The start and finish had been altered this year, the Open class drop palisade fence now came towards the end of the course instead of at fence three and on the whole it appeared to ride better, but perhaps may be altered again for next year. The idea of the Open finishing in front of the spectators marquee worked really well and kept everyone's interest.

First team to go in the Open were the Team Valley Tiggers, the Tigers having already qualified for the championships this team, the Tiggers were their second team, led by Sarah Myhill they did an extremely neat and tidy round getting all four of them home in a time of 5mins 35.95s The Tangos were next to go but after a few navigational problems where they jumped the wrong course at the S of hedges half way round the course, they then lost Tony Thorpe at the last fence. As they had not corrected their course error they were eliminated.

The Four Players, after walking the course decided to upgrade from the Novice, they were going well until they lost Antonia Barton Knott and Graham Smith, leaving Andy and Samantha Brown on their own, they decided to carry on for the experience, but both stopped at the Palisade and both riders slipped over their horse's necks, they were unhurt, remounted and were overjoyed to finish the course.

The Close Shavers also upgraded from the Novice and Mike Elvin must be really pleased with the way his new horse Tom is going, unfortunately Aly Brown had problems with Roo and husband Alan was having an awful ride on Rollo and had to retire.

The Farmers Blood Hounds were going a cracking pace led by Alan George on Spice, they lost their fourth rider Nicole at the hedge under the electric pylons but the other three, Alan, Mickey Harris and Anna Hall were going really well until Anna's horse pecked on landing at the palisade and she could not stay with him ending their campaign. The Marston Misfits, led off by Jan Harrison on Sparky, Sharon Robbins riding Jan's other horse Pollyanna, Bev Thompson on Charlie and James Buckle were having one of their best rides this season when they came to the drop palisade, Pollyanna hit the top and had a crashing fall with Bev's Charlie landing on top of her, both horses and riders scrambled to their feet and although there were fears for Pollyanna at first, it is good to report that she has eaten up and was trotting around the paddock at home this morning.

The Knightly Hatters were next to go and once again the trio of Ian and Andrew Shipley and Stuart Morris had a superb round to sail into the lead in 5mins 17.95s again they cut all the corners and it looked as if the Forge Flyers were going to have to give it everything to beat them.

Aly Brown on the lovely Dragon led the Rappell Hair Raisers with Alan on Biggles, Paul Thomason- Hugo and Shaun Cookson Zig Zag. They lost Alan Brown when Biggles took exception to the ditch and could not match the Knightly Hatters time finishing in a very respectable time of 5mins30.67s

Sam Humphrey of The Bunny Hill Toppers had managed to persuade Ginny Sheron with her horse Shoja and Hazel Keeble, Bonnie to give the Open a try and after Sam nursed them round the two girls were quite shell shocked to realise they had not only finished but had also qualified for the National Championships.

Once again the Forge Flyers were last to go, they had decided that Yvonne Goss should lead home to give Junior a pull up the final steep hill, this almost proved their downfall as Junior tends to switch off unless he is leading and he hit the palisade pretty hard but with amazing stickability Debbie Topping managed to stay in the plate and Graham Smith was once again full of praise for his new horse Jack. They managed to cut just over one second off the Knightly Hatters time and the first three teams finished in exactly the same order as at the Bicester last week.

The Knightly Hatters look as if they could be the team to topple the Forge and it will be interesting to see if they can do it.

The morning novice speed class was won by the Gophers with the local team of Creaton Cruisers a close second, they beat the Court Flyers I team by just one second, fourth place went jointly to the Mixed Pack and the Bitch Pack, with Sophie Rooker riding in both teams it was unbelievable that they clocked exactly the same time. Sixth place went to Moorbridge Mayhem and in seventh place were the Patey Hats Leg Over Ladies.

The Optimum time class was won by the Broomy Babes, with the Halesworth Hedge Hoppers in second, the Space Cadets 3rd, The Marston Misfits III 4th, The Bentley Barmaids 5th and The Little Chasers 6th

Netty Nevill