HUNDREDS of racegoers will descend on the Tyne Valley on Sunday as an historic event enters a new chapter.

The Tynedale Point-to-Point is expected to attract almost 100 competitors, and a crowd of up to 1,000 spectators, when it takes place at the Downhills course near Corbridge.

The annual race meeting celebrated its Diamond Jubilee 12 months ago, and excitement is building ahead of the 61st event at Downhills.

Ben Speke and his wife Ailsa have organised the point-to-point for the past six years, alongside a dedicated sub-committee of the Tynedale Hunt, and with the support of up to 100 other volunteers.

Ben said: “The weather has been so kind to us leading up to this year’s point-to-point, and we’ve been able to get further ahead of schedule in terms of our preparation.

“The course is looking better than ever, all the way around. I don’t think we’ve ever had ‘good going’ in the years we’ve been involved, but it is this year.

“That being said, we’re hoping for good weather on the day. We would love the sun to come out because we want families to come along and enjoy themselves.”

Ben said there were 98 entries for this year’s event, which he said was impressive given an outbreak of equine flue at a stables in Cheshire earlier this month, which led to a six-day shutdown of horse racing across Britain.

“We were uncertain as the to the level of entries,” he said. “But we’ve got 98 and are abolutely delighted with that.

“Sponsorship levels are good, and there has been a lot of interest in the Tynedale Point-to-Point, including from students at Newcastle’s Universities.

“We hope to welcome all interested parties along on Sunday, and we also want it to be a day for children to enjoy.”

Weather permitting, there will be a bouncy castle for children at the venue. Although last year was the event’s official diamond jubilee, records show that the Tynedale Hunt first hosted a point-to-point back in 1883, at a venue near Belsay.

The event took place for many years, but stopped during both World Wars. It was first staged at Downhills in 1948, but took place elsewhere, at the Stelling near Newton, between 1949 and 1958. Since then, it has been an ever present at Downhills.

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