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Point to Point 28122011

CLAIRE HART AND PALYPSO DE CREEK HAVE THEIR EYES SET ON CHELTENHAM AFTER CRUISING TO EARLY SEASON WIN AT WHITFIELD

It has long been Claire Hart’s ambition to have a ride at Cheltenham and in Palypso de Creek – who cruised to victory to take the AGA Ladies' Open Championship qualifier at Whitfield – she just might have the horse that can take her there.

A winner of four races in France before joining Charlie Longsdon, Palypso de Creek lost his confidence after a heavy fall at Haydock a year ago and Charlie suggested to owner Alan Halsall that Claire, who works at his yard, should have him for a year to see how she got on with him. 

“He’s been a challenge,” admitted Claire. “It’s his jumping that’s been the problem – he wouldn’t even go over a pole when I got him. But we just play with him and he loves being top dog.” 

Runner-up Spellchecker was a first ride of the season for the reigning national champion Gina Andrews, who was booked in midweek as a replacement for Freya Brewer, who had not yet taken out her licence. 

Heather Kemp, third on Gidam Gidam, was feeling the effects of the very heavy fall she took at Barbury a fortnight earlier, and was in some discomfort afterwards.  

Sadly, it was an inauspicious beginning for Lutie Akinci, whose debut ride on Imtihan saw her unseated at the first fence. Happily Lutie, who works for trainer Caroline Bailey, was unhurt, as were all the fallen horses and riders in the contest. 

Race winner Claire Hart was filmed after the race being interviewed by respected point-to-point photographer John Beasley. The video can be viewed online at http://www.agaliving.com/aga-living/aga-point-to-point.aspx

2011-2012 AGA Ladies' Open Championship

CLASSY WIN FOR RACHEL KING ON ‘ZANZIBAR BOY' IN FIRST RACE IN THE 2011-12 AGA LADIES’ OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP AT COTTENHAM

Rachel King may be small of stature, but her talent has never been in doubt and at Cottenham in Cambridgeshire on Sunday (Nov 27) she gave Zanzibar Boy a fine front-running ride to land the first of the AGA-sponsored races scheduled for the 2011-12 campaign.

Ski Dazzle was installed favourite of the four runners, but hard though he tried he could never quite get to the grey, who jumped immaculately throughout. “He’s a bit of a worrier and he didn’t really settle last season,” explained Karrie Fanshawe, who trains him for her husband Rob. “He needs jumping with a loose rein and Rachel’s the only one who’s prepared to ride him like that – none of the other jockeys I used would do it."

It was just a second runner at the track for Lambourn-based Karrie, her first having been about five years previously. Hunter chasing, including the AGA final at Cheltenham, has not been ruled out and regulation fences should hold no terrors for Zanzibar Boy, who won three Handicap Chases when trained firstly by Hughie Morrison and then Nicky Henderson.

Rachel, 21, rode her first point-to-point winner in 2008 prior to having a spell as an apprentice on the flat the following year before reverting to amateur status. Her Cottenham victory means that she is 'leader in the clubhouse' in the new AGA Total Control Lady Riders’ Championship, in which riders score points in both the 28 qualifying races for the Cheltenham final and an additional 22 selected contests. The prize is an AGA Total Control cooker worth almost £10,000.

Rachel King was filmed after the race being interviewed by respected point-to-point photographer John Beasley. The video can be viewed online at http://www.agaliving.com/aga-living/aga-point-to-point.aspx

Aga wins second major award

AGA has picked up its second prestigious award in as many weeks – this time for its innovative AGA Total Control cooker. The Shropshire-based company won the Silver Award in the Best of British category at the annual House Beautiful awards.

The new AGA Total Control was selected over a host of products by a judging panel that included House Beautiful staff and respected designers including Jeff Banks, Nick Munro and Sophie Conran.

The ceremony – which celebrated products launched during 2011 – was held in central London and the stylish crystal award was presented by House Beautiful Deputy Editor Karen Stylianides to Richard Fozard, Marketing Director, AGA Rangemaster . He said: “AGA Total Control proves that British manufacturers with proud and long histories can, with continued investment and innovation, produce products as relevant to consumers today as they were at the beginning of the century."

The new AGA Total Control cooker, which features a state-of-the art touch-screen control panel, is the first ever AGA that can be on when it is needed, off when it is not. Each oven and hotplate can also be controlled independently, offering owners reduced running costs.

The House Beautiful award follows on swiftly from AGA Rangemaster Group being named Manufacturing Company of the Year at Insider Media's inaugural Made in the Midlands Awards. The Group was acknowledged as one the most innovative manufacturers from across a region that has been at the forefront of theUK's manufacturing success since the Industrial Revolution.

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Aga ladies race for Total Control

Riders will race to win an AGA Total Control cooker worth almost £10,000 in the new AGA Championship

Following a hugely successful 2010-11 season, AGA is again going to be a hot presence at point-to-points throughout the country. As well as sponsoring the AGA Ladies' Open Point-to–Point Championship, the company is set to encourage some seriously competitive racing with its new AGA Total Control Lady Riders' Championship.

Fifty races will count towards the AGA Total Control Lady Riders’ Championship and there’s sure to be stiff competition as the rider with the most points at the end of the season will win an AGA Total Control cooker, worth almost £10,000.

This new approach is set to ensure bigger fields, the best horses, competitive riders and an exciting competition. Points can be earned at 28 AGA-sponsored ladies' open races, which will also be qualifiers for the AGA Ladies' Hunter Chase Final atCheltenhamon May 2nd.

Points can also be earned for the AGA Total Control Lady Riders’ Championship at a further 22 AGA Total Control open races, although these are not qualifiers for the final itself. Points earned in the final will count double and points will be awarded to riders finishing in the first four places in each of the 51 races. But for the purpose of the AGA Total Control Lady Riders’ Championship each rider will count the points from their best five results during the season, plus the final atCheltenham(six races in total). An up-to-date league table for the AGA Total Control Lady Riders’ Championship will be published in every race card, which will also contain a £10 gift voucher for every racegoer to spend in the local AGA shop.

William McGrath – Chief Executive of AGA Rangemaster Group plc – said: “AGA is a hot favourite and we have one as a prize for the leading AGA Ladies’ Championship jockey. is should ensure a cracking pace is set throughout the season and help link our shops throughout the country with their local point-to-point meetings.

"The point-to-point community and AGA are natural partners and we are keen to promote the sport and establish close connections with our local shops. That’s why there are incentives for the connections and spectators alike to come and see the AGA Total Control and our products first hand on course and in our local shops.”

Midlands Manufacturer of the Year award

AGA Rangemaster Group has been named Manufacturing Company of the Year at Insider Media's inaugural Made in the Midlands Awards.

The Group was one of the winners on a night that celebrated the very best and most innovative manufacturers from across a region that has been at the forefront of theUK's manufacturing success since the Industrial Revolution.

The evening’s proceedings at the Ricoh Arena inCoventryon November 1st were compered by Michael Portillo and the award – presented by Ray O'Donoghue from Barclays Corporate – was accepted by AGA Rangemaster Group Chief Executive William McGrath. The event, which featured a keynote address from Mike Wright, executive director of Jaguar Land Rover, also raised money for the West Midlands Industry Foundation. In its citation, Insider Midlands magazine said AGA Rangemaster Group had triumphed because of its proud record in “maintaining and building theMidlandsbrand at home and abroad”.

AGA Rangemaster Group CEO William McGrath said: “That AGA Rangemaster remains an innovator more than 300 years after Abraham Darby, the Group’s founder, triggered the Industrial Revolution is a great achievement.” Mr McGrath, who was interviewed by Michael Portillo during the awards ceremony, added: “We are delighted to ‘beat the drum’ forMidlandsmanufacturing and to have won the Midlands Insider Award.”

Reading showroom closed for Newbury Show

Our Reading showroom will be closed over the weekend of 18th/19th September as we will be exhibiting at the Royal County of Berkshire Show in Newbury.

Come and see us in the Food Fayre to try a tasty treat baked in our live Aga cooker!

Servicing work extended

Edwards & Godding can now carry out servicing and repair works on Mercury, Falcon and Rangemaster cookers in addition to our existing portfolio.

For more information on how we can help you take care of your cooker contact us on 01189 393046 or email service@edwardsandgodding.co.uk

New AGA colour

Pearl Ashes, the gorgeous new standard AGA colour has been launched and is available to order from 1 June 2010.

Pearl Ashes shares it's name with one of the Fired Earth colour schemes and there is a natural synergy with the two styles.

For more information request one of the new AGA brochures here.

Claret colour to be discontinued with electric AGAs

As of 30th April 2010 AGA will no longer be able to supply Claret or Pillar Box Red on any electric heat storage AGA cookers, Six-Four AGA cookers, modules or Four-Two AGA cookers.

The WEEE directive (that covers electrical appliances only) doesn't allow the production of these colours due to the minute levels of Cadmium necessary to produce the vitreous enamel colour.  Pillar Box Red will be discontinued across the range as a result.

Rayburn and Masterchef (which don't have vitreous enamel finished so don't use Cadmium) are not affected.

For more information about this please contact us on 01189 393046 or email sales@edwardsandgodding.co.uk

New telephone system

As part of Edwards & Godding ongoing drive to provide the best possible customer service using the best in class technology solutions, we have decided to invest in a new telephone system to ensure that our customers can reach that member of staff who can deal most effectively with their query.