Sara Metcalfe on her 17 year old Vader – Sara started the team in 2003 with Vader. Part of the qualifying team and lead the team to glory here 2008 around the Intermediate. She retired Vader after the Championships last year but he is back!! Green but keen with the smallest horse in the pack but he thinks he is a racehorse so we haven’t told him otherwise. Sara runs the UK Chasers course near Richmond and if more hedges were there would run a team chase up North!! He has let Sara look after him for the last 12 years and hopefully he will look after her again today.

Sara’s husband Phil is Team Manager – owning up to that on a good day but not if it goes pear-shaped. His usual advice is go faster at the start.

Chris Gibbon MFH (Zetland) on Leroy – also part of the winning Inter team 2008 which was his 1st team chase. Chris has pointed previously and field mastered the Zetland over their biggest country for the last 4 seasons. Chris is a pig farmer like his brother Stuart and is famous for his television appearance on “Queer Eye for a Straight Guy”. He was also instrumental in organising Ladettes to Ladies TV coverage of a days hunting and social evening in the Oz version which apparently is hilarious!! Leroy was home bred by Chris’ father.

Stuart Gibbon on Isaac – brother to Chris and pig farmer!! His wife Emma actually rode Isaac to qualify at the Bicester . Isaac is therefore possibly still carrying slightly more weight than he is used to so will have had extra oats! Stuart has pointed and field mastered so comes with plenty of experience. He is hoping to stay on in the warm up and get thro the start as Isaac is re-knowned for dropping his rider in all the excitement. Stuart and Isaac were part of the team last year in the Open.

Emma Gibbon on Bertie – has again given the ride on her Open qualified horse, Isaac, to her husband, Stuart. Thankfully this year she is not pregnant and is able to ride her other horse Bertie. Bertie is a 'Jack of all trades (except Dressage), Master of none' He is a true All Rounder, he competes BE, BSJA and represents Yarm & District Saddle Club as often as possible. He can also be found on the hunting field with the Zetland when Emma's not running around after Stuart, Isaac and the 2 children, Ella and Martha. Ella could be seen riding 'Bob' the cute white shetland last at The Fernie, while Martha was a bump. Bob won't be making the journey down south this year, as there is no room in the wagon for him!
Bertie is not the typical Team Chase Horse (whatever that is?!) being full Irish Draught and Emma does not boast to be the typical Team chase jockey, having been referred to as a 'Dressage Queen' in a former life and only started Team Chasing as a stand in jockey to Stuart one wet Harvest.
The photo shows Bertie with Emma and Isaac with Stuart if you look closely having a very memeroble ride over the Late Willie Lax's wonderful hedges in the Heart of the Zetland Hunting country.