THE large crowd which enjoyed Bank Holiday Monday's Albrighton Wodland Hunt point-to-point at Chaddesley Corbett reserved their biggest cheer for Phillip Needham after the 37-year-old had ridden Percy Medlicott to victory in the opening members' race.

Needham, based not far from the course at Broome, is in his first competitive season of race riding but there were no signs of inexperience after the partnership were left in the lead when the fancied Hoodwinker unshipped Jane Williams at the 13th.

Military Man came with a strong challenge coming into the home straight but the winner put in a great leap at the last to secure victory.

Needham's wife, Helen, and father-in-law, Jim Callow, have enjoyed considerable success with Forest Fountain and Philtre in recent years but none of those victories has given them more satisfaction.

Young Michael Keel had hoped to enhance his chances in the National Novice Riders' tile on Military Man but the favourite failed to deliver the goods.

But the Kidderminster rider, whose grandfather was the late Jack Fowler from Hanbury, joined Lee Bates at the top of the table following Dantes Inpharno's hard fought win in division one of the Maiden.

Four winners for Evan Williams on Sunday gave the Wales-based rider breathing space in the battle for the jockeys' championship.

But Julian Pritchard, refusing to accept defeat, fought back with two winners.

This means Williams leads his rival by three with just ten days and three meetings remaining.

After winning the Mixed Open on the 6-4 shot Mounthenry Star, Pritchard pleased his supporters when he steered the 8-1 Digitalis to victory in the Restricted.

Full Bank Holiday Results

Members - 1 Percy Medlicott 5-1; 2 Military Man 4-6; 3 Alaskan Heir 10-1. Four ran.

Confined - 1 Devilish Charm 6-1; 2 Rise to It 12-1; 3 Climb the Hill 10-1. Nine ran.

Mixed Open - 1 Mounthenry Star 6-4; 2 Quango 8-1; 3 Teme Willow 9-4. Ten ran.

Intermediate - 1 Fort William 4-1; 2 Stride To Glory 8-1; 3 Tinas Adventure 4-1. Six ran.

Restricted - 1 Digitalis 8-1; 2 Itscinders 14-1; 3 Arthur Henry 14-1. 16 ran.

Maiden Division One - Dantes Inpharno 2-1; 2 Alston House 2-1; 3 Lift The Latch 12-1. Nine ran

Division Two - 1 Colonel Colt 8-1; 2 Arctium 6-1; 3 Piccolina 20-1. 13 ran.