THE final Wales and West meeting of the season under BHRC rules at Leominster was a high-spirited affair despite the sodden conditions.

Edward Layton had worked tirelessly to produce going as good as possible in the circumstances, and the 10-race card was testament to the popularity of the circuit.

The slippery conditions precipitated only one dramatic incident. In the first race I Am The Man (Sarah Mould) toppled, skittling Donnybrook (Jed Strick-land) and NT Tranquility (Stella Havard).

Free Contender (Colin Bevan) skirted the melee and sprinted to another fine victory. None of the fallers was seriously injured and Sarah Mould gained some consolation for her embarrassing bruises when Prucocious later took the Novice event with great determination.

Local engineer Gareth Price was voted People's Champion' by the crowd, and franked this accolade when his American import, Another Mattie, hurtled to head the Pathfinder field. Roy Robert's Red Ryan (Megan Taff), voted the People's Champion Horse, had to concede narrowly to Teifion Thomas' Tommie's Bizzy (Huw Thomas) in the No Whip Handicap. Megan, who had been runner-up in the People's Champion', later partnered Richard Eggerton's Magical Holly to her 25th triumph in the region this year.

It was a fitting finale for Winforton trainer Mark Lloyd. He sent out his father's talented gelding Hopping Blue to win two fiercely competitive races in the capable hands of Roy Wilson, including the Bruce Baron Cup for drivers over 50. David Bevan was another in double form, partnering CU Salsberg and Magical UK to emphatic victories to bring his seasonal tally in the area to 17.

The racing was followed by a fancy dress foot race in aid of the County Air Ambulance.

RESULTS Going: Soft.

VINTAGE HANDICAP (For horses 9 yrs+, Handicap Reduced by 10 yds): 1 Free Contender (Colin Bevan) 40 yds; 2 Fearless JR (Richard Owens) 50 yds; 3 King of Diamonds (Robert Plant). 2:16.4. 2L, 2L. Owned & trained by Colin Bevan, Llangammarch Wells.

MAIDEN MILE: 1 Ayr Chief (Shane Ward); 2 Wyeside Taurus ( Shane Eggerton); 3 Cerion Alma (Dylan Lloyd-Jones). 2:22.5. 1L, neck. Owned & trained by Shane Ward, Stoke-on- Trent.

PATHFINDER HANDICAP: 1 Another Mattie ( Gareth Price); 2 Symlog Derryn Du (Mark Pritchard) 20 yds; 3 The Playboy (Keith Young) 30 yds. 2:16.6. L, 3L. Owned & trained by Gareth Price, Merthyr Cynog.

NOVICE MILE: 1 Prucocious (Sarah Mould); 2 Wellfield Jakal (John Wright);3 Radnor Valley (Mark Pritchard). 2:17.4. 1L, 2L. Owned by Alf Evans, trained by Lyn Mould, Stafford.

IMPROVER: 1 CU Salsberg ( David Bevan); 2 George's Hero (Megan Taff); 3 Spring Skipper (Lee Vaughan). 2:18.4. Neck, 5L. Owned by G Morgan, trained by David Bevan, Maesmynis.

NON-WINNERS 2006 OPEN HANDICAP: 1 Hopping Blue (Roy Wilson) 10 yds;2 Duggan's Jackpot (Megan Taff) 20 yds; 3 Scoots Zeal (Sarah Mould). 2:13.7. 2L, 2L. Owned by Bob Lloyd, trained by Mark Lloyd, Winforton.

INTERMEDIATE MILE: 1 Magical UK (David Bevan); 2 Ystwyth Rebel (S Morgans); 3 Ayr Again (Patrick Morris). 2:18.9. Short head, 1L. Owned by Jason Tucker, trained by David Bevan, Maesmynis.

NO WHIP MILE AND A QUARTER HANDICAP: 1 Tommie's Bizzy (Huw Thomas): 2 Red Ryan (Megan Taff) 10 yds; 3 Fearless JR (Richard Owens) 60 yds. 2:52.2. Short head, 2L. Owned & trained by Teifion Thomas, Ammanford.

NOVICE GRADES OPPORTUNITY RACE: 1 Magical Holly (Megan Taff) 10 yds; 2 Spring Skipper (Lee Vaughan); 3 Ystwyth Rebel (S Morgans). 2:17.7. L, 3L. Owned & trained by Richard Eggerton, Lyonshall.

BRUCE BARON CUP GOLDEN OLDIES' HANDICAP (Drivers 50+): 1 Hopping Blue (Roy Wilson) 10 yds; 2 Forest Tombo (Pete Lloyd) 10 yds; 3 Magical Star (Neil Brian). 2:13.5. 4L, 2L. Owned by Bob Lloyd, trained by Mark Lloyd, Winforton.