Team Chasing - Atherstone 2004 Report

Highfields House Farm the home of Sam and Ann Arthurs hosted the Atherstone Team Chase over one of the best courses in the country, it is difficult to believe whilst watching the event that only two fields away one of the busiest motorways in the country wends its way. The enthusiasm of course builder Steve Aspinall, chairman Tony Betney and their team is an inspiration. Ten of the twelve Open teams entered, declared to run and first to go the current champions the Forge Flyers were back to full strength with Yvonne Goss returning after an injury last season. Debbie Topping and Junior led off as usual, with Yvonne and the brilliant Perry in close order, Graham Smith riding Jack got left behind through the tight turn in front of the commentary box but Joss Hanbury riding Chappaqua was going as fluently as ever, it is always a joy to watch the Forge they are poetry in motion, finishing in an extremely fast time of 3mins 54.65s. The Bunny Hill Toppers, running with only three members, all came to grief at the open ditch, when Sam Humphreys horse Conolly backed off the fence, baulking Ginny Sherwin and Phillipa Slater, after a few anxious moments when Ginny's horse Shoja had to extract himself from the fence, they remounted and completed the course in good style. The Wasps were going well until Jackie Coward fell whilst in the lead and then Mark Andrews horse ran out thus ruining their chances of toppling the Forge. The Tangos were next to go they were led by Caroline Smith, until her horse Thumbs Up ran off the 7th fence depositing Caroline on the floor, the young Oliver Signy who rides like an experienced campaigner took over the lead with his horse Upside Down ably backed by Paul Browse and Julie Dunn they finished in a time of 4mins 15.06s and 5th place.
	Aly Brown and the indefatigable Dragon led the Rappell Hair Raisers, with Penny Lyons on Cubs, Paul Thomason on Tiny and Allen Brown with Bert in fourth, they set off at a great pace and were cutting all the corners and appeared to be up on the clock, Allen Brown unfortunately had steering problems with Bert and as he did not wish to interfere with the team effort he pulled back and finished on his own. All the teams’ valiant efforts could only bring them home 7 seconds slower than the Forge and into eventual 3rd place, but did give them the first qualifying place for the Championships.
The Mixed Pack had Andrew Wheeler leading, with Yvonne Goss having her second ride of the day Rosie Vesty on Jesus and Jan Harrison (it's good to see Jan back in the saddle after her horrid fall at the VWH in the Spring when she badly broke her leg) on Sparky, Andrew, who always reckons he is petrified gave them a brilliant lead, angling all the big hedges, but unfortunately their horses just don't have the turn of speed of the Forge, their time of 4mins17.60s gave them 6th place and the second qualifying place for the Championships.
The Teme Valley Tigers had to run with only three team members and thus could not afford any hiccups on the course, Sarah Myhill gave Nicky Wenban and Angie Murphy a superb lead cutting all the corners and managing some really tight turns, their time of 4mins 7.13s put them into a well deserved 4th place.

With only four teams left to go excitement was mounting as next called to the line were the Boring Gorings. The team Jo Jewell - Copper, Jon Perry, Linda Adams - Denzil, and Fred French - Three Seasons, were winners last week at the Grafton. Jo, who used to ride with the Trifast Allstars is one of the best lead riders team chasing can boast, she took the team off at a cracking pace and all was going well and on track until Linda Adams clipped Jo on the tight turn out of the commentary field and when Denzil pecked over the drop Linda unfortunately hit the deck. Fred French who was a little behind the other three made up a terrific amount of ground and as the Boring Gorings came to the second from home it was still felt they had a chance to beat the Forge again, however it was not to be as John Perry jumped the fence on his own as his horse had decided to return to the lorry park, thus they were unable to record a team time.
	The Knightly Hatters and The Odds and Sods were the only teams left to challenge the Forge, Ian Shipley led the Hatters on Pepper with Stuart Morris in second on Pushover, Ian's brother Andrew on Penley and Lucy Hyde-Thompson on Party Punch, the Hatters are another team who ride in light blue colours like the Forge and they too are riding brilliantly this season and also like the Forge they are a joy to watch, they finished the course in a time of 4mins 1.00s just ahead of the Rappell Hair Raisers but just over 6seconds slower than the Forge.
Last to go the Odds and Sods only had three team members Geoff Lockwood, Ali Lindner and Heather Moddie but after a few problems at a couple of the big hedges they had to call it a day. Thus the Forge Flyers won again with the Knightly Hatters second, Rappell Hair Raisers third, Teme Valley Tigers fourth Tangos fifth and Mixed Pack in 6th. The Intermediate Class with an entry of 18 teams was won by the Team Valley Tiggers, a combination of two Tiggers, Sarah Myhill and Hannah Jordan and two from The Bitch Pack, Rosie and Tamara Vestey making up the team. Sarah Myhill would have won the fastest individual of the day, had she not fallen at the very last fence, thus handing the prize to Tamara Vestey. Second place went to the Space Cadets. They were first to go and were led by Steph Hall on Woody with Russell Dobney - Alfred, Will Barry - Ollie, and Anna Blake - Pickles, they set the standard with a very good time of 3mins 08.49s. In third place with a very neat round were the Marston Misfits, Jo Manicom led them on Pedro, with Jan Harrison having her second ride of the day - Polly, Clare Pendleton - Ed and team captain Sally Main - Hobnob, just 00.02seconds behind the Space Cadets. The Intents Flyers were fourth led by Dirk Hockridge - Mr Match, Rowan Cope. Tic Saunders and Nick Pearce riding in his first team chase. The Hopwas Hooligans finished fifth Corinne Whitehead, returning to team chasing after giving birth to a little daughter earlier in the season, was led by husband David, with Steve Wilkinson and Amanda Cliff. The final placing went to the Bentley Barmaids, running with only three members Trish Dyson, Clare Bradley and Darren Watts. The Novice class in the morning against a Bogey Time was won by the Higham Hedge Hoppers. Netty Nevill.