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The Blockbusters, Drambusters and Babybusters
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The Blockbusters, Brambusters and Babybusters are all subscribers to the Waveney Harriers hunt in Suffolk. Our amazing riding ability has been developed through years of clambering in and out of ditches, then back onto our horses, and through jumping the only hedge in Waveney country, once a year at the Opening Meet.
What the Waveney lacks in hedges it makes up for in atmosphere and total devotion to the noble cause of developing the definitive saddle flask concoction. Anyone who fancies a fresh challenge is more than welcome to visit us, take on the ditches and try the saddle flasks.
We have been team chasing for about three years now, but through disorganisation, incompetence and sheer terror, only made it to the Opens last year. As it turns out, we had nothing to fear. Nothing could have been more impressive than Geoff’s magnificent indifference to the last fence at the Pytchley, where he didn’t even bother to take off, Hetta’s fabulous performance at Newark received a well deserved mention in Horse and Hound (‘by rights should have hit the deck twice’) and we qualified for the Championships. For this our thanks must go to all the other teams taking part, as if they hadn’t already qualified, the ten minutes it took us to get round just might not have been quick enough.
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BLOCKBUSTERS ONE
Our current Open team consists of Geoff and Paula Block, Maureen Holden and Hetta Bramley.
Geoff Block
The Bramleys and the Blocks first met on Geoff’s first day hunting, when he fell off an impressive three times, whilst attempting to jump the only hedge in Waveney country. From this enjoyable experience Geoff, an intelligent man, deduced that hunting is the best possible way to pass the time, and that team chasing is a good way to practice for the opening meet.
Since those early days he has become a dashing and intrepid horseman, one who, if he had only put the bit in the right way up and remembered to tighten the girths, could easily have shown Mark Todd a thing or too about eventing.
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Paula Block
Geoff’s wife Paula demonstrates an enviable ability to cruise stylishly across any country, no doubt a talent left over from the days when she adorned the pages of Farmers Weekly, riding a quad bike and wearing nothing but a box of wormers.
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Hetta Bramley
Hetta’s position as lead rider owes everything to the fact that she has never been able to stop her horse. At 5ft nothing she can’t see over any of the fences as she walks the course, and she doesn’t see much of them as she goes round, owing to the fact that she has her eyes shut for the last ten strides in front of every hedge. (An unusual technique which may account for one or two interesting feats of navigation).
Her magnificent performance is entirely thanks to Leo, a horse whose dedication to team chasing is matched only by his dedication towards biting anything human.
Maureen Holden
Maureen is the odd one out in Blockbusters One, as she can actually ride. Well known in team chasing circles, she has also represented Great Britain show jumping. However, her greatest achievement to date is training the superb riders that make up the Blockbusters squad. Nothing short of the abject fear she inspires in her pupils would get us over those hedges.
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BRAMBUSTERS
The Brambusters will be competing in the Intermediate classes this season. The team consists of Geoff and Paula Block and Trisha and George Bramley.
Trisha Bramley
Trisha has the misfortune to be Hetta and George’s mum. Unfortunately neither have inherited her riding capacity, and so last year, in despair, she purloined George’s horse and set out to show them how it should be done. This she has done ever since, demonstrating an irritating ability to be in the perfect position over every fence, and no obvious intention of returning George’s horse.
George Bramley
After the theft of his own horse, George was forced to steal his father’s. The ex-owner claims the horse is a grandson of Nijinsky; to everyone else it is clear that if this is the case, Nijinsky’s true calling was pulling a plough. Despite this, and the fact that George’s virtuous dedication to his studies at Newcastle means that he never sits on a horse apart from at team chases, the pair of them are regular members of the squad, exhibiting a regal and stately approach on the horse’s part, and extraordinary courage in the face of devastating hangovers on the rider’s.
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BABYBUSTERS
Annabel Block
The Babybusters team captain is Annabel Block, and her team will consist of any of the rest of the squad, depending on who has got hold of something to ride. Annabel occupies a unique position as the only sensible team member. A certain star of the future, her riding ability is matched only by her cake baking skills.
BACK UP
Without the unfailing support of Jenny Hare, the Bramleys would never get to a team chase, let alone round one. Someone who considers 5am a lie in, it is Jenny who remembers vital equipment such as the horses, calms the nerves and supplies the picnic. Georgia, Sherard and Oscar Block supply helpful advice and booby trapped deckchairs whilst Robin Bramley completes the crossword with unfailing regularity.
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