Updated AGA Ladies Open Point-to-Point Series fixture list

With all of the postponed and abandoned fixtures in recent months I have not issued an updated AGA fixture list for quite some time. Hopefully things will settle down now so I am feeling fairly confident that there will not be any more changes to our list - although we may add one more qualifier.

Sun 25 November 2012 - EA, Cambridge University United Hunts Club, Cottenham

Sun 09 December 2012 - SM, Point-to-Point Owners & Riders Club, Barbury Castle

Fri 28 December 2012 - WM, Harkaway, Chaddesley Corbett

Sun 06 January 2013 - W, Larkhill Racing Club, Larkhill

Sun 13 January 2013 - Y, Yorkshire Area Point-to-Point Club, Sheriff Hutton

Sun 03 February 2013 - D&C, Mid Devon, Black Forest Lodge

Sun 10 February 2013 - N, Dumfriesshire, Overton

Sun 17 February 2013 - MID, Midlands Area Club, Thorpe Lodge

Sun 24 February 2013 - SE, South East Hunts Club, Charing

Sun 03 March 2013 - MID, Cottesmore, Garthorpe

Sat 09 March 2013 - MID, Brocklesby, Brocklesby

Sun 10 March 2013 - WBC, North Hereford, Whitwick

Sun 10 March 2013 - Y, Derwent, Charm Park

Sun 24 March 2013 - W, Mendip Farmers, Ston Easton

Mon (Easter) 01 April 2013 - D&C, Four Burrow, Trebudannon

Mon (Easter) 01 April 2013 - WM, North Cotswold, Paxford

Sat 06 April 2013 WBC United Brampton Bryan

Sun 07 April 2013 - WW - West Wales Area Club, Lydstep

Sat 13 April 2013 - SM, Heythrop, Mollington

Sat 13 April 2013 - SW&M, Ystrad Taf Fechan, Ystradowen

Sat 13 April 2013 - SAND, Hampshire, Hackwood Park

Sat 20 April 2013 - WM, Worcestershire, Chaddesley Corbett

Sun 21 April 2013 - W, Seavington, Littlewindsor

Sat 27 April 2013 - WM, Berkeley, Woodford

Sat 04 May 2013 - SE, Surrey Union, Peper Harrow

Mon (BH) 06 May 2013 - NW, North Shropshire, Eyton-on-Severn

Sat 11 May 2013 - SM, Kimblewick, Kingston Blount

Sat 18 May 2013 - Y, South Durham, Mordon

Sun 19 May 2013 - NW, North West Point-to-Point, Tabley

Mon (BH) 27 May 2013 - D&C, South Tetcott, Upcott Cross

Mon (BH) 27 May 2013 - WW, Pembrokeshire, Trecoed

Sun 02 June 2013 - Meynell & South Staffordshire, Garthorpe - "The Little Cookers of the Future" Point-to-Point Pony Racing Finals - sponsored by AGA

And the big one ...

Fri 07 June 2013 - The AGA Ladies Open Point-to-Point Championship Final (A Hunters' Steeple Chase For Lady Riders), Stratford-on-Avon

Marathon weekend for the AGA man, Derek and Beazo as we rack up the miles in pursuit of AGA sales and exciting racing

I will write a book one day but for now I will continue to use my blog to share our point-to-point exploits, starting with an update about our long and very enjoyable weekend. It started with a trip to Welsh Border country for the rearranged United Pack fixture at Brampton Bryan, and finished in Pembrokeshire for the West Wales Area Club meeting at Lydstep. We travelled light as an overnight stay was required, although I did find room for my riding helmet ... but more of that later.

We arrived at the course with the Beazmobile hot on our tail, although we were running a little late due to a pit stop in Ludlow en route. Not for breakfast as you might think, but so we could visit a friendly bookmaker and place a bet on the Grand National! Not for the first time this season Beazo offered to help put the AGA signs up while I took the pictures - little did we know that some of them would be taken down within half an hour!

The Baltic temperatures and bitingly cold winds of recent weeks have tested everyones patience and I think it's fair to say that with a bit of sun on our backs we all felt a whole lot better. Add in the magnificent setting - probably one of the most picturesque courses I have been to, and you just knew we were going to have a great day!

We didn't expect to see Adrian Wintle and Hannah Lewis as we thought they were Ascot bound the following day with Squadron, but it was certainly a pleasant surprise when we did spot them coming out of the declarations tent! With National Champion Jane Williams and The General Lee also lining up, along with promising young novice Annie Dalton and Glidewell we knew we were in for an exciting race.

Exciting AGA Ladies race at Ston Easton leaves us dreaming of grabbing the headlines ... but instead we are left nonplussed

Our race at the Mendip Farmers meeting at Ston Easton had it all, it was one of the most exciting I have seen, and barring last years final at Cheltenham I don't think I've seen a more exciting finish in an AGA race (more of that shortly). On a bitterly cold day - I used the word 'Siberia' on more than one occasion during the afternoon, this thrilling race was just what we needed to warm us up.

This was the scene when we left Cubbington for our two hour drive to Ston Easton, and while I had assured Mrs S that there would not be any snow at all on the course, I neglected to mention how cold it would be (as a result of which I would later be called a 'con artist').

Mrs S - purple hood, only got out of the car twice, and this was the first time, while Derek and Dan look as if they would be much happier if they were sat in front of a nice warm AGA at home! The AGA Ladies Open was the 3rd race on the card, and with five declared Beazo grabbed a couple of pics of the AGA man in the paddock with the two lady riders who would shortly be the cause of much drama and excitement (Emily MacMahon and Lucy Gould).

In anticipation of a close finish we decided to watch the race stood by the winning post, this proved to be a very wise decision - as you can see from the following photographs, all taken by master point-to-point photographer John Beasley.