Top Point-to-Point racing event comes to Dowth on October 29th
IRELAND’S largest Point-toPoint and Country Fair, takes place on Sunday, October 29th at the Devenish Lands at Dowth.
Building on the success of last year, this year’s event will also host the Hannon Travel Anglo-Irish Point to Point Challenge at Dowth, kindly sponsored by Hannon Travel as top Point-to-Point Jockeys from Ireland & Great Britain go headto-head in a hotly contested challenge race.
Lining out for Team Ireland will be leading lady jockey and face of the 2017 Point-to-Point; Lisa O’Neill, six-time champion ladies title holder Liz Lalor, Derek O’Connor, who is the most successful Irish point-topoint rider of all time. Two-time National Champion Jamie Codd with over 1,000-winners to his name along with top riders Maxine O’Sullivan, Shauna Larkin, Barry O’Neill , the current Champion and Rob James.
Saddling up for Team Great Britain will be Will Biddick; a six-time Men’s Champion & holder of the record for the number of wins in a Season in the UK and Gina Andrews who has been crowned Ladies’ Champion four times. They will be joined by leading UK jockeys Claire Harwick, John Dawson, Tabitha Worsley, Katy Lyons, Alex Edwards and Evan David for what promises to be a thrilling contest over the two Challenge races..
There will also be four other races and two exciting pony club races to sign off the day’s action on the track.
Last year’s event drew crowds of over 5,000. This year will see an extended entertainment & Country Fair line up including the Maperath Mobile Farm, Newgrange Falconry,The Royal Meath Bee Keepers, The Deer Society, Fly-Tiers as well as Gun Dog, Shooting and Archery demos.
A new addition for this year is The Equipet Dog Show. Popular categories will include classes for Best Family Pet, Best Toy Dog, Dog most like its Owner, Best Dressed Dog, Best Junior Handler, Waggiest Tail and the overall prize for Best in Show
Visitors can also enjoy perusing the Shopping Village with brands such as Dubarry, Sports Den, John Fitzgerald Art, Nyles & Rafe, Carol Sheridan Interiors, Siobhan English Photography, Chislers Kids Clothing, Swaggles Dog Collars, H&S Basket-ware as well as a wide range of craft exhibitors to peruse.
Foodies can sample their way around the Artisan Food Market and enjoy food-on-thehoof from the award-winning gourmet food & coffee vendors in the Picnic Paddock. with cookery demonstrations from food ambassador and Michelin star chef, Richard Corrigan.
Families can enjoy a wide range of free children’s entertainment and good old-school outdoorsy fun with bouncy castles, puppet shows, face-painting, magic shows, arts and crafts, pumpkin carving, outdoor games, pony rides, a GrowYour- Own workshop and more. Kids entertainment is free and admission to The Point-to-Point is free for all children under 12.
Tickets are €10 each, under 12’s go free. For further information and to purchase tickets see: www.DowthP2P.ie.