The last AGA fixture was back in April, however, we are still going strong and today was our fourth visit of the season to Chaddesley Corbett - which is one of my favourite courses, for the Albrighton Woodland meeting. The sun was shining and the car park was looking healthy, with lots of picnics in evidence, reinforcing the widely held view that this is a real family day out - the message has to be come pointing!
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| Jane and Lorna have a natter in between races |
As ever we took the opportunity to catch up with some of our AGA lady riders, plus many of our friends in the pointing community. The ladies national championship has seen Jane Williams and Jacqueline Coward pull clear of the field in recent weeks and their battle was set to continue with both in action today.
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JC returns to the winners enclosure after her 3rd place on
Laertes in the PPORA Club Members race |
There was a walkover for Jane in the first, and a 3rd place for JC on Laertes in the second, before Jane pulled further clear with a decisive win on Surenaga in the third, the ladies open - easing home by 25 lengths.
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| Cherry, Jacqueline and Sam with Laertes |
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| What has Cherry spotted? |
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| Maletton - winner of the PPORA Club Members race |
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| If only they could talk! |
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| Handsome lad |
It is always nice to catch up with the Coward girls and myself and Cherry had a good old chinwag in the winners enclosure after the second race, as you can see from the photos it looked interesting (and it was!).
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| Putting the world to rights |
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| And still going ... |
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| Is that my "pondering" face? |
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| And we're still going ... |
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| Presentation to the connections of Maletton |
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| Another prize |
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| And another one ... |
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| Oli Curl |
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| John Daniel Moore |
Our last two visits to Chaddesley have seen impressive wins for Surenaga, both under Jane Williams, and Phil and Mel Rowley again lit up the winners enclosure with their smiles ... as you can see from the photo below, Jane was also sporting a huge smile!
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Phil is the first to congratulate
Jane ... |
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| ... before helping to cool down the impressive winner |
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| Happy connections |
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| He knows it's a job well done |
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| Ears pricked - the hero of the hour |
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| Surenaga is certainly one to look forward to next season ... but where will he run? |
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| More water |
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| Phil holding court |
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| Jane on the podium ... a familiar sight this season |
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| This looks threatening but believe it or not it didn't rain |
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| Young Mr AGA Pointing was in charge of the camera today |
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| Out in the country |
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| Great view |
Not for the first time this season young Mr AGA Pointing, my son Bradley, was in charge of the camera today, and he produced some imaginative shots.
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| Home straight |
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| Jacqueline on Roko Dancer |
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| Penny for your thoughts JC ... |
Jubilee party
What a contrast just 24 hours later, after the blue sky and sunshine at Chaddesley we had grey sky and rain - lots of it, and it started just as our first guests arrived! However, Mrs AGA had put on quite a spread - as you can see from the photos, so we didn't let the rain dampen our spirits, and a good time was had by all.
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| Before ... at least the food was dry, note the strategically placed AGA teapot! |
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| Anyone for tea? |
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| Good spread Mrs S! |
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| I can confirm that this tasted as good as it looked! |
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| And these did ... |
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| And they didn't last long ... |
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| Note the Jubilee colours |
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| Jubilee meringues |
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| The full Jubilee spread |
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| And again ... with AGA tea pot in view |
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| The first beer of the day ... many more would follow |
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| Please note the Jubilee outfit! |
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| How cool am I? |
The clean-up operation the following morning was a challenge, and I have not seen that amount of empty bottles since the Hart lorry was emptied following a post race celebration on the way home!
