Ladies Championship is reaching an exciting climax ahead of our grand finale at Stratford as AGA go sponsorship crazy with Irish Pointing and Pony Racing Finals next on the agenda

I love point-to-point racing, but you probably already know that! I'm also really excited about the next four weeks, because not only will they be action packed and exciting, but they will also potentially define our season. First on the agenda we have five AGA qualifiers, plus three additional point scoring races (introduced to replace the 3 qualifiers we have lost), so that's a whopping 176 points still up for grabs ... including the 10 in the photo below!

It's also worth remembering that nobody can score more than 50 points as only the best five scores will count, plus there are double points available in the final. What does this mean? Well, if you get to Stratford with 30 or more points then you're definitely in the game, so you will see that there are still lots of lady riders in the running to win a brand new AGA cooker! Who's your money on?

Next on the agenda is a trip across the water for the Tattersalls International Point-to-Point Festival on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th May. AGA are sponsoring the AGA 6-Y-O & upwards Mares 'Claiming' Maiden (Lady Riders), which will see a team of 4 top UK lady riders take on 4 lady riders from Ireland. A strong team has been selected by the Point-to-Point Authority and they will all be familiar names to anyone who follows the AGA series.

L-R former National Champion Gina Andrews (equal 4th in the AGA table) will be on the plane, Yorkshire is represented by Jacqueline Coward - the current leader in the Lady Riders National Championship (she is also the reigning AGA series champion). The reigning AGA Total Control champion Claire Hart is rather excited to be going, as is the reigning National Champion Jane Williams, and rumour has it that all four of them are looking forward to the party on the Friday evening! (which is also being sponsored by AGA).

National Champion Jane Williams moves to the top of the AGA table with a stylish win on Shernally at Woodford

The top of the AGA table had a familiar look to it after the Berkeley meeting at Woodford as National Champion Jane Williams moved into a four point lead with a very stylish win on that tough little mare Shernally. Jane is a great role model, and there may well have been a future National Champion on show earlier in the day as the action kicked off with some exciting pony racing which helped to get us in the mood for the main event - although the start was somewhat chaotic (which was no fault of the young riders).

AGA Rangemaster CEO William McGrath has a pony (pictured above), which is ridden by his 10 year old great nephew Liam Harrison. Young Liam rode a great race to finish second on 'Meg', although the he came crashing down to earth with a bump the following day as he broke his wrist when he fell off his bike, and he is now sidelined for the remainder of the season.

Four good 'uns lined up for our race and after taking a few snaps in the paddock I made my way to the bookies to donate some money to the Mike Smith summer holiday fund (not for the first time this season).