One of the social highlights in the Fife spring calendar has had to be abandoned for the first time due to wet weather.
The organising committee of the Balcormo point-to-point race meeting, due to be held on Saturday at its traditional countryside venue near Leven, have decided to abandon the event following advice from the British Horseracing course inspector.
Speaking to The Courier, principal organiser, point-to-point secretary and course builder Sir John Gilmour confirmed that poor underfoot conditions caused by recent rain, and a ”horrendous” weather forecast for the days ahead, had led to the abandonment. He also confirmed the meeting will not be rescheduled.
He said: ”We had been warned about it all week, but the jockey club inspector went around this morning as did the regular course inspector. The course is unusable now due to there having been so much rain.
”Ironically we did some remedial work on the course after last year’s hard ground. But the forecast for the next few days is looking horrendous with rain and gales blowing in.
”It’s frustrating but we’ve been left with little alternative but to cancel.”
The popular meeting, which annually attracts hundreds of steeplechase entrants and thousands of spectators, has been held at Balcormo Mains three miles north of Lundin Links since 1921, although it first dates back to around 1880.
Sir John said it had never been abandoned before, but a few years ago inclement weather did force it to be re-run.
This year, however, no alternative race card slot was available and it had to be abandoned completely.
A lot of organising work had gone in behind the scenes but one saving grace was that the abandonment came before the race programmes had gone to the printers.
Balcormo Mains is Britain’s most northerly point-to-point venue.
Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Central Scotland Horse Trials, due to be held at Scone this weekend, could also succumb to the weather. Organisers are currently planning to make their decision on Friday.