High flyers produce soaring scores at Hickstead Premier League

Britain’s big hitters brought rising stars to enjoy arena time at the All England Dressage Festival, with promising Premier League results across the levels (10 – 12 May 2024).  

London 2012 medallist Laura Tomlinson was in flying form at Hickstead, achieving three wins across the week. With her 2022 FEI WBFSH World Breeding Championship ride Full Moon II (Furstenball x Gribaldi), Laura claimed both Saturday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges, scoring 75.530%, as well as the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I class on Sunday with 75.441% - both classes are direct qualifiers for the LeMieux National Championships in September. Laura’s third win came in the ICE Horseboxes Grand Prix Special with upcoming star Soegaards Bon Royal (Bon Bravour x De Noir 3) earning 72.532% from Kirsty Mepham (E), Mark Ruddock (H), Leanne Wall (C), Penelope Lang (M) and Mary Ann Horn (B).  

Gloucestershire’s Lara Butler also collected a direct qualification ticket to the Nationals on board her own and Mrs Hutton’s Amiek C; the Ampere-sired gelding achieved 75.343% to top a competition Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I class on a sunny Saturday at the All England Jumping Course.  

Michael Eilberg’s stellar string continue to develop talent at the higher levels; Dante VX was successful in the Stübben Intermediate II competition, earning 73.382%, whilst former KBIS seven-year-old champion MSJ Encore (pictured below) clinched a Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges win with 71.863%. Speaking on social media Michael commented, “Hickstead was quite the weekend! Gorgeous weather, lovely people and amazing horses.”

Spectators of the KBIS Young Dressage Horse classes were left spellbound by the exciting new partnership of Carl Hester and Quinn G; Fiona Bigwood’s six-year-old mare was crowned champion at last year’s FEI WBSFH World Breeding Championships in Ermelo and now looks a picture with the maestro himself in the saddle. The Quaterhit-sired chestnut earned a huge 9.84 in the KBIS qualifier, including 10s for walk, canter and general impression; before going on to also claim the ICE Horseboxes BD International Young Horse class as well with an equally impresive score of 9.70.  

“Quinn G what can I say,” Carl reflected, “the feeling was just amazing as she achieved 98.4% in the six-year-old class. A genuine and sincere horse with so much talent for the coming years and just like with Fame and Vogue, a privilege to ride this weekend. Thank you Fiona Bigwood for allowing me to ride this lovely mare."

Italy’s Nathalie Wahlund produced Sarah Millis’ eye-catching black stallion Kilimandjardo de Massa to success in the KBIS qualifier for four-year-olds, whilst the British-bred bay St Giles Esquire (Escolar x Millennium) was the highlight in a competitive five-year-old category, scoring 8.46 under Kerry Mackin.  

Congratulations to all riders collecting tickets for the LeMieux National Championships. Thanks go to the team at Hickstead for organising a fantastic Premier League event, as part of the successful All England Dressage Festival.  

Results 

Friday 10 May 

KBIS Young Horse 4YO  
1. Nathalie Wahlund and Kilimandjaro de Massa, 8.42 
2. Jezz Palmer and Premier, 8.14 
3. Beth Bainbridge and Galaxico, 7.94

KBIS Young Horse 5YO  
1. Kerry Mackin and St Giles Esquire, 8.46 
2. Rowan Collins and Donatus HC, 8.28 
3. Rowan Collins and Spartacus HC, 8.26

KBIS Young Horse 6YO  
1. Carl Hester and Quinn G, 9.84 
2. Beth Bainbridge and WHD Elton, 8.84 
Emily Ormerod and San Serai ZK, 8.60

KBIS Young Horse 7YO  
1. Jayden Brown and Willingapark Miana, 75.250% 
2. Juliette Lindsay and Imperial Magic Dream, 69.517% 
3. Thomas Bobis and Micquina TS, 69.117%

Stübben Intermediate II  
1. Michael Eilberg and Dante VX, 73.382% 
2. Michael Eilberg and Figlio, 70.833% 
3. Cornelia O’Mahony and Formidable, 68.578%  

Bret Wilson Advanced Medium 91  
1. Matt Frost and Lemmo, 72.393% 
2. Jezz Palmer and Romanno Weltino, 70.513% 
3. Darren Hicks and Kastello, 70.171%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges  
1. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore, 71.863% 
2. Jonny Clarke-West and Goomong Zinfandel, 70.931% 
3. Anders Dahl and Kokkedals Herzog, 69.216%  

Saturday 11 May

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges 
1. Laura Tomlinson and Full Moon II, 75.530% 
2. Sarah Millis and Le Zorro, 71.029% 
3. Laura Tomlinson and Forest Hill, 69.755%

LeMieux Grand Prix  
1. Carl Hester and En Vogue, 75.304% 
2. Michael Eilberg and Dante VX, 71.239% 
3. Laura Tomlinson and Superiore, 69.717%

ICE Horseboxes BD International Young Horse 5YO  
1. Rowan Collins and Spartacus HC, 9.08 
2. Fiona Bigwood and Newton Sylyanite, 8.28 
3. Beth Bainbridge and Newton Dreamcatcher, 8.06

ICE Horseboxes BD International Young Horse 6YO 
1. Carl Hester and Quinn G, 9.70 
2. Beth Bainbridge and WHD Elton, 8.78 
3. Jody Haswell and Valentino, 8.04

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I  
1. Lara Butler and Amiek C, 75.343% 
2. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore, 73.088% 
3. Dylan Deutrom and King Boy, 71.029%

Sunday 12 May  

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges 
1. Anders Dahl and Kokkedals Herzog, 68.971% 
2. Lara Butler and Amiek C, 68.931%
3. Joseph Bright and Fame III, 68.431%

Bret Wilson Advanced Medium 98  
1. Dannie Morgan and High Hoes Razzle Dazzle, 70.351% 
2. Darren Hicks and Kastello, 68.684% 
3. Jessica Knowles and Durable, 67.105%

ICE Horseboxes Grand Prix Special  
1. Laura Tomlinson and Soegaards Bon Royal, 72.532% 
2. Andrew Gould and Amicella, 68.979% 
3. Laura Tomlinson and Superiore, 68.872%

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I  
1. Laura Tomlinson and Full Moon II, 75.441% 
2. Annabella Pidgley and Kadans, 73.088% 
3. Spencer Wilton and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, 71.765%

ICE Horseboxes Children on Horses Team  
1. Rocky Leahy and Damocles LL, 72.075%

ICE Horseboxes Junior Team  
1. Sophie Wallace and First Light, 69.949% 
2. Lennon Healey and Destination II, 67.222% 
3. Madison Eagle and Royalty II, 65.909%

ICE Horseboxes Young Rider Team  
1. Alice Knight and SJL Dom Perignon, 67.549% 
2. Nynn Puttisombat and Ivaro, 66.912% 
3. Daisy Hills and Midtgaards Gijon, 66.373%

ICE Horseboxes Pony Team  
1. Darcey Blaze Marcus and Ella, 69.191% 
2. Violet Hawkins and DZL Royal Sunrise, 68.905% 
3. Molly Powell and Mr Diego, 58.714%

ICE Horseboxes U25 GP  
1. Alicia Lee and Bonita 466, 67.521% 
2. Jessica Hickey and Eagle Nouvelle, 64.658% 
3. Julian Agnello De Vaz Carreiro, 62.863%

FEI Youth PYO  
1. Rocky Leahy and Damocles II, 72.075% (COH) 
2. Sophie Wallace and First Light, 69.949% (J) 
3. Darcey Blaze Marcus and Ella, 69.191% (P) 

FULL RESULTS