The first team to record a sub 5 minute time were the Generation Gap, Katherine Tudor, Alistair Beedles, Sarah Gibson and Richard Beaman have had some good results in Novice and Intermediate classes and this was their first open together, they managed some good lines through the tight turns and finished in a time of 4.42.8.

The Whacky Racers, Vicky Skade, Alan Pacey and Darren Watts gave one of their best performances for a while with verbal encouragement from their fans at the double of straw bales they survived a few sticky moments and finished just over a second behind the Generation Gap.

A run out at fence 10, which had caused quite a few refusals for previous teams, spoiled the chances of the Bentley Barmaids, running with just three riders Trish Dyson, Clare Bradley and Darren Watts they managed to complete the rest of the course without mishap finishing in a time of 4.48.55.

Sarah Myhill riding Con once again led the Teme Valley Tigers Team of Nicky Wenban, Angie Murphy and Hannah Jordan to a faultless round and a finishing time of 4.28.78 gave then a final fourth placing.

A local team the Sulgrave Flyers, led by point to point rider Paul Cowley, with Alana West, Sarah Higgs and John Packer gave a very good account of themselves clocking a sub 5 minute round of 4.51.13.

It was good to see the Chairman of the Bicester with Whaddon Team Chase, Alice Paine, riding with the Game for a Giggle team, again this was a team with only three riders, unfortunately Ian Anderson was unable to ride as his daughter had a fall earlier in the day in the cub hunters class, so they could not afford any mistakes, John Lagdon gave Alice and Lucy Clunie a great lead and although their time was not good enough to trouble the leaders, they did manage to qualify for the championships.

The Joules Knightly Hatters were well up on the clock until it all fell apart, with Ian Shipley parting company with Pepper at the hedge at fence 8, then brother Andrew fell at the double of straw bales, bringing down Lucy Hyde-Thomson.

The Forge Flyers, usual team of Debbie Topping, Yvonne Goss, Graham Smith and Joss Hanbury gave one of their most polished performances of the season, Debbie taking a pull at the straw bales double showed everyone how it should be tackled and with a time of 4.15.52 seconds they were to score their second win of the season.

The Bitch Pack led by Jane Edmunds, with Fiona Russell-Brown, Rosie and Nina Vestey always provide a spectacle of neat and fluent team chase riding, none of their horses are thoroughbred and it is a great pity they do not have the speed of some of the teams as they can really cut the corners and are always a pleasure to watch, they stopped the clock at 4.44.92.

Heather Moody led off the Odds and Sods with Geoff Lockwood, Micky Harris and Richard Chandler, who had stepped in to Inspect the course at Newton Morrell as I was away in Canada. Unfortunately Heather parted company with Arthur, thus leaving Micky Harris out in front, he duly took up the challenge and brought them home in a time of 4.33.00 giving them 6th place.

The Tangos were next to go, Paul Browse leading them off in his usual flamboyant style, they managed to lose one of the team at the fence before the water, but after a remount they still managed to finish in 4.29.53 and a fifth placing.

The next team to go The Intents Flyers, all point to point riders are really enjoying their first season together team chasing, the team of Rowan Cope, who rode a few times for the Trifast Allstars last year, Nick Pearce, Dirk Hockridge and Tik Saunders were 4th in the Atherstone Intermediate, and then last week won the Belvoir Novice class, this was their first attempt at an Open and they certainly showed they are a force for the future, they stormed round in a superb time of 4.24.13 which gave them third place overall and qualification for the Championships.

Two teams were left to try to topple the Forge, first of these the Rappell Hair Raisers led by Aly Brown on the fantastic Dragon. Lost husband Allen with a stop at the second fence and Dragon had to pick himself up after a peck at the water but with Penny Lyons and Paul Thomason really covering the ground and another very neat pop through the double of bales they managed second place in a time of 4.20.05.

The last team to go were The Mixed Pack, led as always by Andrew Wheeler with Julie Wheeler, Jan Harrison and Rosie Vestey, they produced a very spirited effort but their time of 4.35.94 could only give them 7th place.

The Cub hunter Novice class in the morning was run to a pretty fast bogey time of 4m25seconds and was won by the Campden School Chasers, with The Blind Leading the Blind in second place and Norfolk and Goode third.

Netty Nevill