THE new South Midland Area Point-to-Point season gets under way this month in what promises to be another campaign full of the spills and thrills of racing 'between the flags'.

In all there will be 15 meetings with arguably as many differing weather conditions as the seasons runs from winter in January through to late spring in May, starting on Sunday, January 19 at Barbury Castle.

There are several changes to the fixture list this year but many followers will be relieved that one fixture remains at its usual venue - the popular Warwickshire Hunt May Bank Holiday meeting at Ashorne.

One major addition to the list of venues is Towcester racecourse, where the South Midland Area will hold its evening meeting in May.

For the third year running, the Heythrop is trying a new date. The

traditional Tuesday meeting in April was changed to a Saturday in 2001 and last year, but this time it will take place this month.

The national men's riders championship was an exciting affair last season with three-times champion Julian Pritchard missing out on a fourth title by one point when he was denied on the final day of the campaign by outsider Evan Williams.

It was a much different picture in the ladies championship with Polly Gundry running away with the honours.

Fred Hutsby will be out to retain his South Midland men's riders championship - his treble at the Farmers Bloodhounds meeting putting him on the way to his best ever total of 13 winners.

But the winner of the ladies' championship, Lucinda Sweeting, will not be defending her crown after deciding to hang up her boots.

South Midland Area fixtures - Sunday, January 19: Barbury Castle. Sunday, January 26: Heythrop Hunt, Dunthrop, Chipping Norton. Saturday, February 15: Oxford University Hunt Club, Kingston Blount, near High Wycombe. Sunday, February 23: Bicester with Whaddon Chase meeting at Mollington. Sunday, March 2: Farmers Bloodhounds Dunthrop. Saturday, March 8: Oakley Hunt, Towcester. Saturday, March 22: Vale of White Horse Siddington, Cirencester. Sunday, March 23: Grafton Hunt Mollington. Saturday, March 29: Bicester with Whaddon Chase at Kimble, near Aylesbury. Saturday, April 19: Vale of Aylesbury with the Garth and South Berks, Kimble. Monday, April 21: Old Berkshire Hunt, Lockinge, near Wantage. Monday, May 5: Warwickshire Hunt meeting, Ashorne. Saturday, May 10: Vale of Aylesbury, Kingston Blount. Wednesday, May 14: South Midland Hunt Club Towcester. Sunday, May 25: Berks & Bucks Draghounds, Kingston Blount.

For more information call Talking Point on 09068 446061.