A record number of entries, meant that they had to close early with 49 teams in the novice class run against a bogey time of 265.00 seconds which was won by the Slick Chicks, with The Court Flyers in second place and third the Cobley Transport Awesome Foursome.

Twenty five teams contested the Intermediate class which took in a number of the Open hedges and included one wide open ditch, some of the teams had reservations after walking the course, however, it rode extremely well and it was good to see the course builder had asked the questions, the whole intention of Intermediate classes is to try to encourage teams to go up into the open and hopefully after the thrill of completing this course a few of the teams may be tempted to try their luck at the open. It was won in fine style by the Whacky Racers, who managed to shave just three seconds off the Teme Valley Tigers, the Gommes Country Store Wonky Tonk Women were third, with the Knighton Lions fourth, The Hopwas Hooligans fifth and the Odds and Sods sixth, there were only 10 seconds separating the top six teams and only five of the twenty five teams failed to complete the course.

The Hair Raisers II kicked off the Open class and with only three riders they set the target of 4mins 05.66 sec. The Generation Gap were second to go and are giving a good account of themselves since they came up into the Open, a very tidy round gave them a time 25seconds slower than the Hair Raisers but with a bit of fine tuning and tighter turns this team are surely a team for the future.

Fight the Ban.Com were next to come under starters orders and with only three members and with Peter Mason on a new horse, they may have been forgiven for taking it a bit steady, but not these three lads, all sons of the old Fosse Manor riders, Ben Pauling led them, angling the hedges through the tight turns in front of the marquee, where Tom Gittins showed amazing "stickability" at the drop hedge they finished in a good time of 3mins 50.95 seconds which gave them eventual fourth place and qualified them for the championship.

The E2005 Health Herbal Junkies had made the long trek up from Cornwall, their horses being stabled overnight with the Arthurs, led by Andrew Daniels they proved their trip was well worth while and a sixth place in a time of 4mins 01.46 also qualified them for the championships.

The Forge Flyers still struggling for horses, had Sophie Rooker in place of Graham Smith, Debbie Topping gave them the usual brilliant lead on Junior and the acute angles she took through the complex of hedges in front of the beer tent had everyone gasping in disbelief, Junior was probably just a little bit down on "match fitness" and when he appeared to be tiring slightly four from home, Yvonne Goss with Perry took over the lead and pulled them home in a fantastic time of 3mins 41.97 seconds which looked to be very difficult to beat.

The Odds and Sods had a tidy round but could only finish in 4mins 08.54seconds, the Cunning Stunts had a few hairy moments with Emma Burton going straight through the hedge four from home and they could only manage a time of 4mins 23.53secs.

The Joules Knightly Hatters were next to go, with only three team members, the Shipley brothers Ian and Andrew and Stuart Morris on Pushover and true to Stuart's words in Horse and Hound last week they certainly put their foot down and set off in their usual attacking style at a blistering gallop, with Ian giving them a superb lead they managed to cut the angles even finer than the Forge and kept the rhythm throughout to give them a magnificent time of 3mins40.98 just over one second faster than the Forge, thus putting them in first place.

Excitement was mounting as next to go were the Bitch Pack winners the previous week at the Grafton, the team consisting Tamara Vestey stepping in once again for the injured Rosie, Sophie Rooker, Julie Wheeler and Sarah Myhill again set off at a terrific pace and once again the crowd where being treated to another wonderful display of team chasing, Sarah Myhill again took up the lead after the drop hedge, leading them home in fine style, the clock stopped in a time of 3mins 41.50seconds putting them less than half a second behind the Hatters.

The Worcestershire Wanderers lost John Woffard at the drop but managed a finishing time of 4min 55.53secs it was good to see another new team name on the open entry list.

Hair Raisers I were next to go but after losing Alan Brown at the fourth fence and Paul Thomason stopping and then falling at the open ditch their challenge was over.

This just left the Boring Gorings and the Bollocks to Blair teams. The Boring Gorings, spearheaded as usual by Fred French, were unfortunate to lose Sharon Robins half way round the course when her hard pulling horse Twix jumped the wrong side of the flag, Linda Adams and Nick Fuller kept up the momentum but their finishing time of 3mins 54.39seconds could only put them in fifth place.

Bollocks to Blair, who were second last week at the Grafton, were flying until Anita Hall jumped the wrong side of the flag at the hedge into the marquee field, and when Adam Hayes once again made a navigational error their chances were over.

It was great to see the Knightly Hatters receive the Russell Perpetual Trophy and the £500 first prize after such a superb and close run Championship Qualifier, with a good entry of 14 teams.

Richard Goring, who unfortunately had to have his great horse Toast put down a couple of weeks ago brought his ashes and spread them around the Atherstone course as it was Toast's favourite track.

Netty Nevill.