The Novice class which is always up to full height attracted an entry of some 46 teams and was won in fine style by the Teme Valley Tigers on their first visit to the Belvoir, this team of Neil and Claire Reed-Warrilow, Angie Murphy and Sarah Myhill were placed in the Open last week at the Atherstone. In second place twelve seconds behind were the Moorbridge Mayhem team of Rachel Baldwin, Kelly Laban, Julie Wilton and David Gilbert. Third place went to last weeks winners the Hopwas Hooligans once again running with only three team members Corrine and David Whitehead and Mark Williams they were well up on the clock when Marks horse Fred hit the last but one fence and fell heavily, Mark quickly gathered up himslef and Fred, remounted and still managed to finish only 20 seconds behind the winners.

Fourth place went to the Fizzy Ducks team of Annie Kirkham, Polly Jackson, Lucy Henton and Sue Proctor, with the Letsgo Ladies team who all rode sidesaddle, quite a feat over this course in fifth.

Eleven teams had entered the Open, one of the qualifying series for the Goring Hotel National Championships but probably due to the hard ground four of the teams did not compete. It was good to see the Wasps team down from the north and they were the trailblazers, the team of Paul Andrews, Sue Chadwick, Tom Kaye, and Martin Pateman set off at a cracking pace, Sue Chadwick had a few hairy moments at the rear and became quite detached but with some determined riding managed to catch up over the second half of the course and all four finished in fine style in a very respectable time of 5.08 to set the standard. The Rappell Hair Raisers II team Paul Thomason, Shaun Cookson, Mike Elvin, and Graham Smith were next to go, Shaun Cookson had three refusals at the 6th fence and had to retire and with Graham Smith having quite a struggle at the rear and they could not match the time of the Wasps. The Trifast Allstars were next to go they were without their mentor Mike Roberts but had their new lead rider Rowan Cope riding one of Joss Hanbury's horses Dennis, Rowan who rides for Caroline Bailey and had 19 winners this Spring gave host Richard Chandler, Jo Jewell and Joss Hanbury a superb lead and they finished in a magnificent time of 4.54.

The Marston Misfits only started with three riders, Sharon Robbins led them off with Richard Goring on his second horse Dandidit, and Steve Williams riding Final Option in his first Open team chase. Steve who broke his neck just over twelve months ago is a pretty tough cookie, but could not stay with his horse when he ran off the ditch at fence 10. After a run the length of the field to catch his horse he remounted and the team finished the course. The Forge Flyers next to go once again led by Junior had another copy book round and surged into the lead in an unbeatable time of 4.42

The Rappell Hair Raisers I, Allen Borwn, Aly Robers, Paul Thomason and Larry Brown gave one of their best performances of the season but after loosing Larry Brown at the Pardubice bank, they could only manage to finish in 5.02 putting them into third place. Last to go The Fosse Manor Again were cutting all the corners when all three sons of the previous members of the Fosse Manor team, Peter Mason, Ben Pauling, and Tom Gittins all fell at the 5th fence the only one managing to stay mounted was Ed Walker, however, they picked themselves up all remounted and managed to complete the course with no injuries to either horses or riders.

I am sure I am speaking for all the competitors and spectators alike in saying thank you so much to Richard and Karen Chandler for all their efforts over the past fifteen years to make the Belvoir team chase one of the best in the country and wish them and their family the best of luck in the future. Let us hope the new course wherever it is can live up to Canal Farm.

Netty Nevill