The huge crowd of spectators witnessed team chasing at its very best with few mishaps around the course and it is testament to the organisers and everyone connected with the running of the Pytchley that they ran on time with few hold ups and the presentation of prizes took place within fifteen minutes of the last team completing the course. Well-done everyone.

Sixteen teams were entered in the Open although only 13 actually came forward to start. The most notable absentees being the Hair Raisers, Allen Brown having spent the night in hospital after an accident whilst herding his cows from one field to another, when one of them decided to kick him resulting in a large swelling on his leg which was thought to need surgery, but thankfully the swelling is abating and fingers crossed he will not need to go under the knife, we all wish him a speedy recovery and hope to see him back in the saddle soon.

The Forge Flyers were drawn first to go, the team were without both Debbie Topping and Graham Smith, who is still desperately looking for an open horse, however, Yvonne Goss with the great Perry gave the team of Joss Hanbury, Nick Pearce and Ashley Bealby a superb lead taking some of the big hedges on unbelievable angles and leaving enough petrol in the tank to master the final hill, Yvonne led them home in an extremely fast time of 4mins 34.64 seconds, which was obviously going to be extremely difficult to beat.

With Rosie Vestey still grounded after her crashing fall at the Meynell, it was left to daughter Tamara to lead the Bitch Pack, once again this team which are always a joy to watch gave a wonderful display of team chasing, Sophie Rooker took over the lead at the half way point with Julie and Andrew Wheeler stepping into the team they had a fluent round but just did not have the finishing speed up the hill to overtake the Forge, finishing in a time of 4mins 48.23 seconds, which gave them eventual third place.

Hair Raisers II which should have included Aly and Allen Brown, instead had a line up of Paul Browse leading with Paul Thomason, Penny Still and Caroline Smith were third to go, setting off at a cracking pace the two girls became a bit detached and after a spirited attempt to catch the boys up the hill they managed to record a time of 4mins 57.38s which gave them 7th place and qualified them for the championships at the Fernie.

All eyes were now on the lads from the Joules Knightly Hatters, winners of the previous two events at the Atherstone and Bicester, with the team back to full strength, Andrew having recovered from his migraine which sidelined him at the Bicester and with Stuart Morris and Dicky Barratt could they make this a hat trick?, they certainly set off in determined mood and once again managed some incredible angles on the tight turns but even after a racing finish up the hill their time was three seconds behind the Forge Flyers putting them into second place.

The Odds and Sods team of Geoff Lockwood, Heather Moodie, Christine Watts and Tom Phillips had one of their best rounds of the season and with a finishing time of 4mins 58.69s they also qualified for the championships finishing in 8th place and it was a very proud Geoff Lockwood leading Feddie round at the presentation sporting his qualifying rug.

The Boring Gorings were the next team to throw down the challenge, Fred French was extremely pleased with his new ex event horse as he is now learning to cut the corners and gave them a good lead, with the team of Fred, Nick Fuller, Lynda Adams and Sharon Robbins they looked in with a chance until they lost Sharon at the bottom of the hill and appeared to run out of steam up the hill finishing in a time of 4mins 52.27s to grab 5th place.

Ben Pauling once again led off Fight the Ban.com and jokingly stated before the off that he had invested in satellite navigation in order to take the right course this week.!! The other lads, Tom Gittins, Peter and Richard Mason did not have to put their vocal chords to use as Ben gave them a great and accurate lead; Tom’s horse did not look too happy half way around the course. However, a finishing time of 4mins 51.78seconds gave them a well-deserved 4th place.

The Mixed Pack of Sophie Rooker, Jane Edmunds, Sarah Myhill and Harry Doughty had a good and fluent round to finish in a time of 4mins 55.42s giving them 6th place.

The other teams in the Open were the Cunning Stunts, Tony Woodward, Emma Burton and Mac Brown who recorder a time of 5mins 24.56s. The Intents Flyers team of Victoria Welton, Henrietta McCall, who had a run out at one of the big hedges at the bottom of the course, Lydia Hollowell and Hannah Turkin finished in a time of 5mins 20.45s. The Marston Misfits, lead horse, Jo Manicoms Pedro pulled up lame at the top of the hill, but the other three, Sally Main, Sue Tideswell and Claire Pendleton were extremely pleased with their round in 5mins 22.53s.

Drag N Fly, a new team on the circuit consisting Jane Mills-Hewitt, Angela Dodd, John Knowles and Alex Knott had a very tidy round to finish in a time of 5mins 33.91s and last but not least The Game for a Laugh team of Bryan Allen, Chris Marriott and Paul Thomason who recorded a time of 6mins 07.46s.

Twenty five teams competed for the Novice Allcomers speed class which was won in fine style by the Wonky Tonk Women in a time of 4mins 24s. Anita Hall riding Djeff, Mark Smith – Harry, Vikki Ricketts – Adrian and Adam Hayes riding one of my old horses Toby have been going extremely well this season and have made their presence felt in some of the open classes.

Second place went to the Knighton Lions, Third The Intents Flyers 2nd team, Fourth the Eurobale Bulletts and fifth The Whacky Racers.

The Novice Bogey time class had an entry of twenty eight teams and was won by the Peatling Possey team in a time of 5mins 59secs the bogey time being set at 6mins 02 seconds. In second place and thrilled to be picking up their first team chase rosettes were the Moody Mares, with the Too Hot to Handle team in third.

Netty Nevill.