International Point-to-Point heads for Cocklebarrow

The International Point-to-Point, formerly staged at Barbury since 2017, will now take place at Cocklebarrow Racecourse near Northleach in Gloucestershire, on Sunday December 11^th 2022, known as the International, at Cocklebarrow.

Stumps were drawn earlier this summer at Barbury Racecourse after some 30 years of Point-to-Point racing, due to rising costs, leaving each of the three fixtures to find alternative venues or disappear altogether.

Cocklebarrow Races, now in its 7^th year, has proved formidably successful under the guidance of trainer and columnist Charlie Brooks, with its annual January fixture bucking trends for mid-winter footfall. The racecourse is well-supported by trainers and owners and sits amidst a county where horseracing is well supported.

“We’re delighted to have found a new home for this unique fixture which remains the only UK one open to professional British and Irish trainers, at which Irish riders can also take part,” reported Secretary Ilona Barnett who continued, “The meeting remains the most supported in terms of volume of entries among any of the 150+ UK Point-to-Point fixtures, and we look forward to transferring that loyalty to Cocklebarrow for 2022.”

Fran and Charlie Poste, leading exponents of the development of young horses through the Point-to-Points scene, added, “We are delighted the International meeting has managed to find a new course in the south midlands area. We are looking forward to supporting the fixture with runners in December”.