A full day of competition kicked off with a novice hunter trial and pairs class, together with a novice optimum time class which was won by the Stroppy Mares team of Kate Warburton - Tess, Hettie Noton - Patchy, Liz Brown - Breeze and Paula Holland - Mac in a time of 6.20mins and a Novice Speed class with 23 entries which was won in great style by the Creaton Cruisers team of Lucy Bland - Red, Thomas Messenger Peter, Dirk Hockridge - Ronson, and Sandy Fryatt - Wilma in a very fast time of 5.02mins, second were one of the in form teams Moorbridge Mayhem, Rachel Baldwin - Shadow, Kelly Laban - Merlin, David Gilbert - Peg, Julie Wilton - Huey following up on their 2nd at the Belvoir and 3rd at the Worcester. Equal third were the Old Codgers and Whippersnappers and the 4 Players, 5th were The Gophers and in 6th place Total Recall.

Eleven teams were entered in the Open, nine of which came forward. By the time the Open started the weather had deteriorated and as well as it being freezing cold the rain which had been promised all day came down with a vengeance.

First to go were the Knightly Hatters team of Ian Shipley on Pepper who was purchased form Hair Raiser Paul Thomason, Stuart Morris riding Pushover, Andrew Shipley on the ex-race horse Clare's Horse and Clare Harper on Birtie, Clare fell at the third fence the palisade with a drop, which was to prove once again the fence that would take its toll throughout the competition. However, the remaining three had a copy book round to finish in a very respectable time of 5.20 seconds, The Forge Flyers 2 were next to go, but once again fence three claimed its victims, John Buxton on Whinny led into it but his horse stopped and the other three cannoned into him, they managed to sort themselves out but when John stopped again at fence 6 they gave it best and retired. Third to go The Bitch Pack, Jane Edmonds - Monty, Rosie Vestey - Digger, Nina Vestey -- Eddy and Sophie Rooker - Taurus again had problems at fence 3 when Sophie Rooker parted company with Taurus when he pecked on landing, the horse turned around and jumped the fence backwards up the steep bank much to the amusement of the spectators. the rest of the team put in a very tidy round to finish in a time of 6.00 mins. The Teme Valley Tigers, Neil and Claire Reid-Warrilow - Sprite and Breeze, Dr Sarah Myhill - Little Conroy, and Lorna Brooke - Archie were next to go. they are proving to be a very competent team this Autumn and all four finished in fine style in a time of 5.48mins to put them in eventual 5th place.

A team making its debut in the Open Qualifiers, the Millfarm Allsorts ran next and with only three members Alan George - Spice, Natsah Vonwedell - Bubbles and Rachel Hodson - Jeffery they could not afford to make any mistakes, Alan gave them a superb lead and they really came of age over the big fences to finish in a time of 5.59 putting them into 6th place.

Fence 3 claimed another victim when Thoroughly Bred lost Nigel Merritt, his mount Alfie again overjumped and pecked on landing. As always they were led by Sharon Brooke whose horse Sam seemed to be back on top form and with Sue Little - Khan and Jo Davies - Bertie in close order they had a faultless round from then on and finished in a time of 5.42 to give them 4th place. The pace was hotting up as the Trifast Allstars led off by Rowan Cope riding Dennis, Jo Jewell - Hanky Panky, Joss Hanbury - Chapaqua and Mike Roberts - Double Trust all managed to negotiate the bogey fence and were really up on the pace when Rowan took the wrong course at fence 10 and although the rest of the team were shouting directions he unfortunately did not hear, thus having to jump back over the novice hedge and rejoin the correct course, the amount of ground he made up was astonishing and when Mike Roberts had to pull up with a shoulder injury sustained in the novice class in the morning, Rowan was back with the others. they managed to finish in a time of 5.22 putting them into third place. Rowan was standing in for Richard Chandler who is unfortunately in hospital with appendicitis. On behalf of all his friends in the team chasing world I would like to wish Richard a very speedy recovery.

The Marston Misfits were next to go and after their second place at the Worcester last weekend expectations were high, however they were without Sharon Robbins and Aly Lucking. Min du Luart - Derby led them off but she also fell at fence 3, the first time she and Derby have parted company in 10 years, this left Richard Goring in front on Toast and as Toast does not like to lead Richard called the other two team members, Steve Williams - Final Option and Robin May - Pip past him which ended up in a mid air crash at fence 6 when Richard was unseated, by now Min had remounted and was scorching along to catch the others but unfortunately they had also come to grief at the ditch and palisade at fence 14.

Last to go were the invincible Forge Flyers who have managed to keep the same four horses and riders every week of the season, no mean feat especially whilst the ground has been so firm, once again Debbie Topping - Junior, Graham Smith - Cody, Yvonne Goss - Perry and Rob Statt - Rolo gave a superb and faultless performance to once again give them the top spot in a time of 5.16 seconds with the Knightly Hatters in 2nd place thus qualifying them for the championships in the Spring.

The New Forrest Beagles also held a Qualifying event for the Championships this weekend, the event was won by the Boring Gorings with the young team of the Fosse Manor Again in second with the two Hair Raisers teams third and fourth.

Netty Nevill