The autumn season got under way at the Grafton on Saturday 21st September, the original date had to be altered from Sunday 22nd due to the Liberty and Livelihood March in London, this was probably one of the reasons entries were down on previous years together with the fact that teams were worried about the hard ground. However, the going was perfect and rode much better than when held later in October in the wet. The spectators had a wonderful day in glorious sunshine and it is hoped that the Grafton will stick to an early date in future seasons, the only criticism in this respect is that the course is rather long for the first one of the season.
The intermediate course had some pretty sizeable fences including fence five a point to point type fence that caused its fair share of problems with run outs and a few falls, but all who completed seemed to enjoy the challenge of some of the bigger fences.
The class was won by the Gophers with the Warwickshire based team of the Mill Farm Allsorts giving one of their best performances ever and finishing just three seconds adrift. In third place the Teme Valley Tigers needed to make up seventeen seconds to trouble the leaders.
It was a great pity the Open class, part of the Goring Hotel Open Qualifier Series was poorly subscribed, but the competing teams gave the crowds some heart stopping sport.
The Kick'n'go team lead by Sharon Robbins were first to go with only three members they set off at a cracking pace but it all came to grief half way round the course when Sue Little took a crashing fall at the big hedge. The Trifast Allstars led by Jo Jewell on one of Mike Roberts horses Hanky Panky were next to go and as usual the four comprising Jo,Mike Roberts - Double Trust, Joss Hanbury - Chapaqua and Richard Chandler - Broadcaster put in one of their polished and faultless performances to set the standard in a time of 5.53 mins.
Next to go the Marston Misfits, who were reduced to three members had decided they needed to nurse the three home and set out at a sensible pace led by Caroline Doody - Syd, with vet Aly Lucking - Basil and Richard Goring - Toast had an extremely neat and tidy round finishing in 6.05 mins. The Rappell Hair Raisers led by Paul Thomason - Zebedee closely followed by Mike Elvin - Chats Graham Smith and Shaun Cookson - Zig Zag were well up on the clock when Paul Thomason suffered a broken stirrup at the big hedge at fence 12 and when Graham Smith parted company with his mount they gave it best and retired.
The Forge Flyers as always led off by Debbie Topping on the evergreen Junior, Graham Smith - Cody ,Yvonne Goss - Perry and Rob Statt - Rolo were next to go and stormed round to win in an unbelievable time of 5.08mins.
The Forge are the still the team in form and are obviously going to be the team to beat this season.
George Goring's generous sponsorship of this championship series includes a superb rug presented to the 'team hero' of the winning team and Junior took pride of place at the prize giving wearing his new rug suitable emblazoned with the Goring Hotel in gold letters.
Netty Nevill
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