There were doubles for Nick Williams and Rhys Hughes at theYstrad Taf
Fechan Hunt Point-To-Point Steeplechases which met with the approval
of H.R.H.The Princess Royal who made an historic first ever visit by royalty to a Welsh point-to-point.

It was also the first time ever that a horse wearing the royal colours had run in a Welsh point-to-point but, apart from the Western Mail, the local media on the whole appeared to show no interest.

One wonders what the response by the Welsh press would have been had The Princess Royal paid a suprise visit to a rugby match- Front page news?

Nick took the members' race on Paul Miles's Lady Myfanwy, who scored by two lengths from It's Definite to bring the mare's total of wins to sixteen, and later won the restricted on his father Robert's Danny's Last who came home well clear of Bizarre Native.

Welsh champion Rhys Hughes had an easy win on Shuil An Burren in the intermediate and later won the inaugural John Lovell Memorial Men's Open race on Bob Bites Back, who occasionally lives up to his name, and who won by six lengths from the pacemaking Lanaken.

Nina Phillips's Title Deed, ridden by Deano Coleman who is shortly joining the paid ranks,scored a two lengths win over H.R.H.The Princess Royal's
Dhu Loch in the young horse maiden.Title Deed is trained by Nina's husband
Joanathan, a chartered surveyor from Bridgend. Apparently, the Princess
thought that her mare might have won but for being hindered when Present D'Aze fell disputing the lead three from home.

However, she was pleased that Dhu Loch's rider Tom David,18, got the mare around the tricky course as it was a faller on its previous start. Incidentally, the racecourse met with the Princess's approval, she described it
as "very pretty''.

Dhu Loch won the best turned out award so the Princess has something to
remind her of her historic visit! One thing certain her appearance at Ystradowen was a tremendous boost to Welsh hunt-racing.

In the aged maiden, Pollerton Boy, a former eventer and a bargain buy at just £750,owned and trained by Paul Riddick, won by a neck from the even-money favourite Lunar Prince.

Lucy Pearce-Rowsell came in for plenty of praise from owner Mark Gichero after winning the ladies' open on his front running Bosham Mill who is trained by Samantha Butler.The odds-on favourite Perouse led briefly four fences from home only to quickly back peddle and was pulled up approaching the penultimate fence.