THE 2005 point-to-point fixture list has been organised so racing enthusiasts can complete their diaries.

West Midland area meetings have tended to become concentrated over the Easter holiday period during the past five years and that has not been conducive to providing our owners/trainers and riders with a balanced programme.

This undue bias around a particularly busy period in the racing calendar resulted in an early season famine, followed by a glut of meetings in the middle and another famine at the end. This problem has been rectified for next year and should be to the benefit of all concerned.

The Harkaway Cub moved to a February date last year and this proved very popular and is repeated in 2005 with Chaddesley Corbett hosting the first West Midland meeting on Saturday, February 12. This is an ideal course for horses having their first run of the season. It has been well supported by local owners and trainers in the past and good days racing is assured.

The Duke of Beaufort's point-to-point at Didmarton is always staged on the first Saturday in March and this year's meeting takes place on Saturday, March 5. The area is blessed with some superb courses and the atmosphere at Didmarton is second to none. Racing is of the highest quality and attracts runners from all over the West Country so local combinations will need to be at their best to repel these challengers.

The Cotswold meeting at Andoversford is usually run in early April but with its location high on the Cotswold escarpment this well-draining course provides its organisers with the flexibility to move to a much earlier date in the point to point calendar. This in turn has provided a far greater balance to the programme in the West Midlands.

The new date is Sunday, March 13 which is on the weekend prior to Cheltenham's National Hunt festival and might prove popular if people want to extend their visit prior to the best four days of racing on the National Hunt calendar.

Local combinations can then have a good break before the Easter holiday period. There is a familiar look for this weekend with the North Cotswold meeting at Paxford due to take place on Monday, March 28, while the Croome & West Warwickshire fixture takes place at Ryalls Court, Upton-upon-Severn on Tuesday, March 29.

The Ledbury stage the first Maisemore Park meeting. This meeting has become very popular in recent years so expect plenty of runners for their fixture on Sunday, April 3.

The Cotswold Vale Farmers transferred their meeting to Andoversford for the 2004 season and continue at the venue. Entries were thin on the ground last year, which indicates that the move did not receive universal approval, so they will be hoping to get a better response for this year's meeting on Sunday, April 10.

The Lady Dudley Cup takes place during the Worcestershire meeting at Chaddesley Corbett on Saturday, April 16, the second fixture to be staged at this venue. Last year's race attracted a quality field and it is hoped that this trend continues.

Local owners and riders were left with divided loyalties when the Berkeley and Clifton-on-Teme meetings were held on consecutive days in recent years, but this clash has been avoided in 2005 so the Berkeley have the field to themselves at Woodford on Saturday, April 23. The Intermediate at this meeting has become the area feature race, which means an increase in prize money for this event and this should help attract good quality entries.

The North Ledbury returned to the West Midland fold in 2004 and quickly settled into a new date on the May Day bank holiday weekend and that trend continues with the 2005 meeting scheduled for Maisemore Park on Monday, May 2.

Chaddesley Corbett stages its third meeting of the season when the Wheatland point to point is held at the Worcestershire course on Sunday, May 8. With just one other fixture down in the West Country as competition, they can look forward to a bumper crowd.

The void in the end of season fixtures has been filled by the Clifton-on-Teme, who have avoided their traditional clash with the Berkeley by moving their meeting to Saturday, May 21.

This will provide an alternative venue for those race goers who do not wish to make the long journey down to Exmoor so there could be a record number of first time visitors to this picturesque course near Bromyard. Arrangements are already in place to provide as good a ground as possible at that stage of the season.

The Albrighton Woodland stage their traditional end of season finale at Chaddesley Corbett on Monday, May 30. This meeting has provided an exciting climax to the destiny of the Area Awards in the past and is likely to do so again during 2005.

2005 FIXTURES.

February 12, Harkaway Club (Chaddesley Corbett). March 5, Duke of Beaufort (Didmarton). March 13, Cotswold (Andoversford). March 28 North Cotswold (Paxford). March 29, Croome & WW (Upton-upon-Severn). April 3, Ledbury (Maisemore Park). April 10, Cotswold Vale (Andoversford). April 16, Worcestershire (Chaddesley Corbett). April 23, Berkeley (Woodford). May 2, North Ledbury (Maisemore Park). May 8, Wheatland (Chaddesley Corbett). May 21, Clifton on Teme (Upper Sapey). May 30, Albrighton Woodland (Chaddesley Corbett).