The Wasps were first to go and the team consisting of Tom Kaye, Mark Andrews, Jackie Coward and Duncan Chappell were going well until Duncan Chapell ran the wrong side of a flag, taking one of his team members with him, however, the fourth member very quickly retraced his steps and they finished in an extremely fast time of 5.09.

The Mixed Pack were next to go, unsure about the fitness of their horses they had decided to set off at a reasonable pace, led by Andrew Wheeler, with Julie Wheeler, Jane Edmunds and Rosie Vestey bringing up the rear, they had the only trouble free and immaculate round of the day, they jumped every one of the big hedges on the angle, but unfortunately they were a bit down on the pace finishing in 5.28.

The Tangos, Paul Browse, Oliver Signy, Caroline Smith and Julie Dunn set off at a cracking pace but after a faller at one of the big hedges early on the course, they had to nurse the other three home finishing in 5.24 which finally gave them 3rd place and as The Wasps had already qualified for the championships they filled the second qualifying place.

Pickworth Paradox were next to go and again they set off at a cracking pace but unfortunately had to call it a day when they lost two team members at the same hedge as the Tangos.

Last to go The Golden Valley Border Raiders, Hugh Evans Bevan, Percy Haynes, Paul Turner and Lorne Brooke looked like they might challenge The Wasps until they lost Lorne Brooke at fence 14 and even though she remounted very quickly they could not make up the time and finished in a time of 5.22 giving them a well deserved second place and qualification for the championships.

The Cub Hunter Novice Class was won in fine style by the Generation Gap team of Katherine Tudor riding Arny in his first team chase, Alister Beedles, Sarah Gibson and Richard Beeman, for a long time they were the only team to complete in under 4 minutes, the only other team managing under 4 minutes but three seconds slower than the Generation Gap were the Baby Forge Flyers with Debbie Topping riding her intermediate eventer and Graham Smith and Paul Thomason both riding horses that needed a run before doing opens.

3rd place went to Readyfield Flyers, 4th to Dingles Donkeys and 5th to the Knightly Hatters.

The future of the Open event at the Meynell could be in danger if there are not more entries, it would be a great pity to lose this wonderful course, it is one of the most natural on the circuit with great hedges, there was a super turn out of spectators and the new layout of the course made almost every fence visible.

Netty Nevill.