Lewis delights diners with tales of triumphant times (From Tewkesbury Admag)

Lewis delights diners with tales of triumphant times

TRIPLE Cheltenham Gold Cup winning owner Jim Lewis was the guest speaker at the annual West Midland Area Point-to-Point Awards Dinner at Prestbury Park.

In an eloquent speech, Lewis described how his involvement in the Sport of Kings started, in modest fashion at first, but which subsequently blossomed into the life-changing success he has enjoyed over the last ten years.

Guests had the chance to relive all the emotions associated with owning racehorses and were able to witness once again Best Mate's three hard-fought wins in the centrepiece of the National Hunt Festival.

The fact that Best Mate started his career Point-to-Pointing in Ireland was not lost on the 350 guests.

Lewis presented Eastnor's Nicky Sheppard with the Trainer of the Year Award for her handling of Upton Adventure, while the Weston family from Hindlip in Worcestershire took the Leading Owner/Trainer/Rider Award with Caught at Dawn.

The ten-year-old was also responsible for Tom Weston taking the Leading Novice Rider Trophy for the second year in succession.

North Cotswold qualified horses did well with The Campdonian taking the Leading Horse Awards for Weston-sub-Edge-based owners Lucy King and John Robbins, while Toddington's Sue Collett was presented with the Leading Mare Award won by Campden Kitty.

Mandy Tatlow deservedly won the prize for the Leading Groom and the Leading Novice Horse Award went to Che Guevara whose consistency secured the prize for owners Gill Baker and James Tuck.

Berkeley rider Polly Gundry took the Leading Lady Trophy for a second year where it joins the five National Titles she has won in recent times.

Childswickham-based jockey Edward Walker took the Leading Gentlemen Riders Award for the first time at the expense of Ledbury's Julian Pritchard.

The presentations ran smoothly under the control of Master of Ceremonies John Willis, who spoke for all the assembled guests in wishing Pritchard continued success as he attempts to beat David Turner's all time Point-to-Point record sometime during 2005.