Team chasing Pytchley
The on-form Relentless pull off yet another stellar performance to head the open qualifier, while Wishful Thinkers Too put up a strong fight for second
RELENTLESS produced a polished round over an undulating and testing track to top the Skinner’s open qualifier.
Rowan Cope and Arthur made a precise leap over the downhill, trappy ski jump at fence two with Dickie Barrett yelling at them to go faster. Team-mates Matt Mackley and George Henderson pushed on behind the two leaders.
The winning quartet were always tight and neat through the turns, angling the huge drop-hedge in the centre of the course. Moving quickly across the valley bottom, Rowan and Dickie pressed on up the final steep hill to the last, with Matt and George somewhat adrift.
“When I finished I thought we’d probably won, but I looked behind and saw the gap to the last two and got a bit worried,” said Rowan.
“You’ve got to be a bit careful over the second fence or you can get carried down the hill and miss the turn to jump into the woods,” added Dickie. “But once you’re there, it’s time to go.”
They were just over one second quicker than runners-up Wishful Thinkers Too, who laid down a superb challenge.
Simon Coady called for Dom Gwynne-Jones, on the hunt race specialist Another Puzzle, to overhaul him after the big drophedge, before speeding over the hedges and timber at the bottom of the hill. Team-mate Anne Mackley and Ghost took a flyer at the third last — eating up the ground on the hill to give them their finishing time.
“Ghost has evented but wasn’t careful enough showjumping — this is only his second open team chase and he caused a pile up in the first one. He got injured but has come back really well and I’m so pleased with him,” said Anne.
SIT TIGHT
BERKELEY BALLS continued to give the more experienced teams a run for their money with another quick round for third.
Lucas Lingham had a hairy moment at the drop-hedge and Hector Baker had to sit tight three from home, but they continue to look more polished each week.
Team Rideaway II took fourth under a great lead from Helen Swaddle and they were challenging the leaders when Charlotte Alexander’s saddle slipped on Conti and he deposited
her on the turf.
Meanwhile, Team Rideaway V benefited from a confident lead for their less-experienced horses from Lindsay Harrison’s Fugly, although she also had to sit tight at the drop-hedge.
Joe Stevenson’s San Cassiano acquitted himself well in his first open team chase — leading them home for fifth and taking a third Rideaway squad to a place at the national championships.
“Fugly had seen some long ones at the big hedges along the back, so at the drop-hedge he decided to put another stride in, but he gave a great lead,” said Lindsay.
Boring Gorings took sixth with a speedy round that ended with a slight blip when Ricky Johnson tipped off Del Boy at the last. Fred French wriggled round his fallen team-mate to give them their finishing time.
Worcestershire Awesome Foursome made a return to open classes this season with their hunters and they took the second qualifying slot. Worcestershire MFH Ade Ward gave them a great lead on the striking skewbald Austin and Helen Millward and Rooney made up ground on the second half to bring them home.
The intermediate proved more eventful than of late, with league leaders Eternal Optimists experiencing a pile-up early on. Team Rideaway IV capitalised thanks to a tidy round under a strong lead from captain Stephen Clark (see box) and Gladstar, with Joe Stevenson, Becky Rollins and Karen Holloway always in touch.