The optimum time section with 23 entries, was won by the Laurel N Hardys in a time of 6mins 15seconds, which was absolutely spot on the optimum time. The fastest time section with 16 entries was won in a superb time of 4mins 48seconds by The Cradle Snatchers, with the Wonky Tonk Women and One Man just 4 seconds behind in second and The Wacky Racers third in 4mins 56seconds.

Sixteen teams declared for the Open Qualifier, three of the fences at the bottom of the course had been taken out due to the heavy going. The feature fence at the Pytchley, the Gorings Drop, the palisade in front of the commentary box had been modified and moved forward this year to enable the horses to land on the flat instead of on the slope and this seemed to solve the problems seen at this fence in previous years. First to go were the Mixed Pack, led as usual by Andrew Wheeler, due to the conditions they set off at a very sensible pace and had an extremely neat and tidy round, Andrew’s horse Mac does not have the best wind so he pulled up coming up the final hill, leaving Julie Wheeler on Oscar to lead home Rosie Vestey on Jesus and Jan Harrison on Sparky, they stopped the clock at 5mins 58 which gave them eventual 5th place.

The Foxgrant Thrusters, Odds and Sods and Rappell Hair Raisers II failed to match the time of the Mixed Pack, although they all managed to get a team time.

The Tangos, with Paul Browse leading and cutting all the corners had a tidy round and finished in 6mins 03 which earned them 6th place.

The next team to go were The Forge Flyers, Emily Chandler proving an excellent substitute for the absent Joss Hanbury and she had a wonderful ride on Joss’s lovely horse Chappaqua. Debbie Topping led off on Junior, with Yvonne Goss on Perry in second and Graham Smith on Jack in third, before he was overtaken on the far part of the course by Emily. Junior began to feel the heavy going up the final hill and Yvonne overtook to lead the team home in a superb time of 5mins 36 seconds which was to prove once again unbeatable.

It was good to see a couple of new teams in the Open class, the first of these to go The Burston Bolters had a very steady, but problem free round.

The Teme Valley Tigers were next to go with Sarah Myhill leading on Maggie, Nicky Wenban in second, Sue Little, who normally rides with Thoroughly Bred on Khan in third and Angie Murphy bringing up the rear, they pulled out all the stops but a sticky moment at the last fence for Sarah Myhill lost them precious seconds they finished 12 seconds behind the Forge in a time of 5mins 48 seconds attaining 2nd place.

The Intents Flyers who had been doing well in novice and intermediate classes, learnt a valuable lesson in riding Opens, in this only their second open class as they set off far too quickly and very soon they all fell apart.

The Hair Raisers I were next to go and it was good to see Allen Brown seemed to have solved his steering problems with Bertie, but neither he nor Paul Thomason could keep up with Aly Brown on the amazing Dragon and after a run off the last but one hedge for Allen and Paul they finished just outside the ribbons in 7th place.

The Bitch Pack were next to go, they were without the injured Fiona Russell Brown, who is unfortunately sidelined for the rest of the season after a fall, Yvonne Goss deputised, riding Andrew Wheeler’s second horse and was giving an immaculate lead to Rosie and Tamara Vestey and Jane Edmunds until the last fence, Yvonne’s horse would have benefited from a previous run and he crashed through the last fence, fortunately the team managed to avoid Yvonne and finish in a time of 5mins 54.43 and a well deserved 3rd place.

The Blockbusters I, with Paula and Jeff Block rode a nice steady round but were quite a way off the pace.

Three teams remained, the Joules Knightly Hatters team of Ian and Andrew Shipley,Stuart Morris and Lucy Hyde-Thompson were the team thought to have a good chance to topple the Forge Flyers and they set off in their usual thrusting manner, they were just behind on the clock when Andrew had an unfortunate stop at the last fence thus ending their challenge. A Time of 5mins 54.73 just 0.30 secs behind The Bitch Pack gave them 4th place.

Last but one to go were The Bentley Barmaids, only had three team members until the eleventh hour when they checked the teamchasing website and found Ginny Sherwin asking for a ride in the open at the Pytchley. Together with Trish Dyson, Clare Bradley and Darren Watts they had one of their best open rides so far and a time of 6mins 13secs gave them ninth place and a well deserved second qualifying placing for the championships.

Bollocks to Blair, with only three riders Anita Hall, Mark Smith and Amanda Bettle had to make sure they made no mistakes and a faultless round in a time of 6mins 11secs put them in eighth place and they also qualified for the championships.

Netty Nevill.