This exciting AGA Total Control title race is too tough to call - Bridget Andrews launches her title challenge at Horseheath

A new contender emerged from the pack as we witnessed another thrilling AGA Ladies Open race at the Puckeridge meeting at Horseheath on Saturday, where Bridget Andrews picked up 10 points to move into joint 4th place in the table.

William discussing plans for the AGA final with Bridget and Gina Andrews

After the sunshine and tropical temperatures of recent weekends we were greeted by a cool breeze and grey skies when we arrived at Horseheath, although the warm welcome more than made up for that. The local officals all described the course as "the finest in England, never mind East Anglia" and they were keen to ensure that we enjoyed our visit.

William scales the ladder up to the commentators perch - a great view awaits anyone who is brave enough to
try it

Course commentator Simon Sporborg
 (left)explains to William McGrath 
and Nicholas Belcher that he 
is not quite there yet with the colours!

Anthony Manning from the AGA shop
in Colchester is in Total Control
selling mode!

Anthony is still in selling mode while
Derek and William try to decide if
the favourite is worth a bet in theAGA Ladies Open

This is a sight that we like to see -
lots of people around the AGA van,
all wanting to buy a new one!

William gets in on the selling act and shows Chris and Derek that he's still got it!

A sight that we always like to see is a crowd of people around the AGA van all wanting to talk to the team about buying  a new AGA , and as you can see from the photographs we were not disappointed! The AGA Ladies Open attracted 4 runners and while I was choosing best turned out with Anthony Manning from the AGA shop in Colchester, William went off to scale the ladder up to the commentators perch, from where he had a birds eye view of the race.

Bridget returns to the paddock following her victory on Maranach

The 4 runners produced a good competitive race with a hard-fought finish which resulted in a victory for Bridget Andrews on board Maranach, and crucially gave her 10 lovely AGA points to propel her into the top 5. The win also ensured that Bridget drew level on points with sister Gina (and 3 other ladies), and put her within 10 points of the overall lead, meaning post race conversations were all about possible rides for the final.

Bridget and Louise Allan unsaddle

In fairness we also had a pre-race conversation with both sisters about their possible participation in the final and both were making all the right noises ... lets hope they are there on the evening as their participation will certainly add something to the occasion.

A nice winning smile for Beazo

The presentation was as ever a jolly affair with the AGA clock again the subject of lots of admiring glances, then Bridget was whisked off by Beazo to make her debut in front of his roving camera.

How many AGA men does it take to set up a presentation?

We should try and look natural on this one, and
not like we are posing for the camera ... too late!

Not just any clock, this is an AGA clock!

Bridget was fast running out of hands with which to hold all of the prizes but as you can see from the photo below she did manage to hang on to her 10 points!

Perfect 10 

"You really should buy a new AGA"

And the same message from William!

We "worked the patch" before joining the boys by the van to watch the interview and try our best to distract Bridget ... it didn't work but it was fun trying. The best distraction that I have seen this season was by Alice Mills the previous weekend at Milborne St Andrew while Chloe Boxall was being interviewed ... maybe I will ask Alice for some tips?

Nicholas Belcher (course secretary and chairman) shares
the secret of the Horseheath bore hole, which is where
their plentiful supply of water comes from enabling
them to water the course

Bridget phones her agent to get a ride for the AGA final!

Right, she's ready Beazo! 

Bridget has a giggle at one of Beazo's jokes!

Bridget in full flow

It was another good interview and Beazo was able to conclude it without being troubled by the course commentator, although the wind did it's best to get in on the act!

Bridget and two of the AGA boys - Chris and Derek 

The setting was fantastic, the welcome was as warm as any we have received this season and the bore hole ensured that we had decent ground to race on, we also had another tremendous AGA Ladies Open race ... thank you Horseheath and roll on next weekend!