Beach races back after 5 years

Castlepoint Beach Racing Club officials are hoping the huge success of their meeting on Saturday has broken their weather jinx.

It was the first time since 2007 that beach conditions were considered good enough for the always popular event to be staged and a crowd estimated in excess of 2000 enjoyed an eight-race programme.

"I have to say it was a big relief to get things up and running again, we had our fingers crossed right up until race day that the weather would be kind to us," secretary-treasurer Jo Blyth said.

The good news for the Castlepoint club this year was that the easterly winds which had played havoc with the beach conditions in the preceding four years didn't eventuate this time round.

"We did have a strong southerly come through the previous weekend but it didn't have any real effect on the beach at all, it was pretty well perfect for what we wanted," Blyth said.

Pleasing too for the Castlepoint club was the support given them by two of the country's leading trainers in Kevin Myers and John Wheeler.

Myers, who prepared the winner of four of the six thoroughbred races, has always been a strong supporter of the Castlepoint meeting and arrived with no fewer than 21 horses on this occasion, most of whom are being prepared for winter campaigns. The Wanganui trainer won his third Castlepoint Cup when Pennon beat home his stablemates Sonny Wellington and Malachite.

With Wheeler's runners coming all the way from New Plymouth they had to be loaded onto their horsefloat by 3am on raceday. "It was a long, long day for them and their handlers, we really appreciate them making that effort," Blyth said.

Of the more close-to-home trainers it was Tauherenikau's Don Fuge who grabbed the limelight with 2 wins and his success was also a source of pleasure for Castlepoint officials who rely to a great extent on his knowledge as to whether beach conditions are good enough for the meetings to go ahead. "Don's advice is so valuable because he can call things from a trainer's perspective, if he says it's all go then we know it's safe to press on," Blyth said.

Equalisator betting was available at Saturday's meeting but as a service to the public than a source of major revenue to the Castlepoint club.

"We do this as a community event, if we break even we are happy, "Blyth said."We've already had a lot of good feedback about how relaxed everything was. It's not a money making venture and never will be."