April 2009 saw the RAF Team venture out for the first time this year. Weather was superb as was the location, Hartpury College Arena, home of the World Equestrian Paralympic Championships. This was a first for the team, a different competition for everyone. Hosted by the Ledbury Hunt Branch of the Pony Club we were made very welcome and it was clear a good day was going to be had by all. The aim was to get everybody jumping in teams ready for Royal Windsor in May. The format was slightly unusal with there being two arenas and everyone jumping in both for one class. The idea being you get to see a whole array of fences from both the arenas. The team would jump one after the other and would do a round in both arenas. Your time and faults from both rounds were tallied and the best 3 individuals counted towards the final team placing. As each of us were entered in two classes this meant we all had to do 4 rounds.

The teams were as follows:

Harriers: Wg Cdr Jane Austin- Mr Willoughby, Flt Lt Caitlin Wroe- Chamonix, Flt Lt Jules Fleming- UFO and SAC Mel Stoner- Rio

Tornados: Wg Cdr Dawn Elson- Alligator, Cpl Paula Golder- Charmed, Cpl Becky Downes- Zippy and Cp

Typhoons: Flt Lt Carrie Moore- Max, Flt Lt Liz Hale- Ollie, FS Allen- Sam, Cpl Sarah Marshall- Minnie

The teams were all placed in both classes with the Harriers winning the 2nd. Individual prizes went to Flt Lt Fleming who got 2nd in the first class and 4th in the second and Flt Lt Moore who came 4th in the first class.

The team would like to thank all the support on the ground and behind the scenes in the Sports Board for all their help as it makes the day so much more enjoyable!