A glorious sunny spring day drew a large attendance at the Mendip Farmers point to point at Ston Easton on Sunday where some competitive racing took place at the very popular North Somerset course. The highlights were another win for Moratorium in the Men's Open, a front running performance from the veteran Caid du Berlais and a welcome winner for Olive Nicholls in the Novice Riders race.

Moratorium has been one of the early pace setters for the leading horse in the country winning his first three races before being beaten in a Hunter Chase at Warwick and finishing fourth in a Conditions race at Didmarton. He continued his winning ways under Nathan Green in the Mens Open race when just prevailing in a tight finish with Duke Arcadio ridden by Will Biddick with the winning distance being a neck. Acquired from Gordon Elliott he has proved to be a good schoolmaster for his two riders Nathan and his trainer Myles Osborne who both work for Ben Pauling. Myles who is currently sidelined from riding with an injury was keen to credit much of the horse's success this season to his partner Celine Delahaye. Myles added that if he runs again it may be at the Cheltenham Hunter Chase evening in May.

Caid du Berlais proved that age is only a number when giving his four younger rivals an exhibition in front running under Natalie Parker in the Ladies Open Race. He was having a battle with market rival Dandy Dan ridden by Lauren Keen-Hawkins when that rival unseated his rider at the second last to allow him to come home clear of Dry Ol' Party ridden by Chloe Emsley. Sam Loxton explained that having a stone less to carry was a real plus and that he would continue to run in Ladies races but did not rule out another run in a Hunter Chase. When asked about whether Caid du Berlais is the best horse Natalie has ridden she replied 'he is gaining in my appreciation but  it will be a hard act to beat Virak on whom I have won a total of nine races'

Another prolific winner in the Wessex point to point area is Monsieur Gibraltar owned by Paul Nicholls and John Bolton. Already the winner of 10 point to points in his career he made it number eleven under Olive Nicholls when winning the Club Members Conditions race. Facing three rivals including two from David Brace's stable he put in some mighty leaps and this was the decisive factor as well as the application of first time cheek pieces. Having his first run this season away from Larkhill the twists and turns of the course seemed to suit him and he had five lengths in hand to spare from Looksnowtlikebrian.

There was an impressive winner of the two and a half mile Maiden race as G A Henty ridden by Chloe Emsley comfortably beat Sweet Moon ridden by Alice Stevens. He had previously finished fourth behind the recently sold Salt Rock at Charlton Horethorne and certainly franked that form. Polly Gundry representing her husband Ed Walker explained that they had had him in their yard for most of the previous year's winter but he had not been ready to run. She added that 'he had come on leaps and bounds from his debut' and as a half -brother to St Barts who has won three races to date under Rules a promising career under Rules is on the horizon. G A Henty was an eminent prolific Victorian novelist and war correspondent. 

Knockmoylan followed up his Maiden success at Charlton Horethorne by easily winning the Restricted race. Following the pace setting Fine Investment Will Biddick resplendent in the bright pink and yellow colours of the Bay Mizzy Rollers Club took the lead at the fifteenth fence and drew clear from the second last. Trained by Chris Barber for the Club he was concerned about running the gelding so soon after his first win but his assistant Harry Ryall assured him that the gelding was on good form with himself and that he should run. The Club, a group of friends headed by Abi Rousell from Misterton near Crewkerne, have a very promising horse to climb the ranks.

The concluding race, the Open Maiden, was won following a front running performance by Captain Mc ridden by Martin McIntyre. Owned and trained by Luke Price he had been acquired privately out of Noel Meade's stable in Ireland. He had been fourth in an Irish point and then placed several times over Hurdles in that country and in his trainer's words the victory was 'not unexpected'. Martin indicated that his jumping towards the end of the race was not the best but his class being by Mahler saw him hold off the challenge of Wise Garden ridden by Will Biddick.