A&E Hopefully Not Win Best Cotswold Team Prize at Cotswold Team Chase (26th, November 2010)

The ‘experienced’ team entered optimistically as ‘A&E Hopefully Not’ won the best Cotswold Team Prize when they finished 10th of 40 teams at the recent Cotswold Team Chase, riding confidently against an undisclosed bogey time.

The team was made up of Intermediate Class sponsor Dene Stallard of A& E Fire Protection, his wife Jay Stallard, their groom Alice Walthew and Sue Carsons Saddles Distributor Bridget Middleborough, who used to team chase with Alice 15 years ago when she was a teenager.

Riding her 17-year-old ex National Hunt horses Sharp Command, owned since he came out of training rising nine, Bridget sat tight on his customary exuberant jumping using a Sue Carson Saddles Velocity saddle and admits “It kept me comfortably in place and I thoroughly enjoyed the day.”

She said afterwards, “Sharp and I did the SIA charity flat race at Newbury in June, racing against young racehorses all in training. He led for the first five furlongs, but was beaten towards the end when the pace was just too much for him. He is pretty versatile and hunts as well as enjoying team chases.”

A&E Hopefully Not were also eligible for the best geriatric team prize (combined ages to add up to 160 or more!), but were not allowed to win more than one special prize at what was a well supported fixture.

They took away the Best Cotswold Team prize of lovely rosettes and a £100 voucher for a meal at a local pub.

Ends