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What a great way to end the season, with seven of the Area Awards being decided on the final day of the campaign.

LEADING GENTLEMAN RIDER
1ST MARK WALL 77
2ND DAVID MANSELL 71
3RD SAM DRINKWATER 66

Bibury jockey Mark Wall started the day one point behind David Mansell but Flying Gnu's success in the Restricted carried him clear of his rival and allowed Wall to follow up last years success in the Rider Championship. Sam Drinkwater pushed these two riders from the start of the season and this shows what great strength in depth there is in the area.

LEADING LADY RIDER
1ST JANE WILLIAMS 34
2ND ALEX DUNN 28
3RD LARA MAHON 15

A Members Race win on No Mans Green and second place on Lagosta in the Ladies Open allowed Jane Williams to overhaul Alex Dunn in her bid to take over the mantel vacated by Claire Allen. Alex had led the Title race since the start of the season but two rides at this meeting did not yield any points and she had to settle for the runner-up berth.

LEADING NOVICE RIDER - MALE
1ST TOM BELLAMY 44
2ND JAMES RIDLEY 37
3RD CHARLIE DANDO 23

One of the most encouraging aspects of recent years has been the regular influx of young riders who have made their way through the Pony Racing ranks. We were told to expect great things from Tom Bellamy before the season started and he did not disappoint. He was pushed all the way by James Ridley who formed a great partnership with Noble Ben and Friendly Natives and his success on Noble Ben at Cheltenham must have been one of the highlights of his season.

LEADING NOVICE RIDER - FEMALE
1ST LARA MAHON 15
2ND LUCY WORTHINGTON 12
3RD KELSIE WILLIS 07

The Leading Novice Female Rider Award went to Lara Mahon and in racing parlance she came with a late run to pip Lucy Worthington on the post. Miss Worthington had led this category since her fortunate win on Blues Baby Daisy at the start of the season so Lara needed a win to steal the prize. She did so following an enterprising ride on Network Oscar in the Ladies Open. Sent to the front from flagfall this combination had their race won turning back for home.

LEADING HORSE
1ST = FLYING GNU 19
1ST = CEDRUS LIBANI 19
3RD BASIS POINT 17

This was yet another award which changed hands at the final meeting. Basis Point had built up an early season lead, with Flying Gnu and Cedrus Libani five points behind their rival at the start of the meeting. Only a win would carry them to the front of the field and Cedrus Libani laid down his claim after beating Ringa Bay in the Mens Open, but his efforts were matched by Flying Gnu a few races later.

LEADING MARE
1ST FLYING GNU 19
2ND SHEKNOWSYOUKNOW 14
3RD BLUES BABY DAISEY 12

Mike Hawker had taken this award in the past with his brilliant and honest mare Sheknowsyouknow, but she had bigger fish to fry towards the end of the season with a Hunter Chase success at Sedgefield before being pulled up in the John Corbett. This provided a winning opportunity for Flying Gnu, which she took with both hands.

LEADING NOVICE HORSE
1ST FLYING GNU 19
2ND MULRANNY 15
3RD CREEVYTENNANT 14

Horses from Fergal O'Briens stable held a monopoly on this award from the start of the season and it looked sure to go the same way as it has done in the past, but Flying Gnu's victory allowed her to claim the prize.

LEADING TRAINER
1ST FERGAL O'BRIEN 105
2ND CLAUDIA WILESMITH 42
3RD = ZOE HAMMOND 27
3rd = ANDY HOBBS 27

It did not look likely earlier in the year, but Fergal O'Briens yard at Naunton hit peak form at the right time and their rivals never got a look in later in the season. This was O'Brien's fourth consecutive success in this Award, but pastures new beckon next season which has to give other trainers cause for optimism.

SMALL TRAINER (2 HORSES OR LESS)
1ST HEATHER RIDLEY 24

Heather Ridley had a useful horse called Celtic Storm back in 1990 and now two decades later she picks up another prize as the Area Leading Small Trainer. Points accrued by Noble Ben and Friendly Natives took Mrs Ridley clear of last year's winner Michael Hawker.

OWNER/TRAINER/RIDER (FAMILY)
1ST BASIS POINT MAXWELL/BELLAMY 17
2ND RAINBOW TREE SMITH MAXWELL 14
3RD = NOBLE BEN RIDLEY 12
3RD = BLUES BABY DAISY WORTHINGTON 12
3RD = NEEDLE PRICK FIZOR 12
3RD = FRIENDLY NATIVES RIDLEY 12

This award was another closely fought contest, which resulted in victory for Basis Point

LEADING GROOM
VICKI SADDLER WINS THIS AWARD FOR THE SECOND YEAR

Staff from Fergal O'Briens yard have had a monopoly of this prize in recent seasons and so it proved again this year with Vicki Saddler following up last years success in this category.

BEST OF TASTE NOVICE RIDER AWARDS
JAMES RIDLEY - TOM EVETTS - DAVID HILTON - TOM BELLAMY - CHARLIE DANDO - CORDELIA CHUGG - SHANE O'KEEFE - SAM DAVIES THOMAS - KEIRON WATSON - SAM FIZOR - BEN BRACKENBURY - LARA MAHON

Bill Sparey presents a Novice Riders prize at each of the areas meetings. She had a difficult task identifying the overall winner.

CALLOW CHADDESLEY CHAMPIONSHIP

LEADING TRAINER - FERGAL O'BRIEN
LEADING JOCKEY - RICHARD BURTON
LEADING GROOM - VICKI SADDLER
LEADING HORSE - CEDRUS LIBANI

This is the second year that Callow has sponsored this Championship and once again it went right down to the wire.

Two winners for Richard Burton saw him snatch the Jockeys Award from David Mansell, while Cedrus Libani's success in the Mens Open meant that he took the Leading Horse Trophy at the expense of Dermatologiste.

Fergal O'Brien collected his second cheque from the sponsors for winning the Trainers Award while Vicki Saddler's two Best Turned Out Awards consolidated her position as the Leading Groom.

We would like to thank all sponsors for their continued support to the sport in the West Midlands

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