Few results this season have given me more pleasure than the two-runner members' race held at Bredwardine in the Welsh Borders last weekend.
Not that I backed the 5/4 winner Galbally King, or have anything against runner-up Buffalo Sabre and his team, but winning rider Patrick Sankey endured a torrid time in order to gain a first victory. At 6ft 7ins, Sankey sits neatly on a horse, but it has been ghastly to consider his diet, one that began in earnest five years ago when he first rode in a race.
Since then there has been the introduction of a 5lb allowance for riders taking part in open races if they have ridden fewer than five winners. Sankey needed that like a plate of doughnuts, and for the past two seasons has had to avoid such contests, opting to pay subscriptions to three different hunts in order to target their members' races.
The plan paid off, and on his 29th ride he and his 14-year-old horse struck, finishing strongly despite carrying 10lb overweight at 12st 10lb. Sankey said: "I just felt relief to have finally done it – it was a great experience, the absolute buzz. There is nothing like it."
I assumed he would retire on a high, but he was at Doncaster Sales this week, looking to buy another pointer, and, since Galbally King was fine after winning, the partnership could be resumed at Chaddesley Corbett on Monday.
For those of us who tried to ride a winner, but failed, and those who retired after losing out to the scales, we look up to you, Patrick – literally.
Your win reminded me that Point-to-Pointing's open-to-all philosophy should mean opportunities for bigger riders. There has to be a cut-off point, but 12st 5lb Men's Open races have been replaced by 12st contests in many regions.