A very busy week in the AGA world meant that my blog from the Vine & Craven has had to be put on hold until Saturday evening. That’s fine with me, although Mrs S has had to settle for The Voice and Casualty while I tap away on the keyboard, as opposed to a trip to see Fifty Shades of Grey!
Pony racing and AGA hats, a great mix
It’s great to be able to support the next generation of point-to-point riders and we first dipped our toe in the water two years ago when Lucy Tucker suggested it might be a good fit for AGA. Heather Kemp then came up with a rather clever title for a new series ‘Little Cookers of the Future’. That series ran for two years, but his season we will be offering support wherever we can at individual point-to-point fixtures, so I was delighted to help Charlotte Fuller at Barbury by providing mementoes for the two pony races.
Elliot England, winner of the 138cm and under pony race
If you follow National Hunt racing (especially at Cheltenham) there is a familiar face on the right of this photo…
Alfie Martindale and Otterburn Lady win the 148cm and under pony race
The pair make their way to the winners enclosure
PPA Chairman, Tim Curtis is racking up the miles attending point-to-point fixtures this season
Elliott England receives his rosette and AGA mementoes
Alfie Martindale
Poppy Scott
Some of the young riders line-up for a pic with the AGA man
This photo of the two winners was featured in Go Pointing (Been Pointing)
That was a great way to start the day and it set things up very nicely for the point-to-point races.
New kitchen? New AGA cooker…
Nick Child leads in the winner of the PPORA Club Memebers Race for Novice Riders, Prospect Wells
Rose Loxton (right) looks on with pride
Stan Sheppard and Nick Child
Megan Nicholls (left) catches up with Rose Loxton, the pair were often in the winners enclosure together last season
Rose looks after the case of Fullers!
She’s not letting go…
Derek Martin (right) spent two years on the road with me as he drove the AGA van to all four corners of the UK, here he catches up with pony rider, Liam Harrison
Lotus Pond and connections after winning the Barbury International Horse Trials Open Maiden
More booze!
Mark Wall is in a hurry… he has a hunting trip to Ireland to look forward to!
This fella was strutting around the paddock like he owned the place!
There was another landmark for our sponsorship today as we sponsored a Mixed Open race for the first time. We were also re-united with an AGA legend, That’s Rhythm, who won the 2013 AGA final under Page Fuller. He looked an absolute picture as he strutted around the paddock but surely he couldn’t win today, could he?
Oh yes he could!
The pair scooted clear after 3 out and absolutely hosed up, not bad for a 15 year old!
Page added to her AGA hat collection, although I think mum had claimed it by the end of the day!
The message on the back says “I’m Still In Total Control”, which is really rather appropriate!
Katie Price leads in her Subaru Restricted winner, Champagne Benefit
We were whisked away for a rather tasty lunch after the AGA race (pheasant stew), but we were back out in time for the latest Subaru Restricted race, which was won by Champagne Benefit. Our fellow sponsors must be delighted as they had another competitive qualifier, with the winner prevailing by a short head.
Happy connections and happy sponsors!
There was one more race to come but it was a walkover, giving Page Fuller a double on the day and giving the Jamie Snowden Racing Club 10 AGA All Comers championship points. And that was it! Or was it? No, there was still plenty of time to do some networking so it was at least another hour before I even thought about leaving. Plus, I was travelling solo today so there was no repeat of the Mrs S strop (Larkhill), and the journey home was not completed in silence as I had The Kinks and The Dave Clark Five for company!
