Point-to-point at Brocklesby Park in the rain and mud for the first leg of an AGA triple header

Saturday 9th March, Brocklesby Park - we had a passenger today for our journey up the M1, our AGA Total Control Champion Claire Hart, who was heading north to be re-united with one of her favourite horses - Palypso De Creek. It was raining when we set off, it rained and snowed all of the way there, and it was raining when we arrived, it was also cold ... very cold!

The car made it in through the mud - but only just, and we were greeted by the sight of  Beazo directing operations again (that's not in his contract!). This in turn provided another photo opportunity for the AGA man - not for the first time this season!

Mrs S decided to stay in the car until the tent was up so I walked the course with Claire, it was a bit soggy but the fences looked immaculate. The AGA boys were also a bit soggy - but in great spirits, while Racing Post reporter Jeremy Grayson was also a bit soggy, in fact I don't think his racecard survived the day!

The next two photos don't really need any words to accompany them, the first features the declarations board (we are race number 3), and the second one features a rather glum looking bookie before the AGA Ladies Open.

No bets for this glum looking bookie, just a sulky AGA man taking photos, I didn't sulk for long, but boy did I sulk!

Freya Brewer and Claire Hart entered the paddock, closely followed by Beazo - who looked suitably wet and miserable! Freya had declared her horse around three minutes before the deadline, otherwise we would have had a walkover - thank you Freya.

Claire and Palypso won their second AGA Ladies Open of the season, prompting Michael and Jill Dawson to start dreaming of soft ground for our final in June, and at this rate they might just get it!

Ten more AGA Championship points in the bag for Harty gave her something to smile about as she made her way through the mud to the changing tent to weigh in ... a fair bit of that mud ended up back in Warwickshire!

I was determined to be miserable in the presentation photo but I just couldn't do it! I was joined by L-R; Sally White, Ruth Wilkinson, our AGA Champ and happy winning owner Mike Dawson.

Beazo was still looking suitably wet and miserable, but three hours later he would be dry and dressed in a shiny slim fitting suit, while busting some moves on the dance floor at a party - that's how he rolls!

Harty is the most interviewed AGA lady rider ever, although I doubt this one will go down as the most memorable one she has ever done, thanks to the great British weather! Beazo has to be quite inventive with his questions - and he was, but you will have to wait for the out-takes as most of this interview ended up on the cutting room floor!

All that was left to do was to pack up and get the car out through the mud, which we did ... just! We also had to get our AGA Total Control Champion Claire Hart back to the Midlands, which we did, with the minimum of fuss (she was quite an entertaining passenger!). Although we did all feel slightly guilty as our AGA Champion Jacqueline Coward's had two wins, and we missed the second one because we cleared off early! Plus, the tractor couldn't quite get to the AGA van so Beazo was left to push it - this is definitely not in his contract! **Well done to Jenny Burt and her team for their efforts, the weather was awful but the welcome was fabulous, and despite my sulking we did have a laugh!