Aston Rowant trainer Alan Hill beat his previous best tally with a double from Harbour Court and Start Royal as the curtain came down on the South Midlands Area season at Kingston Blount, near Chinnor.

Hill’s brace of winners at the Berks & Bucks And Staff College & RMAS Draghounds meeting took his tally to 29 – two better than last year when he was crowned champion trainer.

Although, he has long conceded he won’t be retaining his national title, with Jack Barber’s battalion in the south west putting him well clear, Hill was delighted to have scaled new heights.

“I am working on about a 36-38 per cent strike rate, which is something I am very proud of and that doesn’t happen by accident,” said the Woodway Farm handler, who was once again crowned the South Midlands Area champion trainer.

“It is a good team effort with a nice bunch of horses.”

Harbour Court is one of his leading lights, and the nine-year-old ultimately ran out an easy 13 lengths winner of the men’s open following a duel with Master Workman after the pair had quickly shot well clear.

Start Royal made it five from five at Kingston Blount as well as taking his unbeaten record in the South Midlands to nine by making all the running to take the ladies’ open under Gina Andrews.

Hill’s son, Joe, was crowned the South Midlands men’s champion rider, despite not being among the winners on the day, with his nearest rival, Buscot Park-based Fred Henderson, also drawing a blank.

SOUTH MIDLANDS AREA CHAMPIONSHIPS

(Final positions)

Owners: 1 C & F Marriott (Dabinett Moon), 2 S & H Nash, A Hill, M Avery (Start Royal), 3 M Barlow (Celtic Intrigue).

Trainers: 1 A Hill, 2 J Henderson, 3 L Thomas.

Men’s riders: 1 J Hill, 2 F Henderson, 3 T Ellis.

Lady riders: 1 C Hart, 2 K Lyons, 3 E Harbour.

Novice riders: 1 F Henderson, 2 E Smyth-Osbourne, 3 R Talbot.

Mares: 1 Dabinett Moon, 2 K azuri Kate, 3 L Barfad.

KIMBLE & KINGSTON BLOUNT CHAMPIONSHIPS

Leading horse: 1 Start Royal, 2= Brians Well, Celtic Intrigue, Ravethebrave.

Rider: 1 J Hill, 2 G Andrews, 3 D Kemp.

RESULTS ROUND-UP

Members: 1 GAMATO (R Defago) 8-11 fav, 2 Do You Follow Me 6-1, 3 Cork Twenty Ten 16-1. Trainer: P York. Dist: 3l, 10l. 6 ran. Intermediate: 1 BANKSANDDITCHES (T David) 4-1, 2 Broken Eagle 4-9 fav, 3 We Never Give Up 9-1. Trainer: C Hobson. Dist: 6l, 8l. 4 ran. Men’s open: 1 HARBOUR COURT (J Tudor) 2-5 fav, 2 Master Workman 8-1, 3 Otto The Great 3-1. Trainer: A Hill. Dist: 13l, 2l. 6 ran. Ladies’ open: 1 START ROYAL (G Andrews) 1-2 fav, 2 John Daniell 2-1, 3 Major Decision 25-1. Trainer: A Hill. Dist: 7l, 11l. 5 ran. Restricted: 1 BLUE BENNY (P York) 2-1, 2 Baroque Style 12-1, 3 Dream Mistress 7-2. Trainer: D Kemp. Dist: 7l, 8l. 12 ran. Open maiden: 1 MY BROTHER PAT (C Dennington) 3-1, 2 Darsi’s Pass 8-1, 3 Lucky To Be Alive 7-1. Trainer: C Lawson. Dist: 9l, 12l. 13 ran.