Marathon weekend for the AGA man, Derek and Beazo as we rack up the miles in pursuit of AGA sales and exciting racing

I will write a book one day but for now I will continue to use my blog to share our point-to-point exploits, starting with an update about our long and very enjoyable weekend. It started with a trip to Welsh Border country for the rearranged United Pack fixture at Brampton Bryan, and finished in Pembrokeshire for the West Wales Area Club meeting at Lydstep. We travelled light as an overnight stay was required, although I did find room for my riding helmet ... but more of that later.

We arrived at the course with the Beazmobile hot on our tail, although we were running a little late due to a pit stop in Ludlow en route. Not for breakfast as you might think, but so we could visit a friendly bookmaker and place a bet on the Grand National! Not for the first time this season Beazo offered to help put the AGA signs up while I took the pictures - little did we know that some of them would be taken down within half an hour!

The Baltic temperatures and bitingly cold winds of recent weeks have tested everyones patience and I think it's fair to say that with a bit of sun on our backs we all felt a whole lot better. Add in the magnificent setting - probably one of the most picturesque courses I have been to, and you just knew we were going to have a great day!

We didn't expect to see Adrian Wintle and Hannah Lewis as we thought they were Ascot bound the following day with Squadron, but it was certainly a pleasant surprise when we did spot them coming out of the declarations tent! With National Champion Jane Williams and The General Lee also lining up, along with promising young novice Annie Dalton and Glidewell we knew we were in for an exciting race.

Exciting AGA Ladies race at Ston Easton leaves us dreaming of grabbing the headlines ... but instead we are left nonplussed

Our race at the Mendip Farmers meeting at Ston Easton had it all, it was one of the most exciting I have seen, and barring last years final at Cheltenham I don't think I've seen a more exciting finish in an AGA race (more of that shortly). On a bitterly cold day - I used the word 'Siberia' on more than one occasion during the afternoon, this thrilling race was just what we needed to warm us up.

This was the scene when we left Cubbington for our two hour drive to Ston Easton, and while I had assured Mrs S that there would not be any snow at all on the course, I neglected to mention how cold it would be (as a result of which I would later be called a 'con artist').

Mrs S - purple hood, only got out of the car twice, and this was the first time, while Derek and Dan look as if they would be much happier if they were sat in front of a nice warm AGA at home! The AGA Ladies Open was the 3rd race on the card, and with five declared Beazo grabbed a couple of pics of the AGA man in the paddock with the two lady riders who would shortly be the cause of much drama and excitement (Emily MacMahon and Lucy Gould).

In anticipation of a close finish we decided to watch the race stood by the winning post, this proved to be a very wise decision - as you can see from the following photographs, all taken by master point-to-point photographer John Beasley.

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.