The Border held the final point to point of the season in the Northern Area at Hexham racecourse on Sunday, when Damiens Dilemma recorded his fourth win of the season in the NPPA club Members race.

The seven-year-old, who was carrying a 6lb penalty, was always prominent throughout the race and stayed on strongly after the last to beat the favourite, Milano Magic, by three lengths. The Wareed gelding was sourced out of Ireland by regular pilot, Harriett Bryce, for owner, Robert Miller Bakewell and has improved with every run. As a result of his successes he collects the prize for the leading Novice in the Northern Area as well as a National Award, which Robert collected at the PPORA lunch at Stratford last week.

Clonea Power justified favouritism in the seven runner Restricted, coming home 12 lengths clear of runner up, Smart Act. The winner, who has been running in Open company all season, appreciated the drop in grade and provided Charles Carr, 35, with his second career win. Charles, who also trains the eight year old for Jim Gledson, took a wide berth throughout the race to get better ground, as good going is key to his performance.

Charlotte Dun has had a great season and recorded her fourth win in the Ladies Open aboard Rolecarr. Just Talking led for a circuit and a half before fading, when the winner took up the running with Oscar Stanley snapping at their heels. A length up over the last they held off the challenge of Oscar Stanley to win by two lengths with favourite, One Connemara, back in third. 19 year old Charlotte is in her second year studying Accountancy and Economics at Heriot Watt, and the victory was made more poignant as the winning trophy is given by her grandfather, George Hutchinson.

A quality field of 12 went to post in the Mens Open and the winner, Cottage Oak, provided Tom Hamilton with the first half of a double on the day. The field were taken along by Topaze Collonges and Lucky Cody with the winner tracking them all the way. Three out Cottage Oak took up the running and although idling in front kept on to win by three lengths. The winner is trained by Joe O' Shea in Cheshire, so the 340 mile round trip was worthwhile. Owner Richard Hewitt had travelled even further as home is Anglesey, where he runs a private caravan park. The race was a final ride in point to points for Ed Wrigley, who has had a lot of fun over the years, as he is hanging up his boots to concentrate on a career as a stockbroker.

The most exciting finish of the day was in the TBA Club Members race for mares only, when Executive Benefit got up on the line to beat Splendid Blue by a head, in the fastest time of the day. Three out there were four in a line but jumping the last it was between the two market leaders. A slow jump at the last by the winner allowed Splendid Blue to gain advantage but after a ding dong battle all the way up the straight, Executive Benefit got the judge's verdict on the line. The winning eight year old has had a long campaign as she was running for the tenth time this season, but was recording her sixth win. The success gave Tom Hamilton the second half of his double along with the connections of Cottage Oak, so the long journey home would be a shorter one!

Chris Dawson was another to ride a double on the day, when he won both of the maiden races. The Bedale qualified, Dicky Shore, was his first winner in the Open Maiden race, in which he beat favourite, Stagecoach Jasper, by two lengths. The home bred seven year old is lightly raced due to a few niggling problems and is owned and trained by Mary Dodgson, who farms near Thirsk. Incidentally, Stagecoach Jasper, when trained by Sue Smith, was the horse that put Ryan Mania in hospital the day after he won the Grand National in 2013.

Chris's second winner came in the Young Horse Maiden aboard Up To Al, who he only bought by chance three weeks ago, when he went to collect a mare and foal. The seven year old had finished unplaced five times and failed to finish thrice on his eight outings for former owner, Andrew Nicholls, this season. Once home Chris got his back looked at, changed his feeding and tack, and fitted a tongue tie for the race. He had obviously improved at home as he was backed down from 10-1 to 2-1 favourite and after hitting the front two out sprinted clear to win by seven lengths.

At the end of the day Nick Orpwood was declared the winner of the Men's title, Catherine Walton the Ladies, Sam Coltherd the Novice and the Percy won the Hunt award. These will be presented at the Northern Area Dinner, which is being held in the Buccleuch Arms Hotel, St Boswells on Saturday 19th September.

LEADINGawards:

NPPA Club Members < 1, Damiens Dilemma, Miss H Bryce, 3-1; 2, Milano Magic, N Orpwood; 3, Sea Wall, E Wrigley. Eleven ran. 3l/12l. Mr Robert Miller-Bakewell (Duke of Buccleuch). Restricted < 1, Clonea Power, C Carr, 1-2F; 2, Smart Act, W Easterby; 3, Hi Ho Julio, C Dawson. Seven ran. 12l/2l. Mr J L Gledson (Border). Ladies < 1, Rolecarr, Miss C Dun, 5-2; 2, Oscar Stanley, Miss J Walton; 3, One Connemara, Miss C Walton. Seven ran. 2l/10l. Exors of the Late Mr J M Dun (Lauderdale). Mens < 1, Cottage Oak, T Hamilton, 6-4F; 2, Lucky Cody, R Tierney; 3, Kilmacallogue Bay, C Dawson. Twelve ran.3l/10l. Mr R J Hewitt (Flint & Denbigh). Open Maiden < 1, Dicky Shore, C Dawson, 9-4; 2, Stagecoach Jasper, W Easterby; 3, Island Punch, J Teal. Five ran. 2l/dist. Mrs M Dodgson (Bedale). 4, 5, 6 & 7 y o Maiden, 2m 4f < 1, Up To Al, C Dawson, 9-2; 2, Hands on Scarlet, H Reed; 3, Preacher's Belle, T Dowson. Four ran. 7l/1l. Mr C Dawson (Staintondale). The TBA Club Members for Mares < 1,Executive Benefit, T Hamilton; 2, Splendid Blue, N Orpwood; 3, Oaklands Elise, J Dawsom. Six ran. Hd/15l. Mr R J Hewitt (Flint & Denbigh).