The Grafton Hunt had a difficult decision to make as to whether to go ahead with their Team Chase on Sunday due to the state of the ground after this exceptional summer and also due to the fact that huge cracks had suddenly appeared almost overnight, a huge effort had gone into trying to fill all the cracks with sand and therefore they decided to go ahead, but unfortunately due to the state of the going all the open teams entered decided it was just too hard to risk their horses, with the exception of the Teme Valley Tigers, who were invited to ride the Intermediate course.
It was a great pity the conditions were so difficult as a great many improvements and a lot of hard work had gone into making the fences more inviting since last year. The Grafton are thinking of changing their date from the autumn to the spring in order they do not suffer the same conditions again and a suitable date is being looked into in order they can maintain their standing as a qualifier for the Goring Hotel National Championships.
The Novice Class in the morning attracted an entry of 20 teams against a bogey time, the team nearest the time were the Village Idiots team of Nick Lockley, Leanne Ward, Alan Thorpe and Donna Goode who were over the moon at their win, second team nearest the time were Tarts on Top - Jackie Green, Linsey Bones, Rosaleen Aldridge and Reece Sewell, third place went to the Chicken Run team and fourth the Barmy Bevans.
There were 18 teams in the Intermediate which was won in copybook style by the Thoroughly Bred team of Sharon Brook - Sam, Wendy Hayes on the ever youthful Chessie, Jo Davies on Bernie and Sue Little on her lovely horse Khan, who unfortunately sustained a rather nasty overreach which necessitated several stitches. They had seven seconds to spare over the second placed Moorbridge Mayhem team of Rachel Baldwin - Shadow, Julie Wilton - Huey and David Gilbert - Peggy, who were keeping up their consistent form after being placed 6th at the Meynell last week. Third in a time of 5.30 The Power Pussies and Tom Cats team, Christine Peters, Alan Pacey, Chris Platt and Jane Spears had a virtually faultless round, Alan in particular was extremely pleased with his horse Merlin after a perilous ride at the Meynell when his "new" rubber reins broke on both sides as he bowled down to the open ditch.
Fourth place went to the Team Valley Tiggers in a time of 5.47, the Teme Valley are now addicted to team chasing after entering the Inter Hunt at the Fernie a couple of years ago, they are proving to be most consistent and a force to contend with.
Fifth the Marston Misfits Too had a pretty hairy ride with both Jo Manicom and Caroline Doody hitting the deck, however both remounted to finish the course and were pleased with their young horses at the end of the day. I hear an X-ray has revealed that Caroline has broken her coccyx and is finding it rather sore to sit down!!
The last rosette went to the Hair Raisers B who are trying to rebuild their team with new horses, Mike Elvin who has retired his old stalwart Chats was very pleased with the performance of his new horse Tom.
It is hoped that the Graftton will be able to find a suitable date for the Spring as their committee are so enthusiastic.
Netty Nevill
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