The Forge Flyers once again proved invincible retaining the Goring Hotel National Championship over the Tur Langton course hosted by the Fernie Hunt. On a bitterly cold day which left the huge crowd shivering, the indomitable quartet put on a perfect display of team chasing, with all four horses back on song after a disappointing outing at the Heythrop the week before. Junior once again gave Debbie Topping another superb ride cutting every corner and jumping the “S” of huge hedges on unbelievable angles and finishing with plenty in reserve belying his advancing years. Debbie was once again ably backed up by Yvonne Goss on Perry who had the first stop of his career the week before at the Heythrop, Joss Hanbury on the lovely grey Chappaqua who had also had a most uncharacteristic run out at the Heythrop and Graham Smith on Chloe, their time of 4m24.30 was fractionally slower than their winning time last year.

Second place went to the Boring Gorings, their sponsor George Goring had everyone in stitches at the Heythrop when he sportingly did the draw for the running order for the championship and drew his own team in the most favourable position of last to go. John Perry gave them a wonderful lead and with Fred French, and Linda Adams in close contention they made a valiant attempt to topple the Forge, Sharon Robbins their fourth member who had a crashing fall at the Warwickshire a few weeks ago played safe and opted for a clear round should her time be needed. Linda said she did not believe they could have gone any faster and indeed even though they pulled out all the stops, they could only finish 4 seconds behind the Forge

Third place and their best championship placing to date went to the four girls of the Teme Valley Tigers, they shaved two seconds off their 2004 time reversing the placings last year when they finished fourth behind the Tangos, this year they managed to relegate the Tangos to fourth, this team, with Sarah Myhill leading on her great mare Maggie, Nicky Wenban – Charlie, Angie Murphy – Lad and Sue Little riding Sara’s other horse Con are a great bunch of characters, they are always desperately nervous before the start but have taken to team chasing like girls possessed!! Sue came to grief late on in the course after losing a pedal at the big palisade she took a crashing fall on the flat between fences but managed to hobble on to the rostrum to collect her well deserved prize.

In fourth were the Tangos, Paul Browse giving them his usual thrusting lead on Sox with Oliver Seeny and Caroline Smith in close contention, Charlotte Alexander was left slightly off the pace after the “S” of hedges, without an unfortunate run out at the newly positioned log complex known as The Goring Gaping Gorge this team would probably equalled their third place of last year.

Fight the Ban.Com this young team of Nicky Sturgis, Iona Hoare and two sons of the old Fosse Manor Team, Tom Gittins son of Steve and Ben Pauling son of Howard were on a high after their resounding victory at the Heythrop last week. They set off at a cracking pace, their horses are all blood horses and really cover the ground, but looked to slightly run out of steam towards the latter part of the course, this is obviously a team of the future and they must have learnt a great deal from this outing and finished in a well deserved fifth place.

Sixth went to the Bitch Pack who had the worst luck of the draw, (George’s fault) being drawn first to go, however, as usual they were a joy to watch and a perfect example of what team chasing is all about, they rider in perfect formation and what their horses lack in speed they make up for on their approach to their fences, but for a run off the new angled log complex for Jane Edmunds and Monty, Sophie Rucker - Teabag, Rosie Vestey – Joseph, and Fiona Russell Brown – Dash had a faultless round.

Seventh placing went to the Rappell Hair Raisers I .Aly Brown and Dragon another elder statesman of a horse who still thinks he is a three year old setting off with their usual dash with Penny Lyons and a very wet Paul Thomason (after a ducking in the Fishers Pond water whilst riding for the second hair Raisers team) in hot pursuit and Aly’s husband Allen bringing up the rear.

Eighth Ship or Bust team of Tony Pellet, Liz Hibberd, Amy Epgrave and Richard Evans were unlucky to be stopped on course due to a damaged fence, although their horses did seem to get a second wind and finish in fine style.

Ninth place went to the Wasps who had to nurse three riders round after losing Paul Andrews at the hedge after the pen and tenth place went to the Mixed Pack

Twenty-five of the qualifying teams entered the championships, only four teams failed to complete the course and fifteen teams completed in under five minutes.

The Novice class in the morning with 53 entries and run to a bogey time was won by Norfolke and Good with second the Good the Bad and the Uglies and the Fernie Furies third.

The U.K. Hunt team chase was won by the South Shropshire Shifters this team of experienced team chasers usually run as the Generation Gap and this win will be a bit of a tonic to Richard Beaman one of their usual team members who was badly injured in a fall last week at the Heythrop and is still in Banbury hospital. 18 year old Sophie Holmes took Richard's place in the team and was over the moon with the teams success along with the other three riders, Katherine Tudor, Alistair Beedles and Sarah Gibson who were also thrilled with their win.

Second place went to the Quorn Chasers and third Berkeley “R” Us again both these teams consisted of experienced team chasers.

Netty Nevill