Baltic appears in a point-to-point blog title for the second time this season as AGA brave the elements at Whitwick Manor

Sunday 10th March - I had a call from our CEO William McGrath while I was driving to Whitwick Manor and he asked me what would be the best way to avoid getting stuck in the mud, my advice was to park a mile away and walk to the course, and he did just that! I didn't take my own advice and I almost regretted that a few hours later, but by then I was so cold that I didn't really care.

I walked the course with Hannah Lewis and her husband Adrian Wintle, and according to Derek I was 'blowing a bit' when I returned, while Beazo thought it would be a good idea to take a photo of the AGA man striding out. The AGA tent was left behind today as it was still soaking from the previous days trip to Brocklesby Park (and also covered in mud). Mrs S was also absent, reported to be needing a day of 'box rest' having not eaten up!

This conversation was about how to power your AGA without using fossil fuels, cow dung was one of the suggestions, along with many other fuel types. Beazo looks perished and in need of a cup of tea!

'Baltic' is mentioned in the title of this blog, and the sparse crowd reflected this with a fair few choosing not to leave the warmth of their cars. It may have been baltic, but that cannot be said about the welcome that we received from everyone at Whitwick, which was every bit as warm as we have come to expect.

The second part of our point-to-point triple header is in Yorkshire where we had sunshine and snow, but no AGA man!

Sunday 10th March - with Cheltenham looming on the horizon we had two AGA qualifiers today, one in Yorkshire and one in Herefordshire. Now I like to think I'm pretty resourceful but I have not yet figured out a way to be in two places at once! That's a real shame as I love a trip to Yorkshire because they just love AGA Pointing up there. Instead I headed for Whitwick Manor while the Country Warmth team from Malton headed for the Derwent meeting at Charm Park.

As ever the Yorkshire girls were up for a pre-race photo and they lined up for John Grossick behind a strategically placed Country Warmth AGA banner - L-R Jacqueline Coward, Freya Brewer, Luci Sutcliffe, Harriet Bethell, Jo Mason, Abbie Nelson, Annie Yeager, Alice Petch & Jessica Gillam.

It was great to see nine go to post and it wasn't long before the texts started to come through reminding me that Yorkshire had stepped up to the mark. In this fantastic photo by John Grossick you can see four horses jumping line abreast on the final circuit (the first four home). L-R jumping are Oaklands Robbie & Alice Petch, the grey Green Du Ciel & Jo Mason, Optimistic Harry & Jessica Gillam and Minstalad & Luci Sutcliffe.

Minstalad and Optimistic Harry (white) took the last together with Jessica Gillam driving out the 14 year old to record a 3/4 length victory over Minstalad and Luci Sutcliffe - it was also a third AGA Ladies win for Optimistic Harry.

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.