CHER Gill made it first time lucky at the Old Berkshire Hunt point-to-point at a packed Lockinge yesterday.

Having her first ride in a point-to-point race, she produced her mount, Flying Missile, three fences from home to sail past the odds-on favourite, Itsforu, and take the Ruddles County Hunt Members' Race.

As she passed the line, her fist was aloft as if she had won the Grand National, and her beaming smile said it all when she returned to the winner's enclosure.

A former Oxfordshire cross-country running champion, Gill now rides out at the yard of Wantage trainer David Gandolfo.

Although only three horses went to post, and one of these ran out at the fourth fence, the bumper Bank Holiday crowd saw an accomplished display of riding by the 28-year-old, who stylishly and emphatically drove her horse home for a five-length success.

The crowded Lockinge hill witnessed an impressive performance from Miss O'Grady, who romped to victory in the Morland Original Bitter Mixed Open Race.

The seven-year-old hardly broke sweat, cantering to an easy success ahead of Copper Mine, to complete the second leg of Michael Miller's double. He had earlier won the Maiden Race on Fair Wind.

Story date: Tuesday 06 April

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.