After a disastrous 1999 season when the yard was struck down by a virus, the Bishops Stortford rather/son partnership of Christopher and Simon Sporborg bounced back with a vengeance at the opening fixture of this year's point-to-point season at Cottenham on Sunday.

Having travelled to Hampshire the previous weekend to score a double at Tweseldown, the Sporborgs commenced their East Anglian challenge with an eight length victory by Scarlett O'Hara in the Club Members race.

A well timed piece of riding from jockey Simon produced the horse with a winning run from two out after tracking long time leader Fire On Ice.

In division one of the Open Maiden (two and half miles) The Red Boy produced another winner for the Sporborg yard and a first win for Kevin Edmunds, 32, who joined the yard last summer.

Former champion jump jockey Peter Scudamore was on hand to lead up son Thomas on Glevum, trained by mother Marion Scudamore, and the partnership promptly justified favouritism by romping home by an easy 10 lengths.

Midlands trainer Caroline Bailey scored with an open race double, Secret Bay landing the Mens Open under Ben Pollock, and Imperial Dawn taking the Ladies Open under Lisa Rowe.

The season continues on Saturday with the first of the popular fixtures at Higham, near Colchester.

The first of a seven race card is off at 12 noon.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.