James Owen, the Newmarket-based jockey, was the big winner as the East Anglian Point-To-Point season drew to a low key close with the Fitzwilliam (Milton) meeting on Saturday.

Just one of the afternoon’s seven races was won by an East Anglian-trained horse – a fact that was predictable given that this fixture, for so long staged at Cottenham near Cambridge, was being run for the first time at Dingley, near Market Harborough, and is set to be recognised as a Midlands meeting in the 2012-13 season.

The solitary local triumph came in the Men’s Open Race as The Rodeo Clown benefitted from a skilful Owen ride to see off Uppertier by half a length. This meant that Owen got the better of a tight battle with Ben Rivett to land the County Linen Service-sponsored East Anglian Jockeys’ Championship.

The Rodeo Clown is trained at Cowlinge, near Newmarket, by John Ferguson, who has joyed an amazing season – when National Hunt results are included, this was his 40th success of the campaign. It was also The Rodeo Clown’s fourth score of the year, thus clinching him the Richard Weller-Poley East Anglian Champion Horse Award.

The following Ladies’ Open race proved decisive as far as the Novice Lady Riders’ Championship was concerned. Annie Bowles, who now lives in Ireland but is originally from Rushall, near Diss, began the day tied with Georgie Thorogood at the top of the standings, so the single point she gained for her fourth place here aboard Onyx d’Ace was enough to secure the crown.

The Novice Champion amongst the male riders is James Ferguson, son of John, and he rubber-stamped his title win when guiding Dancing Dawn into third place behind Lake Legend in the Novice Riders Race.

Dancing Dawn finished second in the Marriage Horsfeeds Mares Championship behind Flo The Machine, trained near Royston by Clare Hobson. She cemented her position at the head of the standings when carrying Owen into third place behind Ted Gunther in the Restricted Race.

Finally, Andrew Braithwaite, from Newmarket, was announced as East Anglia’s Jockey Of The Month for May.

Results

Members

1 Karinga Dandy – Sam Davies-Thomas 5/2

2 Lady Barack – Jonny Bailey

3 The Little Chancer – Jack Day

Time 6 mins 54 secs Dists: 1/2L, Dist 4 ran L’Oudon 4/9f (PU)

PPORA Novice Riders

1 Lake Legend – Leo Mahon 1/2f

2 Teeton Dazzler – Lucy Docker

3 Dancing Dawn – James Ferguson

Time 6-31 Dists: Nk, 20L 11 ran

Mens Open

1 The Rodeo Clown – James Owen 4/6f

2 Uppertier – Peter Mann

3 Walkin Aisy – Dicky Collinson

Time 6-43 Dists: 1/2L, 7L 11 6 ran

Ladies Open

1 Palypso De Creek – Claire Hart 7/4

2 Billyvodan – Jane Williams 4/7f

3 Oceanos Des Obeaux – Sarah Phizacklea

Time 6-29 Dists: 12L, Dist 6 ran

Restricted

1 Ted Gunther – Dale Peters 4/1

2 We Never Give Up – Toby Betambeau

3 Flo The Machine – James Owen

Time: 6-44 Dists: 2L,2L 12 ran Midnight Rebel 6/4f (PU)

Open Maiden

1 Intimate Whisper – Toby Betambeau 5/2jf

2 Cloudy Moon – Peter Mann

3 Fresh Idea – Gina Andrews

Time 6-51 Dists: 10L, 2L 13 ran Turtle Boys 5/2jf (5th)

4,5,6 & 7 YO

Maiden 2 miles 4 furlongs

1 Nelson’s Legend – Tom McLorey 25/1

2 Lady Vicstar – Tom Ellis

3 Dunga – Toby Betambeau

Time 5-44 Dists: 2L,18L 11 ran Flicka’s Witness Ev’sf (fell)