Sunshine, point-to-point and competitive racing - a perfect weekend for AGA (apart from the missing trophy!)

Saturday - Coats and jackets were banished (well, left in the car) as we enjoyed Chaddesley Corbett in the sunshine today. It was a 'home game' for us with a journey time of less than an hour - easy, although Derek insisted on being on site by 9.30 so that he could bag a prime spot for AGA!

Juliet Minton (above left) was confident that AGA legend Billyvoddan would relish a bit of sun on his back - the AGA man was certainly all the better for it, although maybe feeling a bit lost without cap, coat and wellies! Charlotte Keel and AGA CEO William McGrath enjoyed their yearly catch up - the first one was in 2010, and as ever Beazo was there to capture the moment.

Christopher Marriot was also enjoying the warm spring sunshine, what a difference a week makes as he had to put up with rain, wind and lots of mud the previous weekend at Mollington for the Heythrop meeting.

Marie Hill from AGA HQ in Telford was enjoying a first ever visit to a point-to-point meeting with her family - she picked a good one to start with, and I have a feeling she'll be back for more soon!

Triple header provides a test for the AGA boys as we visit three point-to-point courses in one day

With two fixtures planned for Saturday 13th April (Heythrop at Mollington & Ystrad Taf Fechan at Ystradowen), the rescheduling of the Hampshire at Hackwood Park presented us with a challenge - three courses to visit in one day! Following the news that the 7am inspection at Hackwood Park was inconclusive, with a further inspection called for midday, the AGA man and Derek set off for Mollington at 8am in bright sunshine to put the AGA tent up, while Mark headed off for Wales.

The AGA tent in bright sunshine, but we had all seen the weather forecast so we knew that a mixture of wind and rain would be with us by early afternoon - which was to turn Mollington into a mudbath! Due to the second inspection at Hackwood Park we decided that the best plan of action would be for Derek to leave once the result of the inspection was known, not really ideal, but a wise decision given the circumstances!

Above: PPA board member and owner of Topless, Steven Astaire is posing with the AGA man, while in the second pic the grey Topless (Clare Wills) leads Horsham Lad (Phine Banks - blue), Prince Massini (Charly Prichard - yellow/black) & Officier De Reserve (Gina Andrews), in the third pic Phine leads from Quatrocento (Claire Hart) & Prince Massini.

Jane Williams strikes at Paxford as the cold weather continues to be a feature of our AGA point-to-point season

The North Cotswold meeting was a late addition to our list of AGA qualifiers this season so myself, Derek and Dan made the short trip down the Fosse Way, while Mark made the marathon trek down the M5 to the Four Burrow meeting at Trebudannon. The two meetings could only muster seven runners between them, but as I'm writing this three weeks after the event I'm pleased to report that things have improved a bit during the past two weeks (apart from a two runner race at Hackwood Park).

A new career as a bookie is definitely not on the cards for the AGA man, Mark Hill was happy to loan me his joint for a photo, but declined the opportunity to loan me a float for the day!

There was a definite Stratford connection today as Ilona Barnett was on stewarding duties in the paddock, Stratford MD Stephen Lambert was enjoying a day out with his wife, and trainer Jelly O'Brien was saddling a runner in our race (she won the Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford in 2001 with Look In The Mirror). All three grabbed the AGA man as soon as they saw Beazo and insisted that they have a photo with me ... or was it the other way around?

Shernally, Horsham Lad and Light Touch were in the paddock long before their respective jockeys, who sheltered from the biting wind for as long as possible before emerging to brave the elements ... did I mention that it was cold? Cold doesn't do it justice, think of all of the words that I have used in previous blogs - Baltic, Siberian, Bleak, Raw, well it was all of them, and Mrs S spent most of the day in the car!