The day kicked off with the Intermediate class which had attracted 39 entries, it was good to see the home team, The Mixed Pack win through with 7 seconds in hand over the Teme Valley Tiggers, Fiona Russell-Brown of the Mixed Pack was over the moon with their win, her horse is no longer in the flush of youth and a drop down to intermediate really suits him, together with Jane Edmunds, Dominic Ruane and Chris Walker, the team gave an immaculate display of corner cutting and angling fences. The Royal Ag Nags had one of their best placings coming a close 3rd and the Odds and Sods second team were 4th.

Nineteen teams had entered the Open, of which 16 came under starters orders. The pathfinders The Cunning Stunts lost Bryan Allen with a crashing fall at fence 5 a tricky downhill fence, but with Tony Woodward leading Rachel Corbin and Emma Burton in close contention a respectable finishing time of 5mins 43.21s gave them the second qualification place for the Championships.

Ship or Bust set off at a cracking pace, but unfortunately lost Liz Hubbard when her horse skewed over the upright gate at fence 5, she was catapulted out of the saddle and was lucky not to get a kick in the face from flying hooves, the other three team members, Peg Livingstone Learmouth, Simon Pierce and Amy Ephgrave gave a good account of themselves and finished in a time of 4mins 45.13s.

Equus Health Herbal Junkies were next to come before the starter, the team of Derek Doyne-Ditmus, Andrew Daniels, Lizzie Luxton and Lucy Luscombe had an excellent round with all four jumping the dressing fence line abreast, their time of 5mins 28.33 was now the time to beat and gave them eventual 7th place.

It was good to see Rosie Vestey back in the Open for the first time since her crashing fall twelve months ago at the Meynell, she led the team of daughter Tamara, Sophie Rooker and Julie Wheeler in true Bitch Pack style, they never appear to be covering the ground as quickly as the other teams but their precision riding and the ability to keep enough petrol in the tank for the long haul up the final hill saw them finish in a time of 5mins 14.20s and an eventual fifth place.

Hair Raisers II were next to go, Allen Brown led them away with back up from wife Aly, Chris Marriott and Mark Smith, a finishing time of 5mins 40.20s gave them 8th place and the first of the two qualifying places for the championships.

Expectations were now running high as the Joules Knightly Hatters were next to go, as usual Ian Shipley set sail in the lead with Stuart Morris and Yvonne Goss in close pursuit, Andrew Shipley was riding Sparky, the horse Stuart Morris was riding at the Pytchley where he had a crashing fall, Andrew kept Sparky several lengths behind in an attempt to contain his over enthusiasm, an immaculate round by the other three saw them home in a brilliant time of 4mins 59.94s.

The competition was now really hotting up, for next to go were the Teme Valley Tigers, as usual Sarah Myhill and the great Maggie set off in the lead, a very unhappy Andrew Bronwin on Oliver, broke his second stirrup leather of the day and had to retire at the fourth fence, but with vociferous encouragement from Sarah at the dressing fence, Paul Browse on Sox and Bryan Allen on Indy caught up and with a storming finish up the final hill their finishing time knocked just 0.12seconds off the Knightly Hatters.

Fight the Ban.Com started with only three riders and as they fell foul of the new rule for remounting a fallen horse they were disqualified. The Odds and Sods who were without Heather Moodie and The Golden Valley Border Raiders who had the bad luck to have two fallers also failed to finish.

Nick Fuller led off The Boring Gorings, with Linda Adams showing an amazing amount of stick ability at the second fence as Denzil really hit it hard, Fred French had a few steering problems nursing an extremely swollen hand after a hunting fall on Saturday but with the help of ex Forge Flyer Graham Smith, they managed a great time of 5mins 02.55s.

The Marston Misfits were led away from the start by Sally Main on Hobnob, however, Hobnob was not over impressed by the going and had a run out at the top of the course, Jo Mannicom took over the lead on Alfie and with Sue Tideswell and Lynne Deakin charging the dressing fence together they just ran out of steam up the final energy sapping hill, however a time of 5mins 28.23s gave them a much deserved 6th place.

Berkeley ‘R’ Us with Vicky and Simon Vatcher, and Nelson and Thomasina Rowe had a few problems spread out around the course but did get a finishing time of 6mins 01.29s.

The mighty grey Dragon with Aly Brown on board set sail for the Hair Raisers, Debbie Topping had a stop at the drop hedge at the top of the course, however with brilliant riding by Jo Jewell who had some very hairy moments with Fuzzy Logic and Paul Thomason having one of his best rounds this season on Tiny, they finished so full of running up the final hill they had knocked over 6 seconds from the Teme Valley time for a much deserved win. Aly, who has been a stalwart of team chasing for many years was over the moon with their win.

The Welsh Wizards with Kenton, Nicola and Charlotte Jones and Jacqui O’Donnell were going well until Charlotte fell at the drop hedge but they did get a finishing time of 5mins 46.26s. The Priory Farm Pirates failed to finish, so the final line up was.

The Novice class with 36 entries and run to a bogey time of 5m19secs was won by the Fight the Ban Juniors, with the Roaring Ruffers 2nd and Ebrington Hill and Grange Hill Boys 3rd.

I would apologise if any of my report in incorrect, but there were no horse names in the programme and it was not always easy to hear the commentary as there was an echo and I was therefore unable to pick up any team alterations etc., if you can put me right please let the website know and I will endeavour to do any corrections necessary.

Netty Nevill