More sunshine and more AGA points for Hannah Lewis at Hackwood Park

We were up and out early for another glorious day in the English countryside, arriving at Hackwood Park in good spirits and determined to enjoy our day. When we arrived there were lots of people walking the course so we decided to join them - and I must say, what a great way to start a Sunday morning!

The view down the home straight

When the sun shines like this you need to make the most of it and it soon became apparent that a bumper crowd would be coming along to do just that! Mrs AGA Pointing wanted to do another circuit of this beautiful course, but I persuaded her to leave that to the ladies on horse back later in the day!

Mrs AGA Pointing considering whether she can get
over the third last!

Derek and Sarb bump into top jockeys Emily MacMahon and Camilla Henderson while branding the last fence

Our first visitor was J D Moore, son of leading Irish trainer Arthur Moore, and also a jockey and bloodstock agent, he spent some time with me, and also the boys on the stand. J D is quite a character and I wanted him to do the presentation with me but he was camera shy, however, he did tell us all to have a "few quid each way" on his dads horse in the Grand National at Aintree.

Mr Cool and err ... Mr Cool

Sarb - ready for action

Hounds in the paddock

More hounds in the paddock

Camilla and Scots Dragoon

She's definitely interested

Sarb in selling mode

The hounds were out before racing - great sight - and we had plenty of interest in the AGA Total Control in the back of our van

Camilla Henderson on Scots Dragoon in the paddock before the Hunt Club Members race

A field of 6 went to post for the AGA Ladies Open and the betting suggested that Shernally would take all of the beating, however, 14 year old Cannon Bridge and Hannah Lewis had something to say about that. Hannah bagged another 10 points and shot up to joint 4th in the table where she now sits on a very healthy 28 points, she also now realises that she is in with a real chance of winning the title ... and the brand new AGA Total Control cooker!

Last minute instructions for Hannah

A familiar pose for Dick and Jane

Last minute adjustments for Hannah

Jane and Shernally about to leave the paddock

We won!

Connections of Cannon Bridge were delighted with his win and following the presentation Hannah was quickly whisked off to the AGA van by Beazo for the post race interview. Before that, Beazo did however, find time to pose for a rather nice photograph with Hannah - which you can see below.   

Beazo and Hannah

Not another presentation photograph
 with me in it!

And another one!

Hannah's husband Adrian Wintle was an interested onlooker while the wife was being interviewed and he was just as delighted with the win, in fact he did say that a brand new AGA would fit very nicely into their barn conversion once it is finished!

10 points and a clock!

The interviewee

And the interviewer ... who has obviously just said something hilarious!

We had a few nibbles on the new AGA front, which is good, and is an essential part of making our second season as national sponsor a success. We also bumped into a few people from the Hursley Hambledon Hunt who had made us feel so welcome on our visit to Tweseldown back in December last year. 

Derek and Sarb flank Mr Barlow, the course announcer from Tweseldown (who is a very nice man!)

Thank you to all at Hackwood Park and Milborne St Andrew for your wonderful welcome, and thank you to all of the owners, trainers and lady riders who are helping to make the AGA Total Control title race so exciting ... see you in a field somewhere soon!