It’s catch up time for the AGA man with three point-to-point fixtures in one blog post – Chaddesley Corbett, Kingston Blount and Hackwood Park!
Where has the last month gone? It doesn’t seem like five minutes since we were stood in the freezing rain at Chaddesley Corbett back in February and now April is just around the corner – and I’m playing catch up with my blog posts (4 to catch up on). The first of the 4 was at Chaddesley and the forecast rain arrived right on cue (it didn’t stop all afternoon), although it made the day more interesting, plus, I got some great photos!
Things can only get wetter!
Our fellow sponsors, Connolly’s RED MILLS, were the first to be exposed to the elements, although Mrs S had retreated to the car by the time the runners entered the paddock for the Intermediate. She stayed there for the rest of the afternoon!
Dai Jones gets wet, but he did have the best sponsors banner!
The new camera couldn’t contend with the rain – despite the smart new waterproof cover – so it was packed safely away and the ‘old faithful’ was retrieved from the boot. It didn’t do a bad job given the conditions, and I quite liked having a few muddy photos for a change.
Gillon Crow enjoying the mud!Leading up in the rain with a hangover is not recommended – is it Hayley?Mud and smiles – Executive Benefit has just won the Bonhams Mens OpenIt’s getting wetter all the time…A grimace from Jane and Peter WilliamsThe grimace is replaced by a smile after a win for Grandturgeon in the Ladies OpenMore AGA All Comers points for championship leader, Sarah DawsonA few words for Horse & Hound reporter, Stephanie BatemanHarry Fowler (Tattersalls Director) and Jen Hancox are deep in conversationWould this be the photo to clinch a first ever appearance in ‘Been Pointing’ (Go Pointing), for Kitty and Caroline Robinson? It was. Twice!This beautiful carriage (auctioned by Bonhams in March) was going to be used for some photos, however, the weather put paid to that!Derek Freathy helps to push the carriage off the courseLotus Pond has just won the RestrictedA muddy Fred Timmis receives his trophy from Caroline Robinson after winning the PPORA Club Members race for Novice RidersEven more mud for Jane Williams but she doesn’t care as a win in the Open Maiden on Hazel Hill has just clinched a double (her first as a trainer)Believe it or not this is before the race!James Ridley is beaming after winning the AGA sponsored Open Maiden on War PathHe’s in there somewhere!Muddy, wet and dark – we love it!Annmarie Newman from the AGA shop in Kidderminster presents Ken Price with his trophyThe pair are joined by a very muddy (and very happy), James RidleyAs far as I know these two are still stood here holding my AGA sign…
And that was it, over seven hours stood in the rain and I was soaked through, but I enjoyed every second of it!
We didn’t Go Pointing the following weekend, the AGA championship had a break and so did we, although we did take the AGA hats!
Suitably refreshed we headed for Kingston Blount on Saturday 7th March (a favourite course of mine) and we needed sunglasses as it was almost tropical in Oxfordshire – a complete contrast to our previous point-to-point at Chaddesley Corbett!
Toby Betambeau is off the mark for the season after a win on Lady Barfad in the opener (Division 1 of the Open Maiden)Emily Harbour lights up the paddock with her smileAGA Rangemaster CEO, William McGrath chats to Gillian Carr about the Subaru sponsorshipKaty Lyons is heading for another appearance in Been Pointing!Louise Allan was the original AGA cover girl when we started our sponsorship back in 2010, appearing on the front cover of our ‘Welcome Home’ bookletGina Andrews has just won her 2nd AGA sponsored race of the season (her 5th overall)Start Royal, a class act and a credit to connectionsGina loves this horseAGA Rangemaster CEO, William McGrath was joined by Julie & Hayley from the local AGA shop in Thame to present mementoes to connections after the raceA good day for Big Al and his team got better when Ravethebrave won the Bonhams Mens Open and Brians Well won the Subaru RestrictedThe Connolly’s RED MILLS Intermediate was won by Full Trottle for Laura Thomas, Sam Painting did the steeringThe ultra-consistent Kazuri Kate was 3rd for Claire Hart, but a win wouldn’t be too far away…The last word went to Big Al!
A great day was almost over but there was still time to pop in and see Big Al and Lawney (who live literally just around the corner) for a cup of tea and a slice of homemade cake, although stronger refreshments were available for those who wanted them!
A quick reminder of the reason why we are doing this…
Next up was a trip to Hackwood Park, another favourite venue and another well run point-to-point meeting.
The set up at Hackwood is ideal for one of our AGA show trailers, a great opportunity to show off some of our products and a great opportunity for some of my AGA colleagues to come pointing!It was good to see another new pointing sponsor – NFU Mutual – hope they will be back for more next year!
An AGA legend – That’s Rhythm – lined up in the ladies open, evoking memories of a memorable night at Stratford Racecourse back in 2013, and giving me an opportunity to use a photo from the AGA final in this blog post!
THAT photo!Page Fuller and That’s RhythmKaty Lyons has been in great form this season – did you know that she was leading up when That’s Ryhthm won the AGA final in 2013?This photo of Mary and Buttons made it into Been Pointing (Go Pointing)More AGA All Comers championship points for the Penwood Racing ClubBig Al and James Tudor – Dante’s Storm had just bagged the Bonhams Mens Open for the 2nd year runningI think we might have got this…We have!Fiasco has won the Open Maiden and Andrew Campbell is delightedIt’s also a first win for Hugh NugentPage Fuller and Carrigkerry take the AGA sponsored Restricted race“That’s a double AGA man”
Earlier this season we sponsored our first ever Mixed Open race (Vine & Craven – Barbury) and it was won by That’s Rhythm, who is owned by the Penwood Racing Club. Page Fuller did the steering, Charlotte Fuller the training. Today we sponsored our first ever Restricted race and it was won by Carrigkerry, who is owned by, you guessed it, the Penwood Racing Club. No need to tell you who the jockey and trainer are! A nice touch and one of the rewards is a share of the lead in the AGA All Comers championship.
More championship points and more AGA goodies! Richard Lawrence from AGA is doing the honoursZac Baker was in good spirits after bagging his first ever win over hurdles the previous day at UttoxeterThere are only 10 of these AGA hats in this colour and Toby Betambeau has 1 of them!
And that was it, another good one was over and thoughts turned to round 11 of the AGA All Comers championship the following weekend at Brafield-on-the-Green.
The last winner of the day was Conna Cloud and it was almost dark as James Tudor and Mr Cobbold received their mementoes
I’m almost up to date with my blogging and I’m about to write the Oakley blog post from Brafield, in the meantime I hope you have enjoyed this update, and the photos. Thanks for dropping by to take a look!
David Simpson - life through a lens 