News

Sixty-one starters turned out for Saturday’s Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Qualifier at Bramham International Horse Trials in Wetherby, West Yorkshire and it was Alex Thompson who proved triumphant at the end of a hard fought class.

Each competitor was focused on grabbing one of the three qualification tickets on offer for the Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Championship Final which will be held at this year’s Horse of the Year Show in October, but Saturday’s class proved challenging with faults occurring all over the course. Following round one, just two competitors went forward to the jump off.

Alex Thompson from Cropwell Butler, Nottinghamshire took the top spot after producing the only double clear of the class on board Cathalina V, a 7 year-old chestnut mare owned by Nicola Thompson. Alex took a measured approach to the jump off and rode with great accuracy to ensure that his mount jumped a second clear round. They clocked up their double clear in 59.30 seconds.

Second place was taken by Donald Whitaker from Barnsley, South Yorkshire. Donald was the only other rider able to make it into the jump off and he did so on Billy Z, an 8 year-old chestnut gelding owned by Anne Bedford. Donald and Billy Z produced a quick round to finish in 54.86 seconds, but they were unlucky to pick up a total of four faults.

Katie Pytches from Loughborough, Leicestershire finished in third place on her own 7 year-old bay mare, Jolie Fleur after clocking up just a single time penalty in round one. The combination cleared all of the fences in a time of 96.79 seconds.

Bramham International Horse Trials – Saturday 11th June 2016
Speedi-Beet HOYS Grade C Qualifier
1st Alex Thompson & Cathalina V – 0/0 – 59.30 seconds
2nd Donald Whitaker & Billy Z – 0/4 – 54.86 seconds
3rd Katie Pytches & Jolie Fleur – 1 – 96.79 seconds