HEAVY rain in the morning did nothing to dampen the occasion as Cartmel Racecourse sizzled both on and off the track on the first day of the barbecue meeting on Saturday.

Those who were queueing as early as two-and-a-half hours before the off in the first race of the day may have been wondering whether they would be able to enjoy the delights of grilling in the outdoors when dark grey skies proved a prelude to the heavens opening.

Even so, that failed to deter a significant number of hardy individuals who had set up marquees and tents along the home straight and elsewhere around the South Lakes course, and they were rewarded for their patience when the sun eventually broke through.

Not only was there the chance to savour their own barbecued food along with some exciting National Hunt racing action, there was also the opportunity to pick up an extra prize for the most stylish picnic or barbecue within the enclosures.

Anyone wanting to pick up any barbecuing tips – or whose friends and family may well think they needed them – was in luck as well, with top barbecue chef Richard Holden on hand to give demonstrations throughout the day.

But while the revellers may have been enjoying themselves, there was something of a sombre mood among the racing community which was paying respects to stall handler Stephen Yarborough after he was killed in an accident at Haydock Park the day before.

All of the jockeys were wearing black armbands as a mark of respect, underlining their appreciation of the unheralded on-course staff up and down the country who make racing possible both at Cartmel and every other venue in this country.

Fortunately, there was plenty to celebrate on the track at the weekend – particularly for those punters following the progress of Barrow conditional jockey Charlotte Jones, who has been making massive strides in the sport.

Jones, who is apprenticed with Cartmel trainer James Moffatt, attracted plenty of support in the betting ring for her first outing of the day in the Banks Lyon Jewellers Lady Riders' Handicap on Lough Kent, whom she had taken her previous two wins.

But the 22-year-old and her mount were second-best to Emma Sayer and favourite Beeno, missing out on the valuable diamond pendant the sponsors generously provide for the winning jockey.

However, Jones more than made up for that by landing the day's feature race, the totesport Cumbria Crystal Cup, on Moffatt's Altruism – her third win on just the 11th outing of her jockey career and easily the biggest to date.

It provided plenty of cheer for those in attendance, who continued cooking long after the final race had finished and into the night. Those returning for the second part of the meeting on Monday will surely be hoping it can match this.