Country diary

The season for country race meetings is from January to late May. These are described as point-to-points, a definition that described the old-fashioned steeplechases in which our grandparents rode from a start to a finish, over the plough and through the brook and round the steeple on the horizon, negotiating obstacles as they came. Today, meetings are staged over fences of well-constructed close-packed brushwood, and the stamina required demands an equine of quality. Spectators come primarily to watch local participants and, by the day that our local point-to-point arrives in April, every race has been won and lost in the village pubs and tack rooms. There are hundreds of meetings all over Britain.

Cold and wintry weather does not put supporters off attending this exhilarating equine sport - the elements are part of the scene. Diehards have not had their money's worth until they have witnessed a few tumbles and neck-and-neck finishes. Join the crowd around the paddock and watch the horses parade before each race. Listen to the tips from locals, which in most cases it is wiser not to heed. Some back local jockeys, others follow certain numbers, few are foolish enough to choose the bonniest horse or the prettiest rider. They seldom win, although you can do worse than to back a sporting friend.

The atmosphere is tense, young grooms clutching the lead reins, jockeys crouched in their saddles, adjusting stirrups, squaring caps and smiling wryly at friends leaning on the rails. This is the culmination of months of work, early morning gallops and practise fences until, at last, the big day arrives. Recent weather conditions will likely mean that the mud-loving horses will come first past the winning post, and a skilled rider can nurse a tired horse to victory.