AGA Ladies Open Series, "The story so far" ... and they're off!

Going to the first - Cottenham, 27th November
A cold day, ground rather firm, boots marginal and powder kept dry for better ground as there are only 4 runners in the AGA race. There is a seasonal debut for the AGA Total Control van, which was hard driven by Derek Martin, who has trained for 18 years for Point-to-Point and now has a weekend job from heaven.

Zanzibar Boy's price is forced into 5/2 from 4's following sustained
 support from the AGA Pointing team

The first 10 points go to Rachel King, who immediately goes on holiday following her interview with John Beasley!

"Are we nearly finished Beazo? My plane leaves in an hour"

Coming to the second - Barbury Castle, 4th December
Is this well hidden or is the satnav on the blink? Early confusion but the team all arrive eventually and we have 7 runners for the second AGA race of the season.

"So tell me Nigel, is this a bitterly cold and wet, windswept hillside
 in December, or a hub of sporting excitement?"

Kicks For Free kicks on as Angela Rucker earns her first 10 points of the season, with only 2 others coming home behind her. 

"Mind the horse William, I'm off to be interviewed by Beazo"**

We're getting the hang of this thing now ... I think! Beazo interviews the wind and the rain, plus Angela and then there is a stampede at the AGA stand as lady riders collect their "I'm In Total Control" polo shirts.

Sarah-Jayne Davies trades in her silks for a rather smart AGA polo shirt then quickly 
switches to modelling mode, demonstrating that she really is "In Total Control"

**John Beasley - respected Point-to-Point photographer and author of "The Big Green Annual", will hereby be referred to as "Beazo"

The AGA van heads north while Mrs Rucker heads south - Alnwick and Tweseldown, December 11th
Three inspections up in Alnwick but the snow did not triumph as it did in 2010 and Beazo finds that the winner does not mince her words (or add too many).

254 miles to get here - what's all this white stuff?

Meanwhile at Tweseldown Stephen Astaire seems delighted that his rain dance worked as a decent crowd are on hand to see Angela Rucker snaffle another 2 points to go top of the league. All 10 lady riders flocked to the presentation area following the race and jostled for position so they could pose for a photograph with David ... or was it the £25 AGA voucher that they wanted?

Team photo, David and the girls, pretty in pink and "In Total Control"

The AGA tow rope proves to be a useful acquisition - Whitfield, 18th December
A plethora of early withdrawals did not dampen enthusiasm and we were treated to 10 races with 102 runners. The Smith-Maxwells made an early retreat only to return minus their horse for a scouting mission ahead of Chaddesley Corbett.

"

"I'm not running my horse today but I'd love a photo in a pink
 AGA "I'm In Total Control" polo shirt"

Fergal O' Brien and Richard "Sparky" Bevis were the latest trainers to be pictured in pink AGA "I'm In Total Control" polo shirts, this was only after they had hung around the stand for 30 minutes pleading for a photograph.

Following the AGA race the first 4 home reveal David Simpson's pin number!

The day ended dramatically as the soft ground saw the AGA tow rope make its first appearance of the season amid talk that the van will need better going to be at it's peak.