THE new point-to-point season begins next weekend and a large number of point-to-point handlers and licensed trainers attended a meeting in the Horse & Jockey Hotel in Co Tipperary this week to discuss important issues facing the sport.

Among those in attendance were Colin Bowe, Donnchadh Doyle, Aidan Fitzgerald, ‘Shark’ Hanlon, John Gleeson, Mick Winters, James Sheehan, Robert Tyner, Paurick O’Connor, Jimmy Mangan and James Doyle.

The meeting was convened by the Irish Point-to-Point Handlers Association, whose chairman Gerry Kelleher sat alongside Eugene O’Sullivan and regional secretary Frankie Ward at the top table.

The Association played a significant role in winning extra funding for point-to-points last year and the committee is hopeful that further increases will follow.

Other matters included the new hunter certificate system, handlers’ licenses, prize money and race planning.

Starting with this season handlers must have a Horse Racing Ireland account to ensure hunter certificate registration payments are processed. Handlers must now sign the hunter certificates.

It was noted that current prize money levels are still below that of 10 years ago, and it was strongly felt that further increases were required to encourage an owner or handler to keep a point-to-point horse in training for a season.

Opinions differed on the issue of highly-rated chasers competing in open races. It was noted that First Lieutenant and Sir Des Champs had failed to make much of an impact in terms of race wins, while Foxrock and others went hunter chasing after a very short time in opens.

As a compromise it was suggested that some opens should be restricted to non-listed or graded winners.

There was widespread support for the introduction of a series of races for older maidens as these races were most likely to provide opportunities for novice riders.

Staffing was identified as a massive problem for all handlers, many of whom are struggling with the amount of administrative work required.