MARGIE McLoone in The Irish Field this weekend 10 years ago reported that everything was set for the first Sunday point-to-point to take place in Northern Ireland. Scheduled for a week later at Maralin, it was to be the second session of a two-day meeting hosted by the Killultagh, Old Rock and Chichester Harriers.

Having managed to get through a nine-race card on the Saturday, the decision was made to call off the Sunday fixture. As Margie wrote in her report, “the ground was already soft prior to racing [on Saturday] and some heavy showers during the afternoon made conditions very testing”. The opening race at Maralin on the Saturday was the first division of a five and six-year-old mares’ maiden. It was won by Emma Jane, ridden by Ciaran Moran with what Margie called “the riding performance of the day”, and she had just a head to spare over Lispopple Lady on the line.