North and East Regional Updates
Here you can find out all of the latest news and updates from the North & East region.
Sponsorship Opportunities 2025
Could you help support our activities next year?
We are ever grateful to our regional sponsors for the support they give. We have opportunities for:
- Regional Sponsorship (Includes a North & East Championship)
- North and East Show Sponsorship
- North and East Youth Show Sponsorship
Please see the additional information below to see how you could get involved. Open to Equestrian and Non-equestrian businesses or personal sponsorship of a class at the North and East Show. Sponsorship helps to support our team and training activities throughout the year.
NORTH & EAST SHOWS SPONSORSHIP
NORTH & EAST REGIONAL SPONSORSHIP
North and East BD Youth Rider League
A friendly competition within the North & East region for anyone who has been selection on a BD Youth Squad! Compete within the category that is the level you've been assessed at during the squad process (D Squad, C Squad, C+ Squad, B Squad, B+ Squad, A Squad). Each category will have an overall winner and placings down to 10th which will be awarded at the North & East Presentation Ball. See the current 2024 standings below. Want to join in this year? See our youth page.
The Rider League closes 30 November with final tests to be submitted by 7 December to count.
NORTH & EAST RIDER LEAGUE (FINAL STANDINGS)
North & East Newsletter
Our newsletter is sent out regularly to keep all of our members in the region up to date with all of the latest events, training and news!
BD Ball – celebrating our success in 2024
BD North and East’s ball had it all from celebrating an Olympian, cheering on the impressive youth team riders, recognising talent both equine and human in many guises, and acknowledging volunteers, judges and those who help make the region great.
One word kept coming up time and time again – friendship and community – summed up by Ann Savage who won the Hart Shield for outstanding contribution to senior teams.
“It’s right that we focus on horse welfare and the equine side, but I want the human side to be valued too. The friendship and support and being part of the dressage family which I’ve experienced is amazing. I may have worked in industry for 40 years, but what the horse world has given me has become part of me and my life and is sustaining in the difficult times.”
Ann, who trains with Sarah Payne, piloted Machno Gwenlli to success in the senior home nations.
Jaqueline Almond described finding her home at Area Festivals and was awarded the Benjamin Rose Bowl for the highest percentage in the summers on Sir Edward, the horse she bought for a pound from a friend. They scored 69.79% winning the novice silver class.
“He’s 17.2 but scared of his own shadow, and he had every issue going. He was tricky to hack, I had to rein him back into arenas – you name it, he did it.” she said.
“I asked my trainer Mel Chapman to sit on him and tell me what she thought. She got off and said, ‘he’s got lovely ears’!”
“Gradually we mastered it and now we’ve found our level being competitive at Area Festivals.”
Jaqueline is aiming to qualify for the Area Festivals at elementary this season.
Inspiring riders were applauded, with the Moira Richardson Equine Touch and VHT Bronze for a rider overcoming individual physical challenges going to Alexandra Stewart for her hard work in winning the para grade 3 bronze at the national championships with her pony Beau VIII after an illness and emergency surgery left her paralysed down her left side.
Alexa fought back after a rare stroke when she was 15 in March 2022, which left her needing to learn how to do everything again including how to walk. She spent nine weeks in hospital, and videos of her pony and thoughts of riding again kept her going. After rehab, she was back in the saddle six months later, initially for five minute lead rein walks. Before her illness, Alexa was a grade 5 para rider and active in BD Youth. The BD para team helped regrade her to 3 so she could compete.
Her citation for the award said: Her resilience is remarkable, and she has worked unbelievably hard in physio sessions and whilst riding to regain her riding fitness in order to get back out competing. Alexa is truly an inspiration to everyone who knows her.”
Alexa also completed her A levels, gained a place to study law at Hull University and passed her driving test during this time.
Hannah MacMillan bought her Irish Sport Horse x Hackney Brookeborough Lad to event, but he proved too slow. During lockdown she decided to concentrate on flatwork and discovered that her unconventional horse had a flair for dressage.
“He’s a quick learner and although his breeding is not obvious for dressage his brain means he can do it. We’re maybe two months away from wearing a tailcoat as our tempis are developing which is exciting.”
They were awarded the Sir Oliver Silver Freestyle Bronze after winning the elementary silver at the Arena UK winter regionals. Hannah, who trains with Patsy Bartram, runs her own dog grooming business.
Anna Bates did not have an easy start with her 14-year-old mare Gitina, and without a school found her tricky to train.
“She had all sorts of issues. Gareth Hughes told me that you know you’ve found the right horse when you don’t want to get off them. I definitely didn’t have that feeling with her at first. Eventually we diagnosed ulcers and since she’s been treated, we’ve just been on the up and up.
“She’s now got an amazing work ethic and in the six years we’ve been together we’ve gone from prelim to training at Inter II.”
Anna, who credits Sam Brown with turning her and Gitina round, was awarded the Jack Richards Memorial Trophy for scoring 68.19% in the PSG silver at the Sheepgate summer regionals. She works as a receptionist at a vet’s practice.
Sam, and her mother Bev Brown were awarded the North and East Breeder Trophy for their Godrics stud, now based near Durham. Their foundation stallions were Caesar 171 whose bloodlines have influenced number of team GB ponies and then Danger 36. They currently stand Le Chiffre, currently being competed by Lily Crisp, and Godrics Campeggio, ridden by Abigail Gray, with others coming up through the ranks.
“This award is not just for us, but for the whole team and the amazing riders who compete our ponies. We’re thrilled to have a number of ponies in BD Youth teams, and we have some great plans for the future, including horses! We’ve got some exciting youngsters and partnerships in the pipeline.” said Sam.
Anna Burns, who began her career with Sam and now rides for the Moody team, took home the Chevet Rosebowl for scoring 69.74 in the elementary silver at the Northallerton summer regionals on San Isidro.
“She shares some bloodlines with Bomb and has a similar really nice brain. I’m very lucky to ride her,” she said, “Each day is a learning curve.”
India Durman-Mills regained the Esberger Bronze, which she had won in 2022, for having notable international success with Escade having been part of the bronze medal winning Young Rider team at the European Championships.
“I’ve been so lucky to have him. We’re working towards Grand Prix, and I’m hoping we may get to the Europeans again as it’s my last year in Young Riders.” said India. “I’m also concentrating on my coaching career and producing young horses.”
Imogen Swann has only been doing dressage for three years, having previously show jumped, but her partnership with Tim and Antonia Brown netted her three trophies – the Mount St John Salver for scoring 75.86 at the Nationals, the Elovate Trophy for the Sheepgate summer regionals both on Vic S and the Gingerly Does It Rosebowl for wining the novice silver regionals at Sheepgate on SJL Bueno.
“When I arrived at the Brown’s I wasn’t very technically able, but I was brave. I didn’t even know how to come down the centre line and salute! I have learned so much and get to ride some lovely young horses. SJL Bueno got me the buzz for dressage and gave me my first experience of the nationals in the four-year- old class.” she said.
There was much hilarity when list one judge Steph Cooper was recognised with the Gwyneth Lewis Lifetime Achievement Judges award and presented with a clock.
“The clock doesn’t mean I’m retiring,” she said “I’m addicted to dressage and love helping riders, so I’m not going anywhere! I’m immensely touched and have had lots of messages of congratulations.”
Steph has been involved with riding and dressage for 50 years producing a number of horses to small tour and, her beloved TC Williams to Grand Prix. She still judges, on average, two days a week and teaches.
Behind the scenes work was also honoured, with Lauren Fogg being awarded the Chairs Rosebowl for her work on the Equipe scoring system developing it, helping other users and supporting the training for scribes both regionally and nationally.
Julia McQuigg was also recognised for her work scribing regularly with Equipe with the RDO Cup.
“I injured my knee so couldn’t ride and wanted to give something back. Seeing dressage from the other side means you learn so much.” she said.
Lara Edwards was at the ball with her daughters Emily and Annabel who are making their first steps in dressage and picked up rosettes. She took home the Bruce and Faye Grant Shield for winning the prelim gold at the Sheepgate regionals scoring 75.57% with Beaumont Franziska.
“Franziska broke her femur as a two-year- old and has metalwork in her leg. She was properly rehabbed and is now a joy to produce. Maybe one of the girls will eventually take the ride on her!” she joked.
Six-year- old daughter Emily stole the show later by asking Becky Moody for the first dance.
Becky Moody was awarded the Barley Mow Trophy and the Aimbry Stud Trophy, for elementary and medium gold at Sheepgate summer regionals with Jo Cooper’s Sieben Siegel, who was bought from a video as a three-year-old.
She also picked up the Frontline Trophy for notable international success with Jagerbomb and toasted her Olympic dancing partner.
“Perhaps our story shows that with hard work and the right team behind you can make it.” she said.
Becky also toasted Jo Byrne - “best DO in the country” – for all she does for North and East, presenting her with flowers, and thanking her for organising yet another brilliant ball.
Jo, who had lost her voice and was uncharacteristically quiet on the night, said she was very pleased to see everyone enjoying themselves and riders and supporters across the spectrum of BD championships celebrating together.
Helen Scott
