On a beautiful day at one of the best viewing courses in the country, the Fernie Hunt had done us proud. The course looked magnificent, the ground which had been very firm due to the exceedingly dry weather had been aerated and rode extremely well, a couple of fences had been modified the water was much improved by the addition of a log with a drop into the water, and this was followed by a new tiger trap.

24 teams out of the 26 qualifiers were entered and drawn first to go were one of the favourites The Trifast Allstars, Jo Jewell riding on one of Mike Roberts horses Double Trust led off as usual, Jo one of the most stylish riders on the circuit gave the team an impeccable lead ably backed up by Joss Hanbury, Richard Chandler and Ashley Beelby who took Mike Roberts place in the team, it was a round that set the standard and they were foot perfect except for a few seconds lost in the pen, it was going to be the time to beat at 4mins 19.58 seconds. The Rappell, Hair Raisers I were second to go, Emily Chandler riding Abbey was giving them a superb lead when she fell at the ski jump, which left Mike Elvin having to catch up, he had suffered a painful fall only a couple of days before and did not know until the last minute whether or not he would be fit enough to ride, he was catching up well when Allen Brown fell after trying to cut the corner too tightly three fences from home enforcing the team to retire.

The Green Giants followed by the Wilton Wanderes both had their fair share of problems and were also forced to retire. Next to go Fools and Horses set off at a good pace but unfortunately Sue Chadwick and Andrea Whitham both had a refusal at fence 6, however they recovered and finished in a time of 5min 17.58 seconds. The Millfarm Allsorts in their first National Championships had a very respectable round Dave Corbett on the evergreen Freddie and Natascha von Weder on Bubbles took it in turns to lead and with Rachel Moosun on Jeffrey and Adam Hayes riding one of my old horses Toby were 6 seconds slower than Fools and Horses

The Team Valley Tigers who have been having a superb season and were also making their debut at the Championships were next to go led off by Sarah Myhill they attacked the course with their usual gusto, unfortunately they lost Lorna Brooke with a fall at fence 4 but still finished in 5mins 12.29 seconds

The team every one had been waiting to see were next to go, the magnificent reigning champions the Forge Flyers had won 13 events in succession, the quartet of Debbie Topping on the superb 17year old Junior, Yvonne Goss, Perry, Graham Smith Cody and Sarah Bailey on Garth delighted us with surely the finest piece of team chasing we are ever likely to witness they streaked across the Leicestershire countryside, making the technical course look so easy and smashing the course record by over 6 seconds.

This superb time was now the one everyone had to aim for and the very next team to go the Knightly Hatters Ian and Andrew Shipley, Lucy Hyde-Thompson and Steve Drake looked on course to come close when Andrew had a crashing fall at the water, his horse over jumped the rails before the water and catapulted Andrew head first into the log, he unfortunately suffered a cut face and concussion but after a night in hospital he is home, a bit battered and bruised but will be back.

The Bitch Pack, have suffered horse injury problems of late but managed to field Sophie Rooker, Jane Edmunds, Fiona Russell-Brown and with Yvonne Goss stepping in for Rosie Vestey they had a super round but were just slightly off the pace their time of 4 mins 32.22 seconds giving them a very respectable fifth place.

The Cheshire Hunt A team were next to go Robert Legge giving them a good lead but with a few problems en route they could not do no better that 5mins 23.07 seconds.

Excitement was now hoting up as next to go were another team making their Championships debut, but quite highly fancied The Fosse Manor Again, their normal line up are all sons of the original Fosse Manor team, who some years ago were the team everyone had to beat, however due to horse injuries they had to fall back on the services of Nicky Sturgis on Joker and Rob Stat, normally a Forge Flyer, Ben Pauling riding the big striding Up n' Off led them away, but again several small course errors slowed their time to 4mins 45.19 seconds. The Marston Misfits lined up next to go Sharon Robbins riding Richard Gorings horse Dandidit led to the pen where Lina Adams took over with the ex Richard Goring horse Denzil, Richard himself was riding his lovely grey the 6 year old Rebel, with Jo Manicom and Tamally finally getting the thrill of her life riding in the championships, they were thrilled to finish sub 5 minutes and finally managed to book themselves into 10th place

The Wasps with Sue Chadwick on her second ride of the competition, Paul Andrews, Tom Kaye and Martin Patemen gave an extremely polished performance giving them 6th place in a time of 4min 37.41 seconds.

Our sponsor George Goring's team the Boring Gorings were next to go and there were high hopes that perhaps this was one of the teams that could topple the Forge, unfortunately it all went wrong at the fourth fence when David Robinson took himself and George the wrong side of the flag and their challenge was over, David jumped the fence backwards, rejumped it and although he almost managed to catch Fred French and John Perry who were flying the damage had been done.

Rappell Hair Raisers ll, Paul Thomason with his good lead horse Zebedee, Shaun Cookson, Graham Smith and Andy Brown were another team thought likely to have every chance, but a stop in the pen for Andy Brown brought them down the order finishing in 4th place.

The Berkely Bounders, last minute qualifiers at the Berks & Bucks Draghounds event only a week before the championships put up a very respectable round in 5 min 10.17 seconds.

Thoroughly Bred were next to go they had to ride with only three team members as Sue Little's Khan had burst blood vessels on the gallops on Thursday so an absolutely gutted Sue had to stand and watch the others go without her and how well they went the other three girls, Sharon Brooke, Wendy Hayes and Jo Davies gave it their all and managed to finish in 4mins 43.88 seconds giving them 7th place.

Another contender thought able to topple the Forge were next to go the Malt Mix Double Troubles from Devon, Virginia and Stella Cronk, Dominique Green and Di Robinson always give a good account of themselves especially considering there are so few team chases, in the West country. However Stella had an unfortunate stop at the water and their challenge was effectively over, they still managed to finish in an excellent time of 4min 30.35 giving them a well deserved 3rd place.

There were now only four teams to go Simon Coady led off the Wishfull Thinkers at a terrific rate but he had an unfortunate stop at the log and by the time William Grant took over the lead their chances had gone. Game for a Giggle, who were the other last minute qualifiers at the Berks & Bucks finished in 5mins 32.4 seconds. The Beaufort Bluffers, who last year rode in the inter hunt event were the penultimate team to go led by Tony Pellett with Liz Hibberd, Clare Richards and Amy Ephgrave they put up one of their best performances to finish in a very respectable time of 4min 47.48 secs to take 9th place

This just left the Tangos team of Paul Browes, James Buckle, Julie Dunne and Caroline Smith to try to topple the Forge but when Paul Browes had a refusal the competition was over.

There will probably never be another horse to emulate Junior and at the prize giving George Goring our indefatigable sponsor who had just finished running the foot race, presented Junior with the World Champion embroidered rug, which was richly deserved and I would like to take this opportunity of adding my own congratulations to the Forge Flyers, who really are a joy to watch.

Netty Nevill