Katie Pytches wins The Champagne Cave Winter Grades B & C Qualifier at Aintree Equestrian Centre
Friday 12 October 2018
Thursday evening saw Aintree Equestrian Centre in Liverpool hold the first of The Champagne Cave Winter Grades B & C Qualifiers and it was Katie Pytches from Loughborough, Leicestershire who saw off fifty-one keen starters to take the win.
With two tickets available for the 2019 Championship Final at the renowned Royal International Horse Show at Hickstead, West Sussex, competition proved to be fierce and with eleven double clears produced, the two qualifying spaces were dependent on the clock.
Riding her own 8 year-old chestnut mare, CFS Olympic Lady, Katie delivered an accurate first round clear to take her place in the jump off. This combination demonstrated great accuracy as they left all the fences standing and managed to shave nearly a second off the time to finish in 33.60 seconds to claim first place.
Beth Vernon from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire jumped the next quickest double clear of the competition on board her own 8 year-old chestnut mare Fenix. This pair finished in 34.56 seconds.
Aintree Equestrian Centre – Thursday 11th October 2018
The Champagne Cave Winter Grades B & C Qualifier Results
1st Katie Pytches & CFS Olympic Lady - 0/0 – 33.60 seconds
2nd Beth Vernon & Fenix - 0/0 – 34.56 seconds
NB: Qualifications will be updated on the website pending official grading of results.
Image: Katie Pytches & CFS Olympic Lady in action in The Champagne Cave Winter B&C Qualifier at Aintree Equestrian Centre (CREDIT: Majestic Photography)
The Champagne Cave:
The Champagne Cave was set up in order to source the best vintages from small niche growers in France and is now predominantly supplied by small family run vineyards. The company regularly visits the Champagne region to check on the produce and witness the production process first hand. The Champagne Cave has handpicked some of the finest champagnes, many of which are not found for sale elsewhere in the UK. Their ‘clos’ wines are from one of the few remaining walled garden vineyards whilst their Grand Cru magnum champagnes are made by a grower who only produces 500-1000 magnums a year. Shop the selection via www.thechampagnecave.co.uk.
