut after an early mistake took time to warm to her task and kept on gamely making up five lengths from the home turn.
 

The AGA All-Comers Championships
 An exciting new regional Championship for Owners – the AGA All Comers Championship – has spearheaded the AGA sponsorship this season. The ground breaking Championship consisted of 24 fixtures, and culminated in Finals Day at Chaddesley Corbett on Monday 25th May 2015. The fixture also hosted an Anglo-Irish Challenge between two teams of top riders from the UK and Ireland, and it was fitting that the title was decided in the Ladies Challenge race.  The race was won by Thoonavolla, ridden by the champion-elect lady
rider, Gina Andrews and trained by Tom Weston, so the 2015 AGA All Comers Champions are ‘The Troubled Partnership’. Very well done to all concerned.
 

The AGA Ladies Point to Point Points Series
Well done to The 2015 AGA Championship winner, Hannah Lewis who clinched the title for the second year running!
 

The Mountain Warehouse Anglo-Irish Challenge – Congratulations to Team GB!
Congratulations to the team at Chaddesley Corbett who hosted the third running of the Anglo-Irish Challenge, this year sponsored by Mountain Warehouse. This was the first year the event had been held in the UK and the huge crowd were treated to some superb riding performances, notably from Gina Andrews and Derek O’Connor.
 

Team GB were represented by the following:
Ladies                                         Gentlemen
Gina Andrews                              John Mathias
Hannah Watson                           Jamie Thomas
Claire Hart                                    Nick Orpwood
Cath Walton                                 Robbie Henderson
They took on the Irish whose team is as follows:
Ladies                                         Gentlemen
Maxine O’Sullivan                        Derek O'Connor
Lisa O’Neill                                  Jamie Codd
Elizabeth Lalor                             Barry O'Neill
Stella McGrath                             Declan Queally
 

                                  

To read Pete Mansell’s full report of the day click here.
 

On-line entries for all Fixtures in 2015/16
For the 2014-15 season The Point to Point Racing Company removed the restriction on their online entry service only being available to those fixtures taking the full P2PRC entry service.  This has allowed meetings to continue to take telephone/fax/email entries themselves but at the same time offer Owners and Keepers the choice of entering on-line.  At the April meeting of the PPSA it was agreed that all fixtures would provide the facility to enter races 0n-line via the Point-to-Point Racing Company in 2015/16.
How will this work?
The races will be available for owners and trainers to enter online via www.pointtopointentries.co.uk (approximately 6 days before close of entries) as well as closing with the Entries Secretary of the meeting as normal.
Online entries will be open until 12.30pm of the Monday before the weekend’s racing.
 

Registration Fees 2014-15
Due to a number of uncertainties the level of fees for the 2015/16 season has not yet been agreed.  The fee will be dependent on various factors including negotiations with the BHA with regards to the annual Regulation fee.

Race Programming Committee 
Thank you to all those who took part in the Race Programming survey.  Following the survey, ten recommendations requiring Regulation amendments were put forward to the PPA Board Meeting on May 8th
Whilst it is standard practice for proposed Regulation amendments to work their way through the various stakeholder approval processes, it was agreed to consult the relevant Committees remotely in order to ‘fast-track’ one of the ten recommendations as follows:
“Allow race distances of not less than 2m4f in all categories, limiting this to one race per meeting, except when a ‘young horse’ 2m4f maiden is framed, when there can be two.”
The rationale for the fast-track is that this particular proposal should have the positive response of prompting owners and keepers buying additional horses at this summer’s Horses in Training sales.
 On 15th May 2015 the PPA gained support from the PPSA and PPORA for the proposal and this currently sits with the BHA.
Recommendations not requiring Regulation for 2015/16 include:
Hunt Races:  it is recommended that these should be either the first or the last race on the card and Hunts should be encouraged to amalgamate (up to four hunts can hold a joint Hunt Members race).
Maiden Races:  Fixtures encouraged to run 2m4f Maiden Races for young horses.
Mares:  Create opportunities for Mares as demand increases.
Open Races:  Encourage penalties in open races from February 1st.
Click here to view a copy of David Minton’s presentation to the PPORA at their AGM which contains details of the results of the survey and the Race Programming Committees recommendations.

National Website
Work has started on a new National Website for the sport and all is on target to go live at the beginning of next season.
 

Win £500 worth of AGA Cookshop and AGA Pointing Prizes by completing our important survey.
As an integral part of its future planning, the PPA has commenced an information gathering exercise in order to establish, amongst other things, the identity, location and views of existing and potential participants.  The survey is being carried out in order to frame and ensure the future of the sport and ultimately lay strong foundations for the future.  Please take ten minutes to complete the survey by clicking on the picture.

 

Top Performers
With only a short time to go until the end of the 14/15 season, click here to see the up to date rankings by clicking here.

West Midlands Area Awards Dinner – 19th June
The West Midlands Area are hoping to give a generous donation from their Awards Dinner to injured Point to Point Jockey, Ed Barrett.  They are accepting donations and taking bids on the book for any of the auction lots.  Please click here to view a list of the Auction Lots.

DIARY DATES
 

  • PPSA Committee – 28 July 2015 - London
  • PPORA Committee – 25 August 2015
  • PPA Board Meeting - 1 September 2015
  • Huntingdon Stewards Seminar – 8 October 2015
  • PPA Board Meeting& AGM – 23 October 2015 – Cheltenham
  • Cheltenham Stewards Seminar – 28 October 2015
  • Newcastle Stewards Seminar – 3 November 2015
  • National Dinner & Awards Ceremony - Saturday 14th November 2015 – Put the date in your diary now!!
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