The AGA Series and the inaugural AGA Total Control Lady Riders' Championship reached a thrilling climax at Cheltenham in May, but during the preceeding five months there were lots of memorable moments and great performances in the saddle. The story is told with more pictures than words and what better place to start than the first AGA qualifier on the opening day of the season at Cottenham ...
Cottenham - Cambridge University United Hunts Club
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The Championship was up and running and Rachel King bagged the first 10 AGA points with a win on Zanzibar Boy ... her first and only points of the season.
Barbury Castle - PPORC
Another title challenge was launched as Angela Rucker got off the mark on the classy Kicks For Free, prompting the first contender of the season for "most family members in the presentation photo".
Alnwick - Ratcheugh Racing Club
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The seasonal reappearance of snow greeted our arrival in Alnwick, where we saw another lady rider get off the mark for the season as Claire Metcalfe booted Sea Scout home miles ahead of the field.
Beazo interviewed Claire after her win and this would not be the last time that he had to compete with a course commentator to be heard!
Whitfield - South Midlands Area Club
A memorable day today as this was my first meeting with "Harty" (Claire Hart), our future AGA Total Control Lady Riders' Champion and the lady rider with the most nicknames ever! For the second week running there was an easy winner as Claire and Palypso De Creek led the field a merry dance.
The meeting also saw my first appearance on the presentation podium!
Chaddesley Corbett - Harkaway Club
A bumper post Christmas crowd turned out and they were to witness the winning return of the reigning AGA champions, Billyvoddan and Jane Williams. Billy followed the script to the letter and romped home clear of the field - despite a last fence mistake that saw Jane nearly exit via the side door!
The second part of our film about Jane and Billyvoddan - "A Day In The Life ..." was filmed today and it's well worth a look.
Wadebridge - North Cornwall
We saw a couple of rising stars through the mist and rain here today as Jess Westwood and Monkerty Tunkerty put in a superb round of jumping to take the AGA race in fine style. I have no doubt that we would have seen the pair line up in the AGA final at Cheltenham had they not had such bad luck with injuries.
Number 1 ... and below, the only winners photo of the season without that clock!
Larkhill - Royal Artillery
It was nice to see Gina Andrews secure her first 10 AGA points with an impressive win on Quedillac ...
... although on a cold and windy day refreshments were noticeably thin on the ground!
Dunthrop - Heythrop
The longest AGA race of the season was won for the second year in succession by owner/rider/trainer Sarah-Jayne Davies on Peter Corbett's Upton Springs
There's a chance that we may not see Spring bid for a hat-trick of wins in this race as the Heythrop meeting has moved to Mollington and clashes with Sarah's local meeting, that's a shame, but I'm hopeful that we'll see the pair in at least one of our AGA races.
Sheriff Hutton - Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club
Our first visit to Sheriff earlier in January had been in vain as the meeting became a victim of Jack Frost, but we had better luck today and witnessed future AGA Champions Jacqueline Coward and Amicelli in action.
My friends from the North were in good spirits after a fine victory for JC and Amicelli, and JC also got her hands on 10 valuable AGA points, her first of the season.
Parts 2 and 3 to follow ...