Results Gallery - UK Chasers Challenge Winners 2007 photograhs by kind permission of www.inshot.co.uk
Minimus Finals Winner Jessica May Thompson and Misty	Junior Novice Finals Winner Natasha Heslop and El Fandango
Senior Novice Finals Winner Hannah Walker and Rusty	Open Finals Winner Jessica Whitfied and Dolly May
Pairs Finals Winner Natalie Anderson and Baileys Irish Dream	Pairs Finals Winner Kate Sanderson and Cefncoch Crusader

The finals of the UK Chasers Cross Country Challenge took place at Thornton Lodge Farm, Easingwold on Sunday 16th September by kind permission of the Raper family. More than just a hunter trial, the UK Chasers Challenge includes a walk, gate and show jumping sections, all ridden to a bogey time.

On a super dry but windy day all the classes ran without hitch and the fences looked superb with flowers and other dressings making them look very special.

Winner of the minimus class, the first of the day was 13 year old Jessica May Thompson from Newcastle Upon Tyne riding her part bred Connemara Misty. Only separated on time Bridie Taylor and Romany Rye from Ripon in North Yorkshire rode into second place with Amy Franklin and Dandy from County Durham hot on their heels to take third.

By far the biggest class of the day was the 2’6” Novice which was split into juniors and seniors for the finals. A fair but testing course with several new fences built specially for the occasion saw only one clear round in the seniors from Hannah Walker, riding her 5 year old New Forest Pony Rusty. From Northallerton in N. Yorks, they are clearly an ambitious combination, and in 2006 qualified for the PUK Burghley Event Pony class and the UK Amateur Eventing class, as well as hunting with the Hurnworth Hounds. Second and also qualifying for the finals at Thornton Lodge was Nicola Silvester on her 5 yr old Warmblood x ID Paddy, while Katherine Henderson on the Irish bred Indianna Twichett was third. Katherine qualified for the finals on her first attempt at her local UK Chasers Course at Garrett Lee in Northumberland and is hoping to return next year to compete in the open series.

In the junior section a well earned win went to 12 year old Natasha Heslop riding her step mothers 19 yr old French Trotter El Fandango. They qualified on their first time out together at High Plains Chasers in Northumberland and jumped a stylish clear to win the class. Both second and third placed riders came through to the finals from Foxberry Chasers near Richmond. They were Jane Garstang, 2nd, on Max a Welsh Section D x Hackney who, having previously show jumped at HOYS has clearly taken to his new cross country job really well, and Sophie Deighton 3rd, riding the all rounder Chinook Amber Nectar. Sophie says he will turn a hoof to anything and the pair regularly compete in working hunter, showing, dressage, show jumping and one day events as well as cross country!

The popular pairs class followed with Morpeth Hunt Pony Club riders Natalie Anderson on Baileys Irish Dream and Kate Sanderson on Cefnoch Crusader taking the top spot. It Takes Two Annabelle Wright on Just Barnaby and Safina Roberts with Ruskhill Bradley took the second place and Claire Gibson and Kelly Silvester came in third riding Hayley and Miss Molly Gosh.

14 year old Jessica Whitfied from Leeds triumphed in the Open class on her pony Dolly May. An experienced combination, the pair have previously competed in the Scope Festival of show jumping, been Pony of the Year Grand Prix finalists, as well as competing in the Milton Keynes 3 day event in ’06 and ’07, coming third there in May this year. This was a tremendous achievement to round off their season!

UK Chasers & Riders would like to thank all the helpers and sponsors without whom the event would not have run. Look out for details of the 2008 UK Chasers Challenge Series coming soon, when we hope to extend the competition to a national series.

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The Challenge Competition is designed to be a fun competition to be enjoyed by all - have a go and test your Cross Country skills!