Competitive racing at Crawley and Horsham point to point

From that point the going was just eased by the rain, making it genuinely soft rather than tacky. All credit goes to Jamie Hawksfield and his team for having the course in such outstanding condition and to sponsors whose support for all six races contributed to a good day.

An excellent family double was one of the highlights when West Sussex trainer Carolyn Gorman saddled up Old Kilminchy and Merry Vic to win, with both horses ridden by her husband Marcus Gorman.

The Gormans have proved to be a formidable team this season, with five horses in training for point to points and some good victories to their credit.

They came away with a handful of trophies when Old Kilminchy won the opening Crawley and Horsham Hunt Members and Farmers race in a very tight finish. It was nip and tuck all the way from two out, with the leading changing with eventual second Sword Fighter, trained by Ian Cobb at Pulborough.

Sam Hanson (22), who works for Nick Gifford and looks after stable star Straw Bear, is clearly an up and coming jockey for the future. He gave Sword Fighter a terrific ride.

Marcus Gorman admitted that Old Kilminchy made him work for the victory, but said that an outing hunting the previous week had helped rekindle the horse's enthusiasm.

Carolyn said that Old Kilminchy, who had finished second at Cheltenham two years ago, and is now 12, had last year off and had not quite been performing to his best this year.

Their second winner of the day, Merry Vic, was a justifiable 4-5 favourite following two impressive wins this season. He won the David Sandemans Memorial Confined Hunts Race. The Gormans bought him from Tom Costello in the summer and realised when he finished third at Cottenham that he stays. His target is the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate Final at Cheltenham in May.

Sutton trainer and rider Heather Kemp also had a good day with her three runners. Clover Bay, owned by Sarah Dawson, plugged on with determination in the Tim Dunlop Memorial Restricted Race to take third place in a race where ten set out and only three finished, with the remaining runners failing to stay the course.

" Sarah is an MS sufferer and was admitted to hospital earlier this week and the commentary was relayed to her by mobile phone. Despite her problems she was adamant her horse should run. Clover Bay jumped superbly and she tried her heart out but the ground was simply too tacky for her. She has been second and third on her two runs and her day will come," predicted Heather.

Her second runner, Nathos, who had won previously, finished second to Merry Vic in the fourth race. " He was beaten by a better horse on the day," said Heather.

But her third runner, Sounds Good, owned by Roy Hartop, won the Latilla-Campbell Open Maiden Race in fine style, given an excellent ride by Heather.

She said:" He was brilliant. He has run three times for us now, finishing second, third and has now won. I particularly liked his attitude on the run-in, as he really knuckled down and tried. He was always travelling well throughout the race and jumped brilliantly for a novice."

East Sussex trainer Di Grissell sent out Knockarron to win the Tim Dunlop Memorial Restricted race for her mother, Ann Bailey, who was there with her great granddaughter Isabel Chalmer to receive the owner's trophy. "The horse has had 18 months off and has been turned out on the family farm. Philip Hall gave him an excellent ride," she said.

Jody Sole won the first 2.5 mile Open Maiden to be run at Parham, on board Surrey owner/trainer Raymond Fielding's Lillie Lou.

Over Easter there is racing at Charing on Saturday with Aldington and Hackwood Park on Monday.

Parham results:Crawley and Horsham Hunt Members Race, sponsored by Powells of Coolham: 1 Old Kilminchy owned and trained by Carolyn Gorman, ridden by Marcus Gorman, 1-3 favourite; 2 Sword Fighter, owned by Miss J P Hawkins, trained by Ian Cobb and ridden by Sam Hanson 10-1; 3 Ice Cool Lad, owned and trained by John Bentley, ridden by Ben Bentley 6-1. 5 ran.

Thakeham Tiles Open Maiden Race- 1 Lillie Lou, owned and trained by R Fielder, ridden by Jodie Sole 7-4 jt favourite; 2 Trenley Lawn owned and trained by James Young, ridden by Miss A Goschen, 8-1; 3 Grand Silence, owned and trained b y Kevin Tork, ridden by G Gallagher, 7-4 jt favourite. 4 ran.

Tim Dunlop Memorial Restricted Race, sponsored by Mr and Mrs John Dunlop, - 1 Knockarron, owned by Mrs Ann Bailey, trained by Mrs Di Grissell and ridden by Philip Hall, 10-1; 2 New Street Express, owned by Mrs and Mrs P Blagg and Mr and Mrs M Boucher, trained and ridden by Paul Blagg 6-1; 3 Clover Bay, owned by Miss Sarah Dawson, trained and ridden by Heather Kemp, 20-1. 10 ran.

David Sandeman Memorial Confined Hunts Race, sponsored by Michael Burrows of Oakdene Industrial Estate, Cowfold. 1 Merry Vic, owned and trained by Carolyn Gorman, ridden by Marcus Gorman 4-5; 2 Nathos, owned by Mr and Mrs C A Kemp, ridden by Heather Kemp 6-1; 3 Sanamour owned by Mr S P Tindall, trained and ridden by Nick Pearce, 20-1. 12 ran.

Harwoods Mixed Open Race, sponsored by Harwoods Garage, Pulborough. 1 Honourable Spider, owned by E M G Roberts, trained by Suzy Bull, ridden by Peter Bull 4-7; Millennium Way, owned,trained and ridden by Caroline Taylor, 10-1; 3 Royal Tir, owned by JFK Partnership, trained by Penny Lownds, ridden by C Cowie 2-1; 8 ran.

Latilla-Campbell Open Maiden Race, sponsored by Christopher Latilla-Campbell. 1 Sounds Good, owned by Roy Hartop, trained and ridden by Heather Kemp, 2-1; 2 Mountain of Dreams, owned and trained by Nigel Padfield, ridden by Philip York 3-1; 3 Laguna Beach, owned and ridden by Peter Bull, trained by Suzy Bull 9-2. 9 ran.