About Us - A Short History of the PPORA

In 1977 Jim Mahon called together a group of owners to organise an appeal to the Jockey Club to ask for a 7lb weight allowance for five-year-olds in point-to-points. 28 people attended this meeting, and the suggestion was made that an owners’ association should be formed.

Jim was elected first Chairman, and remained in that position until becoming President in 1986. He was succeeded in the chair by Percy Tory, our current President, who took on the latter task when Jim sadly died in 2001. It was Percy’s charm and diplomacy which finally secured the longed-for representation on the Jockey Club Liaison Committee in 1990.

Much has been achieved and many charities have benefited from the association’s generosity. Each Chairman, who now serves a three year term, has made his own contribution to improving the sport, and under Michael Bannister’s guidance the organisation changed its name from The Point-to-Point Owners’ Association to encompass the riders in 1995.

Michael was followed by John Sharp, who secured the right for jockeys to ride in both divisions of a split-on-the-day race. John’s successor Richard Russell had his arm twisted to stay in office for an extra 12 months after the 2001 season, which occurred during the first year of his reign, was decimated by FMD. Richard, who was instrumental in the growth of Novice Riders’ races, continues to work tirelessly on behalf of the sport, and as an independent member on the Point-to-Point Board chaired the Review which took place in 2006/7.

The next to hold the post was Simon Claisse, who juggled the task with the workload from his day job, that of Director of Racing and Clerk of the Course at Cheltenham. During his tenure Simon had to cope with many changes, including the implementation of the Hunting Act in 2005, the formation of the Point-to-Point Board and the creation of the Point-to-Point Authority. Increased insurance cover for riders and a Public Liability deal for owners have been the result of Simon’s negotiations with the relevant organisations.

  The “new kid on the block” is owner Richard Fuller, who also enjoyed a victory in the saddle, and who, as a former Master of the Vine & Craven, stresses the importance of retaining the sport’s hunting links. Both the horse and rider sponsorships have come to fruition during Richard’s reign, and he is hoping that help with costs will encourage more riders into the sport. And while mindful of safety issues he is determined that the Corinthian spirit synonymous with Pointing should not be allowed to diminish.

Other innovations initiated by the PPORA have been the popular and worthwhile riders’ seminars, the recognition of multiple ownership, the introduction of sub-three mile point-to-points, compulsory medical insurance for all riders, and the chance for jockeys to demonstrate their acting skills. This latter example has come about since jockeys who have had a fall have been required to be passed fit by the doctor before competing again at the meeting – perhaps the fact that the medics think that they must all be mad to start with helps their cause.

Of course, it’s not the Chairman who does the work, but the Secretary. Sue Exell, Anne Moore and Rosemary Harper kept the ship afloat in the early years, and Jeanette Dawson has, since 1988, become a dab hand at sweet-talking the sponsors – no wonder some of them stick with us for so long! And this season Jeanette has landed a real coup with negotiating a Ladies’ series backing from AGA, the first time the company has dipped its toe into sponsorship of any sort.”

The most forward-thinking of men, Jim Mahon could surely never have realised in 1977 what a powerful organisation the PPORA would grow into. May the sport we all love become ever stronger!

Carolyn Tanner