The Worcestershire Team Chase run in the superb setting in Copyholt Lane, Tardebigge was voted a huge success by competitors and spectators alike. This is one of the best viewing courses in the country being set in a natural bowl. It was a great pity that after the last three Sundays of glorious weather winter seemed to have come with a vengeance, had the rain come some days earlier no doubt entries, especially in the Open class, would have been up but some riders were still worried about risking their good horses on the hard ground. The course builders had done a wonderful job and aerating the whole course which helped tremendously when the rains finally came and the going was absolutely perfect.
First class of the day was the hotly contested Tooles Transport Intermediate Class and it was good to see there was an entry of 32 teams, it is hoped that some of these teams will graduate to the Open once they get the thrills of jumping some of the bigger fences.
The Gophers team of John Buxton, Graham Smith, Sarah Bailey and Rob Statt were back in form after their win at the Grafton earlier in the season and finished seven seconds ahead of the Hopwas Hooligans, this team of David and Corinne Whitehead, and Mark Williams were joined by event rider Jane Wilkinson on Sparky and have now been placed first. second and third in their three outings. The Moorbridge Mayhem team of Rachel Baldwin, Kelly Laban, David Gilbert and Juile Wilton finished in third place following up their second place at the Belvoir the previous week. The Marston Misfits Again Sarah Gilbson, Sharon Robbins, Andy Haydon finished in fourth place ably lead by Martin Hilton riding Jasper in only his second team chase.
The Open Class once again a Qualifier in the Goring Hotel Series for the Championships at the Fernie in the spring provided its share of thrills and spills but thankfully no horses or riders were badly hurt.
The Forge Flyers proved yet again that they are currently unbeatable making this four wins in a row and now all four horses have won the team hero rug so generously presented by George Goring, this time it was Perry the mount of Yvonne Goss who proudly stood in the rain wearing his new rug at the presentation, Debbie Topping and Junior once again gave them a superb lead and with Graham Smith - Cody Yvonne and Rob Statt - Rolo in close order until Rob fell two from home the win was once again theirs.
Second place went to the Marston Misfits team of Sharon Robbins, - McFlurry, Aly Lucking - Basil, Richard Goring - Toast and Steve Williams - Final Option who fell at fence 15. Sharon gave them a good lead until the pen when Richard jumped through and came out in first place and as Toast does not lead he had to circle to get back behind Sharon for a lead over the chasm fence, which rode extremely well this year and this circle cost them several valuable seconds and they finished 32 seconds behind the Forge.
In third place were Thoroughly Bred, Sharon Brooks- Sam, Wendy Hayes- Chessie, Sue Little- Khan and Jo Davies- Bertie, in a very respectable time of 5.36 mins twelve seconds behind the Misfits. Sharon Brooks led them all the way although she commented afterwards that Sam did not appear to be firing on all cylinders. Jo who was a last minute replacement for Nigel Merritt had never team chased before, her horse Bertie who is a show jumper was pinging the fences but became more and more detached and they gave it best at fence 10, however Jo is still on cloud nine and cannot wait for next weeks event.
These two teams have now booked their places in the final at the Fernie.
Both Rappell Hair Raisers teams were reduced to three members after injuries to horses at the Belvoir, Their second team Paul Thomason-Charlie, Shaun Cookson -Zig Zag and Allen Brown - Biggles were cutting all the corners and jumping with precision when Allen parted company with Biggles just two fence from home.
Their first team - Paul Thomason - Bolger, Mike Elvin - Chats and Aly Roberts - Dragon Spirit were also going well until fence 15 when Bolger ran off the hedge bringing Aly down, where she lay motionless in the corner of the hedge for several seconds but it was good to see that both she and Dragon Spirit were fine.
The day ended with the novice class run against a bogey time and with an entry of over 32 teams it meant that 72 teams had competed throughout the day. The class was won by the Radnell Tarts, with Rhoes Rockets second and Wheatland Wanderes third.
Netty Nevill
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