The Cotswold Hunt has presented a cheque for £1,000 to the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal, following its annual Cotswold Team Chase.
Hundreds of spectators came along to watch teams of horses and riders race across grassland and fences in the Cotswold countryside.
The cheque presentation was made by Rosie Vestey to Michael Henriques, Chairman of the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads.
Team chasing involves groups of four riders competing over a course around 1.5 miles in length crossing open countryside with roughly 27 fences to jump.
The Cotswold Team Chase, which has been running for over 40 years, attracts riders from all over the UK competing for a place at the British Team Chase National Finals which will be held next spring.
The event saw about 100 teams (400 riders) competing on the first day, and about 60 teams (240 riders) competing on the second day. The first day of the competition begins with the Novice and then the Mini Classes, where teams in both levels compete to hit the optimum time, then the Sunday is the Intermediate and Open races where the teams with the fastest three riders to cross the finish line are the winners.
Cotswold Team Chase riders
The winners over the weekend included:
- Novice Class: Fairfields Flyers
- Best Junior / School team: St Hugh’s Flyers
- Best geriatric team: ROR Reprobates
- The Family Fun Mini Class: The Pauling Family
- The Mini Fun Class: Tequila Chasers
- Intermediate Speed Class: Eternal Optimists
- Best Cotswold member: Mark Cubberley from Gloucestershire Equine Vets
- Intermediate Fun Class: The Mixed Pack
- Best geriatric team: The Hooray Henries
- Open Class: Team Ride Away 1
Tamara Fox said:
“We are so proud to support the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal – it is such an excellent service for us riders. Through the emergency helipads they fund, they help to enable rapid, lifesaving treatment at hospital when we need it and we are immensely grateful for everything they do.
“Team chasing at speed is certainly not for the faint hearted. Our course is quite technical, so it requires great communication between horse and rider, and between the teammates themselves, so as not cut each other up at the tight turns on the course. Jumping at speed is amazing, and it’s incredibly addictive.”
Rosie Vestey presenting Michael Henriques Chairman of the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal, with cheque
The event also included a mini championship for children over six years old.
Tamara said:
“We created our Mini event a few years ago. A lot of events for children are just across a couple of fields, however our Mini team chase is across six or seven fields, so it really is a great opportunity to start teaching younger riders how to navigate courses.”
Michael Henriques, Chairman of the HELP Appeal, said:
“We are incredibly grateful to receive this generous £1,000 donation. This contribution will play a vital role in supporting our lifesaving mission to build NHS hospital helipads wherever they are needed across the country. With your help, we are one step closer to achieving this. Thank you for your continued support and for helping us make a difference.”
NHS hospital helipads, which are supported by the County Air Ambulance HELP Appeal, are a crucial link between air ambulances and hospital Emergency Departments, enabling patients to receive urgent, lifesaving treatment more quickly by significantly reducing transfer times. To date, the HELP Appeal has funded 50 hospital helipads nationwide, which have supported over 29,000 landings, with another 50 in pipeline.
The Cotswold Team Chase also attracted a number of famous ex-racehorses, including ‘Saphir Du Rheu’ and ‘Lostintranslation’.
Tamara added:
“It was a total joy to witness these famous ex-racehorses compete – they never faltered. It is quite an uphill course, but these two made it look so easy.”
Cotswold Team Chase Open winners: left to right, Roddy Stanning, Charlotte Alexander, Forbes Nelson (ROOF MOT), Luke Bacon and Will Badlan
Main image: Cotswold Team Chase jumping
All photos: by Angie Lock
