Some familiar faces and legendary figures of point-to-pointing’s Northern Area gathered recently to celebrate more than 50 years of administrative service – and leadership – by Tony Hogarth.
Some 100 people met at Mosshouses, Hogarth's family's farm and home to the Lauderdale point-to-point, following his decision, at the age of 78, to step down as secretary of the Northern Area's Point-to-Point Association. He was joined by his wife, Anne, his daughter Polly and her husband Mike Cregan.
The guests included Mabel Forrest, who in 1973 became the first and only Scottish woman to win the national women's championship, Graham Macmillan, who in 38 years as an amateur partnered more than 250 winners in pointing and under Rules, and won the 1971 Stratford Champion Hunters' Chase (Horse & Hound Cup) on Credit Call, Jimmy Walton, who rode 214 winners, and Pauline Robson, who won the northern women riders' title in all but two years from 1992 to 2004 (inclusive), riding 171 point-to-point winners and another 44 under Rules.
Also in attendance were John Alder, champion area riders Sandy Forster, John Shadwick, and Jean Thompson, six-time title-holder Clive Storey, plus Ian Scott-Aiton – the last-named is the most recent Northern Area rider to have taken the Grimthorpe Gold Cup, his win coming in 1978 on Sea Petrel.
Double champion Charlie Sample, a former area secretary and current treasurer, and John Leadbetter, now local PPORA representative and the trainer of Grand National winner Rubstic, joined the celebration, as did former leading riders Peter and Rhona Elliot – Peter was a former area chairman.
Hogarth, who was presented with a memento by Pauline Robson, began his involvement in pointing administration at the age of 22, when his father, Jimmy, told a meeting of the Lauderdale Hunt that his son would take on the role of secretary to their point-to-point – Hogarth was on a night out with fellow young farmers, and knew nothing of the appointment until given the news on his return home.
He took to the role with ease, and six years later was made secretary of the sport in the region. He later combined that 'local' role with the national one as chairman of the Point-to-Point Secretaries' Association.
During his time in the sport Hogarth has been instrumental in driving forward such innovations as tuition and insurance for riders, pony racing, stewards' seminars, local awards dinners and an early version of a pamphlet that was to lead to the Planner.
He has been replaced as area secretary by another experienced local administrator, Hilary Mactaggart.
(left to right) Tony Hogarth, Jean Thomson, Graham Macmillan and Mabel Forrest