AGA Ladies Series steps up a gear at Barbury Castle, both on and off the course!

The venue for the second AGA Ladies Open of the season is Barbury Castle and there was a real sense of deja-vu for AGA CEO William McGrath because for the second season running he was heard to say - "is this well hidden or is the satnav on the blink?"

The wind had played havoc with our attempts to show off the new AGA Home Business set up at Cottenham, but Derek bagged a prime spot upon arriving at the course (just after dawn), and we soon had everything in place ... and it looked good!

People were soon flocking to our AGA tent to find out what this new AGA Home Business idea is all about, including PPA board member Heather Kemp and her husband Tony. Heather, newly retired from the saddle, was also clutching a handful of notes which were swiftly exchanged for 6 of our limited edition AGA Pointing mugs!

There is a theme developing in this post ... lots of photos of the new AGA tent and fence! I couldn't resist taking a pic of our ace photographer John 'Beazo' Beasley, who was chatting to reigning AGA Total Control Champion Claire Hart and telling her all about his new 'Beazmobile'. Why does he need a new one I hear you ask ...

Because the previous weekend Beazo had been heading for Black Forest Lodge when the Beazmobile came to a halt in a cloud of smoke and steam near Tolpuddle ... and with 202,000 miles on the clock it was time to seek out a new set of wheels in time for Barbury.

Hannah Lewis - who finished 4th in the AGA final last season, and also 4th in the AGA Championship, is 10/1 for the AGA title this time around, and today she was back on board the horse she rode in the final, Rathcor ... she also brought a small friend to see us!

And so to the AGA race, and a very good one it looked too! With 23 entries we were expecting a double figure field and we ended up with the largest field to date for an AGA sponsored Ladies Open race - 15 runners. As you can imagine this ensured that the paddock was rather busy and there was a real sense of anticipation as the girls chatted to owners and trainers before mounting their chosen stead.

The field of 15 was packed full of quality and could easily have been the final, talking of the final, AGA finalist Sam Drake - fresh from a 10/1 winner under rules the previous day at Wetherby, was on hand to offer some advice to (camera shy) Lorna Brooke. Sam had made the long trip from Yorkshire to support her great pal (AGA Champ) Jacqueline Coward, she had also been entrusted with chauffeur duties for the day!

Gina Andrews - who has some good ammunition this season, was on board the favourite Promising Anshan, and in between giving his pre-race instructions to Gina, trainer Joe O' Shea was keen to let everyone know that he thought his horse would win - and it did!

This was a new ride for Gina and the partnership put in a foot perfect round of jumping to record an impressive win, you can hear all about it by watching the post race 'Beazo interview' with Gina here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wljA6Vx91js.

I have availed myself of some of the 7/1 about Gina winning our AGA iTotal Control Championship this season, and that price is still available with Mark Hill if anyone would like to take advantage (call Mark on 07831 293363).

The presentation featured two promising pony riders - they will both be back at Barbury next February to compete, and both Liam Harrison (left) and Mitch Godwin (right) could also qualify for the title of 'budding boy band members'!

The brand new pink AGA Home Business polo shirts were in demand following the race, as was the homemade mushroom soup provided by Mrs S, and Chloe Boxall was the first to sample both.

Clare Wills forgot to collect her polo shirt at Cottenham so she was next in the queue, along with Harty and Frankie Hickman, who was accompanied by her beau - last seasons leading novice rider Harry Bannister. The last two photos are also noticable for the absence of the Simpson smile ...

The traditional post race interview went off without a hitch - no interference from the elements or the course commentator, although Gina was feeling the cold so she borrowed Beazo's AGA jacket, and she would soon be back for some soup, along with sister Bridget.

Meanwhile Mrs S was busy judging the 'best welly' competition ...

Our AGA Series Champion Jacqueline Coward - sporting a very natty piece of headwear, had spotted something interesting in the race card ... that would be the fabulous AGA Home Business advert featuring AGA final winner Amicelli and Jacqueline's silks!

Jacqueline was too late for the best welly competiton but the boys were convinced she had a great chance in the 'best hat' category!

Hannah Lewis and Emily MacMahon joined Mrs S for an AGA biscuit and a discussion about the amount of oil that Emily is using in her British Racing Green AGA ... obviously trading in for an electric model was mentioned!

Barbury Castle Estate owner Nigel Bunter popped in for a chat with William and he was suitably impressed with our new set up.

AGA debutant Megan Taylor - having only her second ever ride in points was next to pop by for a polo shirt, and this photo also marked the return of the Simpson smile. It's great to see new lady riders like Megan involved this season and they are all enthusiastic about the AGA Championship, long may it continue!

Helping his daughter Page saddle her horses is all part of going pointing for PPA board member Richard Fuller, but he also found time to join William for a chat.

Jack Barber - who had earlier enjoyed a good win on Glass'N A Half in the Connolly's Red Mills Intermediate, was happy to pose for Beazo, along with his girlfriend and a couple of the much sought after pink AGA Home Business polo shirts!

I also had a good chat with one of the most successful and popular riders in the sport - Dai Jones, he retired in 2011 but is still very much involved as he works for fellow national sponsor Connolly's Red Mills.

A pleasing day all round, our new set up worked a treat, the AGA boys did a fantastic job (as did Mrs S), our race was very well supported, we had lots of visitors to the AGA tent, and we came away with two very good leads - something which is vitally important this season, we just need them both to buy a new AGA cooker now. Beazo also played a blinder and deserves a special mention for his superb photos - including this one of the riders circling at the start, well done John Beasley!