The VWH team chase suffered an unusually high number of casualties on Sunday, with four riders requiring attention in hospital and one horse suffering a fatal fall.
Event rider Virginia Cronk, a member of the Malt Mix Double Trouble team, who are former national champions, broke her arm when her horse fell heavily and subsequently died at the second fence, a logpile.
George Goring, a veteran of the sport and sponsor of the class, was airlifted to Cheltenham Hospital after falling at the third fence, a wall sited on a turn. He was later reported to be recovering well.
Yvonne Goss, a member of the reigning title-holders, the Prestige Horseboxes Forge Flyers, went to hospital for a precautionary check-up after a fall at the same obstacle.
And, as dusk was falling, Jan Harrison, who was leading the sixth-placed Bitch Pack, broke her femur in a fall at the 12th fence, a set of tyres.
Until halfway through the final open class, more than 60 novice and intermediate teams had completed the course without any serious mishaps, and the unusually high attrition rate is believed to be due to bad luck.
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