We are setting off in daylight for a point-to-point and Mrs S has even managed to strike up a conversation within the first five minutes! To put that in perspective, during January on a two hour journey to Larkhill in the dark and fog she only spoke for the first time when we were twenty minutes away from the course! Claire Hart called me as we hit the road today and she complained of not being able to see very well because of the fog, whereas I was scrabbling around for sunglasses!
It wasn't quite AGA polo shirt weather but just look at that blue sky! There are also three AGA boys in the photo above, except one of them isn't an AGA boy anymore. The odd one out is Chris, who has missed pointing so much since leaving in December that he asked if he could come along today - he just couldn't keep away!
The tent was soon up, and the fence, and the signs, and Mrs S was soon in full flow as Pauline Harkin, who trains Doctor Kingsley, popped over for a catch up.
The lorry park is always a good place to meet nice people and Sunday was no exception, pictured with the AGA man are Paul Berrington, left, trainer Heather Dalton - holding Minnie, centre, and Peter Clifton on the right. They resisted my overtures to buy a new AGA but I'm not giving up just yet ...
Killard Point was entered for our race but was declared for the Club Members race, where he finished 3rd at 16/1 under Lucy Saunders (with the AGA man above).
Beazo captured this image of Derek and Chris hard at work - Chris has missed pointing, but it looks like he has also missed putting the AGA signs up!
Reigning National Champion Jane Williams rode a winner in the Intermediate - Grandturgeon, and would have also had a leg up in our race had Shernally not pulled a shoe off two days earlier. Jane is off the mark in the AGA Championship (she has 4 points), although she has yet to pick up a perfect 10 points for a win!
We were joined by Sally White from our AGA shop in Lincoln (above in the grey coat), Sally loves AGA, but she also loves pointing as well!
Chris was ready for a cup of coffee and a look at the race card after his exertions putting up the signs, but AGA finalist Joanna Mason (in blue) preferred the coffee from the stall next door!
The mens open had cut up and only four were declared, Doctor Kingsley was one of them and owner Doug Harkin was on leading up duty. There was a reason for this, Doctor Kingsley had been a bit lethargic on his previous run and Doug wanted to get him 'fired up' today!
With Pete Mann safely legged up it was time to grab one more photo with a strategically placed AGA sign in the background before they headed out onto the course.
And then they were back! Although the highlight of the race for me was following Doug's antics over the last couple of furlongs as he expended more energy that the horse, and the leap he put in at the last was almost as high as the one Doctor Kingsley put in!
The presentation was notable for Doug insisting Pauline stood between him and Pete just so he could use the "rose between two thorns" line!
Jane Williams popped by to catch up with Derek, Chris and Dan ... although Dan had found a chair with a cushion on it and seemed to prefer that to a chat with our multiple AGA winner!
Sally was deep in conversation with this lady who was very taken with our "AGA in a van", she was also very keen on buying a brand new AGA Total Control cooker!
Jane was keen on the chance of Phil Rowley's Ease and Grace in the Restricted, and the AGA boys were quick to take note of her opinion, steaming into the bookies with a vengeance ... in fact, there is a rumour that Derek was spotted with a wheelbarrow!
Connections were naturally delighted and it was nice to see Phil in such good spirits, he's another one whose antics on the run in can be fun to watch! Next up was the AGA Ladies Open, which had also cut up, with only 5 declaring from 21 entries, all 5 are pictured below with the now obligatory AGA sign in the background.
Orphelin Collonges, Yabora, Blandings Castle, Horsham Lad and Reelwill all looked a picture in the paddock and that lovely looking grey from Yorkshire, Blandings Castle was the winner of Best Turned Out for the second time this season in an AGA race.
Beazo is in the background, but the lady rider is Emma-Jane Garner, who was last seen in AGA action back in March 2012 aboard Moustique de L'Isle at the South Wold meeting at Brocklesby Park.
Becky Mason was next out to join mam Susan, dad Ian, and sister Jo (can you spot Beazo in the background?), and the sisters were soon hamming it up for the AGA man's camera - well, Joanna was!
Joanna was promoting her sponsor
'Beryle Crockery Hire', a business which is owned by Samantha Coward, sister of our AGA Champion Jacqueline Coward! Becky left Joanna to it, and was soon legged up on Blandings Castle - who as well as being an AGA finalist, is also a previous AGA Ladies Open winner (at Hornby Castle last Easter).
Alex Dunn was onboard Yabora - who had been off the track since October 2011, followed by Emma Goodinson and Orphelin Colonges, who had made one previous appearance in an AGA related ladies race - on the same horse, and that was back in April 2012 at the United Pack meeting at Brampton Bryan (which this year will be an AGA qualifier).
Horsham Lad was definitely playing to the camera as he strode around the paddock with Phine Banks up top, the pair were bidding to become the first partnership to win two AGA races this season.
The race which was won by Phine and Horsham Lad, who were followed home by Emma-Jane and Reelwill in 2nd, then Emma and Orphelin Collonges in 3rd - see below, Yabora and Blandings Castle were both pulled up.
Nothing pleases me more than the sight of happy connections after they have won one of our AGA Ladies Open races - especially when it is their second win of the season in our fabulous series. I think we have a live contender for our final at Stratford here, and a live contender for the AGA Championship!
Beazo was quickly on the scene and for the second time this season his pencil was poised as he asked Jelly for her verdict on the race.
We were joined for the presentation by Amy Claridge - of
Cook and Craft fame, and soon to be AGA Home Business fame we hope, along with her delightful Westie, Pepsi, who was shortly to become the first ever dog to appear in an AGA presentation photo!
For the first time this season two "10's" were needed for the presentation, although I didn't realise that one of them was facing the wrong way when Chris took this photo! The message was "get up and stop being silly" ... so I did!
Sally got her hands on 10 points and the lovely claret cast iron
Coalbrookdale pot, Phine had the special edition
AGA Pointing mugs (she now has a set!), I held Pepsi (who was very well behaved), while Amy had the other 10 points - Phine now has 20 AGA points, 2 behind Championship leader Gina Andrews.
I just couldn't resist another photo of Pepsi, who incidentally has her own twitter account @PepsiTheWestie, and who was already tweeting about her day with AGA Pointing by the time we arrived home!
It was time for yet another Beazo interview - Phine should be getting used to this by now, and then a photo with the AGA boys ... I think Derek and Dan must have lost their tweed caps!
Well, that was it for another week and it was time to pack those AGA banners and signs away and head for home, well done to Phine, Jelly and Horsham Lad, thank you to the friendly people at Thorpe Lodge for giving us such a warm welcome, and thank you to Sally, Amy and Pepsi for joining in the fun!
