THIS year will herald a new era for the 95-year-old Gisburn Races when the event is moved to the outskirts of Skipton.

Skipton Races, as it will be known, will take place off Heslaker Lane, Carleton, courtesy of farmer John Howard.

Gisburn Races dates back to 1906 when Lord Ribblesdale organised a point-to-point.

But, Skipton is no stranger to hosting this event - for three years in the 1930s, the races were held at Whitehills.

Now the organisers want to bring racing back to Skipton and make it a major part of the town's calendar.

Fittingly the race will be held at Funkirk Farm. Harry Woodward, whose family used to farm Funkirk, said his father had entered horses when the event was held at Whitehills and won five races.

Publicity officer Peter Manley said he hoped the move would not been seen as breaking with tradition but as opening up the event to allow more people to attend.

"We are moving from Gisburn to a larger venue and hope to increase our numbers from 9,000 to 15,000," he added.

Mr Manley said the organisers were trying to work with farmers who had diversified into the equine field, and that they were looking forward to working with Mr Howard.

"Gisburn was a good venue but Skipton is a bigger attraction for more people," he added.

Gisburn Races has had many accolades, not least that the 1980 Grand National winner Ben Nevis ran at Gisburn several times.

Mr Manley thought the new location was perfectly situated and offered ease of access in a picturesque setting within walking distance of the town.

The inaugural Skipton Races will be the only race meeting within a 30-mile radius of the town. It is due to be held on Saturday April 28 and will be opened by the town mayor, Coun Richard Colley.

As in the past, the day will consist of six point-to-point races for amateur jockeys which have always been a popular spectator event. The steeplechase races take place over six fences, each lap is a mile long and the riders go round three times.

The main aim of the day is to entertain the farming community, but it also promises to be a great day out for all the family.

Within five days, three fields will be transformed into a racecourse packed with entertainment. There will be games for children, trade and country stands, bars, food stands, the tote and the bookies.

The organisers hope the event will be able to go ahead but they are keeping a close eye on the foot and mouth crisis. In 1967 during the last outbreak, the area was clear and the race went ahead.

"We are hoping for an end to the foot and mouth crisis for everyone's sake - the farmers, local business and tourism and of course, ourselves. Racing is coming back to Skipton," said one of the organisers Julie Marley.

Point-to-point racing got its name in the 18th century when young lads would challenge each other to a cross country horse race. They would race from the church steeple in one village to the church steeple in the next village - from one point to another.