WHILE another win will put her name in the history books, North Tyne rider Catherine Walton is treating the coming point-to-point season like any other.

Success in the 2016 Northern Area point-to-point would see the 28 year old become the first person to win six ladies’ jockey championships in a row.

But as the season got under way at Alnwick last weekend, the talented rider wasn’t concentrating on number crunching or breaking records.

She said: “I don’t really notice stats like this, and I wasn’t aware of the record. I just try not to think about these things and just concentrate on the task in hand.

“So I’ll not be approaching this season any differently really; everything will be the same as every other year.

“I just try my best and if I win, it’s an added bonus.

“When I’m competing, it doesn’t really hit me until the last couple of fixtures and that’s when I start thinking, ‘how many points am I on?’, and ‘how many are the other riders on?’

“It will be a great achievement if I break the record, and an honour really, but we’ll just have to wait and see.”

Catherine, who also rides Under Rules, this weekend claimed another landmark in her career as she recorded the elusive 100th win under all codes.

She had frustratingly been stuck on 99 winners since before Christmas, taking on around 20 races during that time, but three wins at Alnwick saw her pass that target.

Catherine is making a big name for herself as an amateur jockey, an interest she has held for as long as she can remember.

Her first ride on a pony came as soon as she could walk, and she grew up with horses as she lived between her parents’ houses in Wark and Rothbury.

Now based at Middleham in North Yorkshire, as she runs one of the yards for Micky Hammond Racing, her love for all things equestrian has only strengthened over time.

She started competing in point-to-point at Alnwick 12 years ago when she was bitten by the bug.

She said: “My first ride was at Alnwick on a horse called Coquet Gold. I knew her well as I had hunter trialed on her and she looked after me.

“We have young horses at home and what I like about point-to-point is that it’s a nice way to bring them on.

“ Similarly for jockeys, it’s a good way for young people to get into racing and a good starting point.”

Now concentrating more on racing Under Rules, Catherine still supports point-to-point and aims to compete in many fixtures in the northern calendar as she bears down on another title.

She insists it significantly developed her as a rider and played a big part in making her the polished jockey she is today.

“Point-to-point provides a great grounding in racing.

“I have stayed amateur as I enjoy it, have got good friends and there are good people I ride with.”