Starting the day as she meant to go on, Stepaside’s Jodie Hughes made sure of securing the West Wales area ladies’ title for the second year running, when riding her first ever double.
Fealing Real, deifying his odds of 14-1 in the opening Members race won by 10 lengths, and Naughty By Nature, in the Ladies Open race finished a distance clear in the fastest time of the day at the Pembrokeshire Point to Point. This also made it a double also for owner/trainer Rebecca Curtis.
John Mathias who had the area men’s title sown-up before the meeting is busy chasing the national men’s title and a treble courtesy of Ben Tally Ho (Restricted Race), Most Definitely (Men’s Open) and Musique En Tete (Intermediate) most certainly keeps him bang in contention with only a week left of the season, the final meeting at Umberleigh in Devon will be a nailbiter.
The concluding meeting of the West Wales season will certainly stay in the memory of 19-year-old Emily Farr, who, aboard her parents’ eight-year-old homebred gelding Willottie rode her first winner in the Maiden race. Willottie, an 8-1 chance battled on gamely from four out to beat even money favourite Lady Trig by five lengths.
As soon as one season finishes, organisers can take a fortnights break before the planning of next season begins.
Details of potential meetings, which hopefully include another running of this year’s successful area club meeting will be in by the end of June, with the area awards dinner dance planned for the usual slot of October. There may be a national champion to celebrate there too!

West Wales Area Championships final results

Horses: West Wales Area Champion Horse (The Norton’s Coin Perpetual Challenge Trophy presented by Mr. and Mrs. S. G. Griffiths for the horse owned within West Wales area gaining the most points in races held in West Wales) - Mr. D. Rees’s Rith Bob and Mrs. C. Rhead’s Warsaw Pact both on 16 points, Mr. Dai Rees’s Rimini 14 points.
Leading South Pembrokeshire Horse (The David Williams Memorial Trophy for the horse qualified with the South Pembrokeshire Hunt gaining the most points in South and West Wales meetings during the season) - Miss Charlotte Evans’s Oca De Thaix 20 points, Mr. David Llewellyn’s Rosies Peacock 13 points, Mr. Paul Goldsworthy’s Hocinail 10 Points
West Wales Area Champion Maiden Horse (The D. G. L. Llewellin Challenge Trophy presented by Mr. and Mrs. D. Llewellin for the West Wales qualified horse gaining the most points in meetings held in South and West Wales, which started the current season as a maiden) - Mr. Dai Rees’s Rith Bob 16 points and Rimini 14 points, Mr. Paul Goldsworthy’s Hocinail nine points.
Spillers Champion Ladies Horse (For the horse qualified in South and West Wales gaining the most wins in Ladies Opens races held within South and West Wales) - Miss Beth Roberts’s Chestnut Annie four wins.
The Miss Sallyfield Memorial Trophy (for a horse in any race ridden by a novice rider in their first season gaining points in meetings held in South and West Wales. South and West Wales qualified horses only) - Miss Charlotte Evans’ Oca De Thaix nine points, Mr. Jonathon Tudor’s Merthyrmawr seven points.
Owners: Leading West Wales Owner at Lydstep (The Norman John Memorial Trophy presented by Mrs. G. John and Mr. D. R. John and family to the West Wales owner whose horses gain the most points at Lydstep in the current season) - Mr. Dai Rees.
Riders: West Wales Riders Championship (sponsored by Mrs. C. Lewis in memory of Mr. Keith Lewis, open to ladies and gentlemen who hold a West Wales rides certificate and who reside in the area. Points awarded for finishing in the first three in any race held in Great Britain) - Mr. John Mathias 195 points, Mr. Paul Tolman 41 points, Mr. Nathan Deakin 38 points.
West Wales Area Champion Gentleman Rider (The Hywel Williams Perpetual Challenge Cup for gentleman riders holding a West Wales area certificate and who reside within that area. Points awarded only at West Wales meetings) - Mr. John Mathias 97 points, Mr. Michael Byrne and Mr. Nathan Deakin 12 points.
West Wales Area Champion Lady Rider (The Mr. and Mrs. T. O. Jones Challenge Trophy for the leading lady rider who holds a West Wales area certificate and resides within the boundaries of that area. Points awarded only at West Wales meetings) - Miss Jodie Hughes 31 points, Mrs. Lucy Jones 21 points, Miss Ruth Birt-Llewellin 15 points.
West Wales Area Champion Novice Rider (The Pleasureprint Perpetual Challenge Trophy, open to lady and gentleman riders who hold a West Wales area riders certificate and reside within the boundaries of that area who at the start of the season have not ridden more than three winners. Points awarded only at West Wales meetings) - Mr. Nathan Deakin 19 points, Miss Ruth Birt-Llewellin 15 points, Mr. Phillip Griffiths and Mr. George Humfrey, both on five points.