WITH the fields at Laurencetown being unavailable for their point-to-point tomorrow week, the East Galway Foxhounds are returning to Lisbeg Farms in Eyrecourt, having been invited to do so by Richard Bourns and family.

“Although we run an intensive farm here, we have a deep affiliation with our local hunt and are honoured to oblige them by hosting the point-to-point,” said Richard. “We hosted the meeting for about 20 years, from the mid-1980s.

“We’re involved in show jumping ourselves, but my sisters are very keen on racing, as are all my cousins. The track will be in a new location this year on a high, dry, level part of the farm with a good limestone base and excellent access.”

Richard only returned to Ireland recently following a four-month stay in Florida where son Andrew runs the American arm of Bourns Sport Horses. “We had young Jenny Rankin from Omagh riding for us out there this season and she has really turned a lot of heads, while we have a really good team of horses. We’re building a new facility in Wellington which will be called Lisbeg South and everything will be state of the art.”

During his stay in Florida, Richard spent many an evening in the company of Meath-born Gerry Newman, twice runner-up in the National Hunt jockeys’ championship (to Frank Berry and Joe Byrne) and partner of such good winners as King Spruce (1982 Irish National), Bright Highway (1980 Mackeson and Hennessy Gold Cups), Captain Christy (1975 King George VI Chase) and Chinrullah (1978 Irish Sweeps Hurdle).

“Gerry has been involved in show jumping in the States for a long time now and we enjoy one another’s company,” concluded Bourns, who also includes among his Stateside friends former jockeys-turned-trainers Tommy Skiffington and Bob Champion.