THE point-to-point season in the northern region commenced last Saturday at Necarne Castle where local trainers had a good start by winning half of the six races at the Fermanagh Hunt meeting.

Warren Ewing landed the opening Dennison Commercials four-year-old maiden with the newcomer Bold Endeavour, a Fame And Glory gelding who was bred in Britain by well-know show jumping supporter Lisa Hales. The bay is out of the Accordion mare Araucaria who won two bumpers and two hurdle races.

Brian Hamilton quickly followed up by saddling the French-bred Ballydam to land the Albert Bartlett five-year-old geldings’ maiden for the local Lonely Poet Syndicate.

This Saint Des Saints bay ran five times previously for Colin McKeever whose charge, Dukehill, a debutant by Milan, he beat on Saturday by three lengths.

Derrylin-based David Christie sent out his second winner of the season, from five runners, when John Hegarty’s Winged Leader landed the six-runner open by a length. The six-year-old Winged Love gelding was one of only two Irish-bred winners at the fixture, but more disappointingly, none of the winners was partnered by a northern rider.

Hopefully, all with be put to right at this afternoon’s Mid Antrim meeting outside Toomebridge where hard work by the committee has resulted in all races being sponsored.