Thrilling AGA final cooks up a treat as two new champions are crowned on a fabulous night at Stratford

We had a new date and a new venue for our final this year - Friday 7th June at Stratford-on-Avon racecourse, and our build up started earlier in the week when we visited the Racecourse on Wednesday evening. We walked the course with four of our AGA finalists - all in contention for the AGA Championship, and took delivery of an AGA cooker, which was delivered by non other than our very own 'man with the van', Derek Martin!

The big day duly arrived, the weather was kind and the atmosphere was electric, but the AGA man was nervous ... we had a huge pavilion to fill! My plan to invite all 350 people who attended the PPORA lunch earlier in the afternoon (in addition to the 250 already invited) was soon scuppered - the capacity in the AGA pavilion was 250, so another 350 would have been stretching things!

A good sized crowd was streaming into the course, although I was snapped heading in the opposite direction (above). Not sure where I was going, maybe I had spotted the ice cream man!

Bubbly Jo Mason claims 10 AGA points for Yorkshire with a sparkling performance at Tabley

I was really looking forward to our visit to Tabley and I wasn't disappointed. Sometimes you get a really good feeling about a fixture and you just know that you're going to have a good day, although it doesn't always go to plan. However, today it did, and when I saw the Mason lorry I knew we were in for some fun ... and lots of talking (yes, somebody who talks more than me!).

Mrs S put on another good spread, although the Mason girls left the Pimms alone until after racing, while Beazo tucked into a slice of cake a little earlier in the afternoon than usual!

The other important member of the Mason team (Laura Clark) was soon in action, and as ever she was sporting her pink AGA polo, and a lovely smile.

Mrs S and the Mason family have just spotted the AGA man pointing a camera in their direction ... wonder what they are thinking?

AGA ladies rise to the occasion as Team GB are triumphant in inaugural International point-to-point meeting in Ireland

We came, we saw, we conquered, but there was more to it than just the winning, much more! On paper the Tattersalls Ireland International point-to-point looked a great idea, and when Richard Pugh - known as "Mr Point-to-Point" in Ireland, mentioned it last September it looked like it could be a perfect fit, especially when you consider what AGA do in the UK with our sponsorship of the Ladies Open Point-to-Point series. Sponsoring a point-to-point race in Ireland contested by a team of lady riders from the UK was too good an opportunity to miss, and when the Point-to-Point Authority also threw their weight behind the idea it was game on!

The first photo is a little out of sequence as it was taken at the end of the second day, however, there's a very good reason for using it as without the three people above we would not have been in Ireland. They are L-R Neil Walsh (Head of Bloodstock, Tattersalls Ireland), Niamh Flynn (Marketing & Promotions Co-ordinator, Tattersalls Ireland) and Richard Pugh (Mr Point-to-Point, p2p.ie). Quite simply they are three of the nicest people that I have ever met and I can't thank them enough for so many things. Starting with the engagement via social media to promote the event during the build-up, the incredibly warm welcome from the moment we stepped off the plane, and ending with the terrific hospitality that was afforded to every member of the UK contingent ... I was even allowed to keep the flags!

The day was all about an 'International challenge' so we came prepared with a selection of Union flags - just in case they were needed, and I'm certain that I saw some Irish tricolour's under the table in the declaration tent! My flags were ironed in the room (although obviously not the one in the photo) and we left for the course at 11am - four hours before the first race. We wanted to get there early so we could walk the course and take some photos, and Team GB - both boys and girls, also wanted to sample the gourmet burgers. With that in mind an orderly (seated) queue was duly formed.

Team GB tucked in en masse but they would not have won a burger eating contest, although it was hilarious to watch as the girls and boys both battled the wind. The award for 'most style eating a burger' was given to reigning AGA series champion Jacqueline Coward, with Jane Williams a close second!