A LARGE crowd justified the South Durham's decision to offer free entry to their point to point held at Howe Hills last Saturday.

The riding honours went to Nigel Tutty, whose hat-trick has set him well on the way to retaining the men's jockeys championship.

Two of the winners - Darak (Hurworth) and Silouge - are owned by Tutty and trained by his wife, Karen. Darak made most of the running in the Confined and he and the Simon Robinson-owned and ridden Ben From Ketton (Zetland) had pulled well clear five from home.

Darak led at the third last, but Ben From Ketton drew upsides at the last. Darak was always travelling the better, however, and he stayed on strongly to beat Ben From Ketton.

A strong men's open saw Jacky Sawney's Dumadic (Cleveland) become the middle leg of Tutty's treble. Dumadic was patiently ridden behind the leaders and the Mary Sowersby-trained five-year-old Civil Tent (J Payne/Blankney), ridden by Tutty's championship rival Guy Brewer, led three from home with the Clive Mulhall-ridden Torn Silk (P England/Badsworth) close up.

The Sarah Dent-trained Dumadic closed up on the run to the last and, jumping the final fence, Dumadic, Civil Gent and Torn Silk were in a line.

After the fence, Dumadic quickened well and galloped on for a three-length win. Torn Silk finished second, a neck in front of Civil Gent.

Tutty's hat-trick came on Silouge in the Restricted. Silouge struggled with his jumping in rear as Son of Sam cut out much of the running.

Son of Sam still led when he slipped up on the bend prior to the third last. The Tony Walker-trained Procol's Boy (P Hodges/Middleton) and Silouge started to progress.

Ridden by Simon Walker, Procol's Boy was clear two out, but Silouge was within a length at the final fence. In a great battle to the finish, Silouge finally got his nose in front on the line.

Serena Brotherton guided Mick Brown's Hadeqa (York & Ainsty) to victory in the Ladies Open, but that win probably won't be enough to deny Jo Foster, who finished second on Donnegale (The Mad Donnes/Pendle), the ladies championship.

Hadeqa led at the final ditch and soon forged clear of the one-paced Donnegale, who is also trained by Jo Foster.

There was a very local success in the Members, where Sir Alf, trained at Howe Hills by Maria Myco, overturned the odds-on favourite Mr McDuck, trained by Sarah Duell.

Ridden by Trevor Glass, Sir Alf led four from home. At the last he was two lengths clear of Mr McDuck, who was ridden by Lee Bates. Mr McDuck could make no headway on the run in as Sir Alf stayed on well to win by four lengths.

Michael Morley partnered Sylvia Robinson's Bankersdraft (York & Ainsty) to victory in the Maiden. In an exciting finish, the Paul Frank-trained Queenies Girl (Hurworth) led at the last with Bankersdraft and Iron Trooper within a length.

Iron Trooper fell, leaving Bankersdraft and Queenies Girl, who was ridden by Philip Kinsella, to battle it out. Queenies Girl held her lead until just before the finish, Bankersdraft winning by a length.

* The Yorkshire season finishes tomorrow with the Badsworth and Bramham Moor meeting at Heslaker, first race 2pm.