Brothers battle it out in a tight finale

There was a fantastic finale to the Yorkshire season last weekend with brothers John and Chris Dawson having a ding-dong battle to win the men's championship. Chris finally clinched it with two winners on the day, his brother rode a treble hot in pursuit but just failed to catch him on points.

Jackie Coward replaces me as Ladies Champion, winning for the fourth time. After a horrific fall last season at Catterick it was just reward for her dedication.

Jackie has worked hard at building her confidence after a few early season falls did nothing but knock it.

The novice championship was well contested with some talented new riders on the scene.

Charlotte Cundall had her best season with four winners and Max Johnson, 26, who rides out for Easterbys, had his first ride this season. Both have proved they are more than capable of winning on a variety of horses when clinching their titles.

We venture further afield tomorrow, heading south to Leicestershire with four runners at Garthorpe. Fuel is so costly, I am keen to fill the wagon with runners. It means the owners share the cost of the hefty diesel bill, an incentive to keep running animals that are fit and well.

Prize money is still ridiculously pitiful at the majority of point-to-points. The British Horseracing Authorities set a maximum limit they allow hunts to offer for various races, ranging from 300 up to 500 for an open. A feature race being the exception to this rule.

Of the 108 races scheduled in this area in 2010, just 15 races offered maximum prize money, with 200 or more for first place. From 30 open races programmed only a pathetic five offered top limit prize money. Just 72 per cent of all races presented the bare minimum. With entry fees usually at 25 and the majority of races sponsored, there is no excuse for hunts not to present the maximum prize money allowed.

Special mention must go to the York and Ainsty and the Bedale who are the only hunts with entry fees to a minimum and prize money to the maximum. Oddly, the Holderness offers 165 more to the men than the ladies in the equivalent open races. Maybe they would prefer we stayed at home to darn socks and wash dishes in future?

My overdue broodmare eventually gave way and deposited a stunning chestnut colt. My regular dawn checks on our expectant mum started with me arriving fully dressed complete with wellies. By the third tiring week, the second vet's visit brought a promise of "in another 24 hours it will definitely arrive". My initial enthusiasm had been exhausted and I didn't care if I was wearing pyjamas or not by then.

The colt arrived a month late and is the image of his mother. My son went to visit the new arrival, naming him "Princess Holly" (everything gets named after his favourite programme whatever the sex). We also have a hen and a cat with the identical name. Pingu. My Jack Russell visits Princess Holly in the paddock, thinking she has every chance of annoying this pint-sized pony.

However the colt has different ideas and now the dog is regularly spotted going full pelt round the paddock, ears back, tail tucked away with Princess Holly joyfully cavorting after her in youthful exuberance.

Gluttons for punishment, the game continues until the dog is exhausted and she'll head back to resume a less exhausting pastime – rat hunting.

CW 22/5/10