A LARGE crowd braved poor weather conditions to watch the racing at Charing for the traditional Ashford Valley meeting.

By contrast to a year ago when the meeting had to be abandoned due to hard ground, the going on this occasion was officially described as good and owners were keen to run their horses.

The afternoon started with two pony races which attracted children from a wide area. The winner of the under-15-year-old race was Tom Cannon from Guildford, and the under-12-year-old race was won by Edward Grissell who comes from Burwash.

The first race between the flags was the Restricted, won by Hampshire based David Phelan riding Kilvoydan.

The South East Area Champion jockey Chris Gordon recorded yet another success when partnering Nigel Benstead’s Lord of the North in the two-and-a-half mile Maiden race to qualify the horse for the Grants Cherry Brandy South East Novice Championship at Folkestone.

Three horses went to post for the Men’s Open and the joint-favourite Struggles Glory was soon setting the pace.

The other joint favourite, Belvento, took closer order on the final circuit and challenged for the lead. But he fell four from home, which left Struggles Glory to coast home for owner/rider David Robinson’s 50th winner.

There was a field of five for the Ladies’ race and the odds-on favourite Cedar Chief, with Lisa Stock in the saddle, dominated for the whole race to score the horse’s second win in seven days.

Phil York, a contender for the National Riders Championship, increased his score when partnering Colin Cheeseman’s Charlies Angel to take the South East Hunts Members’ Race.

A huge crowd flocked to Aldington on Easter Monday where the East Kent Hunt held their meeting. In perfect weather conditions the crowd were well entertained with some excellent racing.

Hampshire-based trainer David Phelan, having won at Charing on Saturday, returned to Kent to record his first riding double at a meeting with Pendeli in the Maiden and Lord Alpha in the Restricted.

The Men’s Open was most exciting with the favourite Pendle Hill being narrowly beaten by a neck by the 6-4 shot Real Value ridden by Philip Hall.

The favourite, Sheriff’s Friend just held off the fast-finishing Silver Lake to take the Ladies’ Open.