UK CHASERS & RIDERS CHALLENGE 2008
CHASERS CHALLENGE NATIONAL FINAL
Supported by Topspec
The National finals of the UK Chasers Cross Country Challenge took place at Thornton Lodge Farm, Easingwold on October 25th 2008 on a typically windy and cold autumn day luckily avoiding the freak storm that affected Cumbria so badly that day. Although some competitors did have a very long and difficult journey home.
Qualifiers for the Challenge had been held at several UK Chasers courses around the country during the year. The Chasers Challenge is unique to UK Chasers in addition to the cross country fences riders have a gate to open and close whilst mounted, a walking section and some show jumps to clear at the end of the course. All this has to be completed as close as possible to the bogy time which is set on the day.
The competition was due to be held in September but like so many other events this year had to be postponed due to the prolonged wet weather resulting in saturated ground conditions. Despite this there were120 competitors on the day in the six different sections. Many competitors staying on to take part in the Thornton Lodge Hunter Trial the following day.
The first class was the junior minimus and Amelia Hattersley on her two ponies Chloe and Sixpence took the first two places achieving clear rounds with both third place was taken by Karl Deighton on Rio only separated from Amelia by time points.
The senior minimus was won by Wynne Spencer on Becky followed by Bridie Taylor on Romany Rye and Bev Curtis on Graff.
The largest class of the day was the junior novice with 40 competitors seeking the trophy, it was won by Natalie Anderson on Bailey’s Irish Dream from Bedlington (Natalie was also second at the UK Riders Final in September) closely followed by Lorcan Murtagh on Maddy, Lorcan is nine years old and a member of Cumberland Farmers hunt Pony Club in the Lake District and enjoys jumping and racing. Third in this section was Nadine Field on Hoppenhoffd Paulien, and Fifth in this class was Francesca Page on San Francisco Bay, she also had second place at UKR Finals at Vale View a few weeks ago. The first ten competitors in this section were only separated by time faults.
Di Nicholson on Tiffany were placed first in the Senior novice the combined age of this combination is over 70 years definitely a win to be proud of! They were very closely followed by Linda Heslop on El Fandango from Newcastle who is a 21 year old ex-trotter and won the junior section last year, third was Freya Swan riding Grace separated by a further 10 penalties they have only been together as a team this year Freya having time off to have two children and travelled from Bishop Aukland to compete.
Bronte Hall on Brookhouse Welsh Guard a 16 hand gelding took the open title with Laura Bebb on Tucker coming second after rolling a pole show jumping. Third was Viki Seller on Marbles who also had show jumping faults and more time penalties.
Thirty one teams entered the pairs competition which was won by Andrew Bartlett on Shadow and Rory Dixon on Jack they qualified at Foxbury Chasers and both come from near Darlington, they were followed by Jen & Lucy Corner on Tigger and Hamish from County Durham who also qualified at Foxbury Chasers. Third were Helen Orton & Sue Hovington with Pebbles and Merlin.
Despite the friendly relaxed atmosphere which defines this series the competition was fierce. The standard of riding on the day was excellent over a superbly prepared course in near perfect condition for all levels provided by Bill and Sue Raper of Thornton Chasers. Many thanks must go to the army of fence judges and helpers without whom these events could not run.
In addition a very special thank you to Katherine Tyler of Top Spec who sponsored the day and many thanks to all those who generously provided the prizes and rosettes.
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