AGA entertains in the rain at Mollington - prime spot for AGA at local track as the van is roughed off for the season and the new gazebo has its first run

Family and friends are entertained in the rain as Mrs S excels herself in her own version of the Great British Bake-off!

We knew that typical English Bank Holiday weather was on the menu, however, that did not deter us and we arrived in good spirits with the cars chock-a-block full of goodies, including some rather lovely home made sloe gin ... but more of that later.


Our spread - part 1

Mrs S had spent most of Sunday baking and was rather looking forward to showing off the results of this marathon session, although she declined to leave the car until the gazebo was up! We had a good turn-out from our local village, Cubbington, including a number of family members who were making their pointing debut ... would they like it?

L-R Bob Hope, Alison Dare, Wayne Perkins, Alex Hope, Harry Easterlow, Carol Hope, Cindy Simpson, Claire Hart and Helen Hart

We were joined by some special guests, our new AGA Total Control Lady Riders' Champion - Claire Hart, her mum Helen, along with Bob and Carol Hope, Alex "foxy" Hope and Alison Dare (yes, that Alison Dare - 287 winners!). Great fun and great company, and as they pulled into the sponsors car park one of the officials shouted "oh, it's the AGA winner" - you're famous Harty!


Part 2 of the AGA title goes to Yorkshire and the AGA cooker goes to the South Midlands

AGA Championship final exceeds all expectations with a thrilling finish as the lady riders take centre stage at the home of jump racing!

Words by yours truly, with the mood of the evening captured via a series of marvellous photographs taken by our very own John "Beazo" Beasley, and Jackie Oliver - with a few from me thrown in for good measure! 

The culmination of five months of hard work, the big race - The moment we had all been waiting for had arrived, nine top quality horses, piloted by nine top lady riders were lined up to face the tapes at the home of jump racing - it doesn't get any better than this! 

Not only was there a prize fund of £7,500 at stake, but we had a "race within a race" to decide who would be the inaugural winner of the AGA Total Control Lady Riders' Championship. The winner of the championship was set to be the proud owner of a brand new AGA Total Control cooker worth more than £10,000 - what a prize, and as the tapes went up there were still 5 possible winners - Claire, Jane, Hannah, Jacqueline and Sam!

Pondering the challenge ahead - AGA girls Hannah Lewis (Rathcor), Charly Prichard (Prince Massini) and Sam Drake (Unowatimeen)

My pre-race tip was Upton Springs, although in truth I felt it was too close to call and the one certainty was that we would get a thriller! The following images by John and Jackie are fabulous and tell the story of the race better than any words I could use - I hope you like them.

A great shot of the whole field, L-R, Rathcor, Metal Detector, Prince Myfanwy (outside), Billyvoddan (stars on sleeves), Unowatimeen (striped cap), Prince Massini (rail), Amicelli (outside), Upton Springs (pale blue) and Impact Zone (green)