DISPATCHES FROM WEST MERCIA: 1 NOVEMBER

Pickings were thinner than last year for West Mercian participants at the opening meeting of the season, held at Lower Machen, near Newport in Wales, on Sunday 1^st November, as the Welsh contestants dominated proceedings.

Celebrations after St Cuthbert's Cave wins - Joe O'Shea is far right (Alun Sedgmore)

However, Cheshire-based Joe O’Shea, who won the Mens Open at the corresponding fixture last season with St Cuthbert’s Cave, took the Ladies equivalent this time, with the same horse. While West Mercian trained, he is qualified with a Northern Area certificate.

Harvey Barfoot-Saunt storms clear on Stroke Of An Angel (Alun Sedgmore)

Harvey Barfoot-Saunt may be based in Wales, and ride with a qualification from that Area, but he is West Mercian born and bred, hailing from Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire. He works for locally-based licensed trainer Sam Thomas and won the concluding bumper on the mare Stroke Of An Angel, the most impressive winner of the day, trained for pointing by Thomas’ wife Tori and owned by Dai Walters, who owns the course where the action took place last weekend.