Jane Williams strikes at Paxford as the cold weather continues to be a feature of our AGA point-to-point season

The North Cotswold meeting was a late addition to our list of AGA qualifiers this season so myself, Derek and Dan made the short trip down the Fosse Way, while Mark made the marathon trek down the M5 to the Four Burrow meeting at Trebudannon. The two meetings could only muster seven runners between them, but as I'm writing this three weeks after the event I'm pleased to report that things have improved a bit during the past two weeks (apart from a two runner race at Hackwood Park).

A new career as a bookie is definitely not on the cards for the AGA man, Mark Hill was happy to loan me his joint for a photo, but declined the opportunity to loan me a float for the day!

There was a definite Stratford connection today as Ilona Barnett was on stewarding duties in the paddock, Stratford MD Stephen Lambert was enjoying a day out with his wife, and trainer Jelly O'Brien was saddling a runner in our race (she won the Horse & Hound Cup at Stratford in 2001 with Look In The Mirror). All three grabbed the AGA man as soon as they saw Beazo and insisted that they have a photo with me ... or was it the other way around?

Shernally, Horsham Lad and Light Touch were in the paddock long before their respective jockeys, who sheltered from the biting wind for as long as possible before emerging to brave the elements ... did I mention that it was cold? Cold doesn't do it justice, think of all of the words that I have used in previous blogs - Baltic, Siberian, Bleak, Raw, well it was all of them, and Mrs S spent most of the day in the car!

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.