NAF Five Star Winter Championships 25: day four

Day four featured no fewer than three polished Prelim winners, a Small Tour superstar and six more title triumphs adding their name to the NAF Five Star Winter Championships history books. 

HorseHage Preliminary Silver  

Winner: Kate Whitehead and Florisemo, 72.867%  

Kate Whitehead went from wildcard to Winter Champion in the HorseHage Prelim Silver, maximising on a late qualification spot to ride to a sublime 72.867% with her own Florisemo.  

“I don’t think it’s really sunk in! I didn’t come here to expect anything, just to be here was a fantastic opportunity,” Kate said about her expectations for her championship trip, “we came on the last wildcard that was given out, I don’t think it’ll sink in for quite some time.” 

“I was on holiday last week! It wasn’t the greatest timing! My trainer Katie Owens came and rode him for me several times to help get him in form for the Championships, so I got back from holiday and off we went!” 

Kate found her winning partner Florisemo (Floris Prince x Laurie’s Crusador) as a two-year-old, and bought him from Denise Mitchell at Gamblethorpe Hanoverians. “He’s the first young horse I’ve had, and with Katie’s help I backed him,” she explained, giving plenty of credit to her trainer, who’s been a huge help and inspiration. “Before that I spent years hand walking him, taking him out and about and I think it’s helped with how brave he is now... he didn’t look it in the prize giving! But during the test I feel really safe on him, he’s so brave and motivated to work. He loves his job and is so willing to please.” 

“It’s a journey,” Kate reflected on how rewarding the process is taking a horse from unbacked to a championship win, “even after three years we’re developing our trust and knowledge of each other, it’s like being in a marriage developing that relationship!” 

Showing that with hard work, we can make anything happen, Doncaster-based Kate shares her busy life with her husband and a ‘menagerie of horses, dogs, cats and koi carp’ and works in forensics, “I absolutely love my job and enjoy triathlons as well!” 

In a competitive class where eight combinations went above the 70% mark, second place belonged to Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Silver Freestyle Champion Lauren Burrows with Elizabeth Frampton Hobbs’ Beaux Lyon scoring 72.533%; Bradley Moore-Taylor and his own eye-catching grey Urkalinde earned third place with 71.467%.  

Petplan Elementary Bronze Under 21 Area Festival Championship

Winner: Lydia Holmes and Caramelle, 68.490% 

16-year-old Lydia Holmes took the U21 Petplan Elementary Bronze title, as she and her dun mare Caramelle (Caramel WE x Farriers Rambler) posted a winning score of 68.490%. The class was closely contested, with less than 1% between the top three. Moya Payne and Iambic M took second on 67.865%, and Gabriella Kozersky completed the top three in third riding Hollywood Semilly on 67.448%. 

“She was incredible, it was a really nice consistent test,” said the young Derbyshire-based rider. “The canter work was actually the highlight, which is really good because it’s something we’ve been working really hard on.” 

The win marks a second Winter title for the pair, who also claimed the U21 Novice Bronze crown last year. “To come and win again here this year in the Elementary has been absolutely incredible,” said Lydia. “She gave me a super easy ride today – I basically just had to sit there and let her do her thing.” 

Preparation for the Championships was deliberately low-key. “Caramelle’s dead easy, she knows her job. I like to do a lot of hacking with her and we’ve had the odd lesson, but I like to keep things chilled,” Lydia explained. 

At home, the 12-year-old 13.3hh mare is as sweet as her name suggests. “She’s definitely the yard favourite,” Lydia smiled. “She’s so easy to do and she’ll do anything for a drink or a cuddle – she’s absolutely incredible.” 

With GCSEs on the horizon, Lydia is preparing for a quieter few months and possibly a new chapter. “I’ve got GCSEs coming up and I’m after ponies now, so Caramelle might be going up for sale, she might not as we love her that much it’ll be hard to let her go, but we’ll just take it from there.” 

Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold Championships  

Winner: Bryony Goodwin and Krack DE, 72.546%  

The Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold Championship is always one of the highlights of ‘Winters Week’, and today’s class lived up to expectations, providing a high-class showdown of some shining stars of the future. Bryony Goodwin produced a beautiful test on board Antonia Brown’s Krack DE, scoring 72.546% in front of Paul Hayler (H), Pam Bushell (C) and Islay Auty (B). 

This title marks Bryony’s first at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, speaking after her prize giving she spoke about her winning performance, “today he was super, he came in and was confident and he let me ride him. I think he really enjoyed the test as much as I did!  

“I was pleased with the fact he was confident enough to let me ride him today,” Byrony continued reflecting on ‘Kracka’s’ progress throughout the show, “we were here for the PSG earlier in the week, he was overwhelmed by the atmosphere – we took him home, put him in the field for the day, loaded up this morning to come back and he came back confident. I’m really proud of him for coming back into an arena that he struggled with and found confidence.” 

“At home he’s an absolutely gentleman, he’s so polite and he loves a fuss and scratch. He’s just a really lovely horse.” 

The Gloucestershire-based rider was supported by Kracka’s owners today and thanked the whole team for their support, “We’ve been together just over a year now, he’s Antonia Brown and Katherine Witt’s - they’ve owned him since he was a baby and it’s lovely to be part of the journey.” 

Bryony, who trains with Serena and David Pincus, plans on attending the BD Premier Leagues over the summer, concluding, “there’s no pressure, we’ll go out and have fun and see where it goes.” 

Prestige Novice Silver 

Winner: Ellen Glover and Morricone’s Love MFS, 70.968%  

In the Prestige Novice Silver, it was a special day for Ellen Glover and her beautiful gelding Morricone’s Love MFS as they collected the title with a score of 70.928%.  

First time winner Ellen Glover made a change of tactic pay off for her Prestige performance, “I’ve had a really really good day, I’ve come with a slightly different tactic! I was competing on Wednesday, it didn’t quite go to plan so I changed a few bits and it made the difference. My horse Will, who’s bred by MFS Stud, was super confident in his test today which makes me happy. He’s taken it all in his stride and it’s his first championship here.” 

Ellen’s owned her winning ride since a foal, having bought him the British-bred Morricone-sired star from MFS Stud in Scotland: “I bought him off a video, we clicked from day one when we stepped off the lorry; I backed him and have trained him up until now. It’s like he’s waited until now though, we’ve qualified twice before but something always goes wrong ten days before the championship so we’ve never actually made it before! To get here and get this result is mega!” 

“He’s the kindest horse,” Gloucestershire-based Ellen continued, speaking about her perfect partner, “you can put him in any environment and I can trust him. He’s safe enough for your granny to take for a hack yet you can bring him to a show like this and he pulls it out of the bag. He’s part of the family.” 

Ellen’s mum was by the sidelines supporting today, alongside Alice Peternell who warmed the duo and trains them on a regular basis; Ellen credited Alice as being a huge part of her success, saying “she’s been a massive part of our journey.” 

Georgie Wheeler with her own Newton Frank Zappa claimed the runner-up position with 70.377%, ahead of Antonia Brown and Sara Lucas’ SJL Bueno in third, who was beautifully presented by Imogen Swann for 70.323%.  

Petplan Elementary Silver Under 21 Area Festival Championship  

Winner: Lauren Bone and Sezsational, 67.656% 

19 year old Lauren Bone and Sezsational claimed the title in the Petplan Elementary Under 21 Area Festival Championship,  “I'm so elated, it's my first ever win at a championship like this and I'm just so happy.” A delighted Lauren tells us.  

Despite Sezsational only being a young horse, he rose to the occasion and made Lauren proud, she told us “as he first went into the ring he went very big because he's only a baby horse so he's not really used to this sort of environment, this is his first ever time here.”  

“He then came back together, calmed down a bit, did some lovely trot work, came to be had a couple of tiny mistakes but he really kept together.” 

Speaking of the highlights of the test, “he did some lovely medium trots which we've been really sort of working on because obviously the baby horse sometimes they come, sometimes they don't, so I was really pleased that they all came together in the test.” 

Lauren trains with Charlotte Lutener and how she balances studying for her dental exams with training, she tells us “most of the training credit recently has gone to my sister because I've been at uni studying for my dental exams, so I'm a year two dental student, so honestly my sister's been doing a lot of the training so really the credit goes to her for him going so well today.” 

The duo came to the championships with a relaxed approach with the aim of seeing how it goes which certainly paid off, “it’s just an experience thing, so we just went in very much riding forward and just seeing what it thinks of it and it just all came together, he was fabulous.”  

After only being a partnership for a year and a half, the pair have come a long way since the beginning, “he was honestly quite a tricky horse at the start, he’s very hot and when we got him, he was literally barely broken. The first time I sat on him when we tried him he just galloped round in circles with me for a bit and I was like, this is the one!”  

 “He's a very hot horse, he's very sensitive and but obviously then that really pays off now that he's very much starting to mature a bit so he went really well.”  

Leah Roberts and Micro Man finished in second with 66.875% with Beau Brotherton and Belharra only just behind with 66.823%.  

NAF Superflex Intermediate I Freestyle Gold 

Winner: Davy Harvey and Diamond Blue, 74.583% 

In a closely contested NAF Superflex Intermediate I Freestyle Gold, Oxfordshire’s Davy Harvey clinched the win aboard Judy Peploe’s Diamond Blue with a crowd-pleasing programme. 

The duo’s fun-filled freestyle came to life with help from Tom Hunt and included tracks from Cardi B, Coldplay, SZA and Kendrick Lamar. “We did try and be grown-ups,” Davy laughed, explaining the musical evolution. “We tried a lot of grown-up stuff and we weren’t sold. Then I sent this mad playlist to Tom with a load of music that I liked that is really not grown-up and we came up with this and it just seemed to really work.” 

Known as Denzel at home, the 12-year-old Don Frederic-sired gelding has developed into a horse that continues to surprise his rider. “We never really thought he would turn into what he’s turned into,” Davy reflected. “Strength is so important, everyone bangs on about it and it gets a bit boring, but actually with him it has been the making of him. He was a weak horse, and the stronger he’s got, the better he’s got.” 

Having previously won multiple National titles, Davy is no stranger to the pressure of a big stage. However, experience has taught him the value of riding with understanding and awareness. “You just have to ride what you’ve got. I went in on the first day and he was terrified. You can’t put more pressure on him and expect him to get better. Yesterday he was a bit more confident so I said, alright I’ve got you, I’ll help you - and he goes, okay I can. Today I went in with the mentality of just give him a nice ride, see where he’s at and right from the get-go he said, oh I think I can do this.” 

Behind the scenes, Davy credits a strong team for his success. “I feel really lucky, I’ve got such a great support network and we all work so well together. It is that cliché of teamwork, but it really is… We all bounce ideas off each other and I think it’s crucial.” 

Runner-up honours went to Matt Frost and the expressive Kerouac with another excellent score of 74.542%, whilst third place was claimed by Sara-Jane Lanning and Nicola Seale’s Hawtins Lirica, who impressed with 72.292%. 

Petplan Prelim Bronze Area Festival Championship  

Winner: Hayley Bolt and Hilleon, 71.667% 

Hayley Bolt and KWPN mare Hilleon rode to an impressive win in a huge class of almost 50 competitors in the Petplan Preliminary Bronze Championship with a superb score of 71.667%.  

Hayley has been waiting hours for the final result to come in, riding down the centre line at 11am she explained, “I think when I went down the centre line and took a breath we managed to enjoy it and take everything in our stride.” Looking back on her test she told us, “I just enjoyed it all.” 

Not only did they win a very highly contested class, the combination arrived at the championships on a wildcard, after finishing 5th at Solihull Winter Area Festival, “I am absolutely over the moon, really pleased.” 

The 13-year-old bay is known as being “very cuddly and loving, she is so easy on the ground and always wants to please” Hayley describes. With a nickname of ‘Girly’ at home Hilleon is owned by Kate Leverton. Enjoying their moment in the spotlight  Haley told us how Hilleon has taken the championship atmosphere, “we did the arena walk this morning which helped because she is not the easiest, she has a busy head and a lot going on. She was good though.” 

At home Haley gets lots of support from Patsy Bartram she told us, “I have had a few lessons from Rui Campeao, but I have been with Patsy for such a long time she is my main support.” 

Competing in the Area Festivals has been an incredible journey so far for the two of them Hayley shared how it feels to compete in the series, “it means everything to me, I have always called myself a home rider and always been in the background. To get out to the Area Festivals that was an eye opener, it was such a big show for me. So to get a wildcard and come here I was just over the moon.” 

Hayley had her daughter Summer and Patsy with her today in support and to share the special moment. Looking ahead to the future Hayley explained, “I would love to try and keep climbing the levels, and see where we go.”  

Kerri McNicol and Jockeyhall Maximum Cruise were the runners up with a score of 70.397% from our three judges in Arena One, Caroline Tupling (C), Sandra Edwards (E) and Lise Roberts (M). On the final step of the podium was Sue Parkes riding Spink Buster 69.207%. 

Petplan Prelim Bronze Under 21 Area Festival Championship 

Winner: Danielle Ward and North Star, 70.952% 

Local young rider Danielle Ward excelled in the Petplan Prelim Bronze U21 Area Festival Championship, riding every inch of her test on board North Star to earn 70.952% from Caroline Paterson (E), Alison Duck (C) and Rachel Patrick (M).  

Speaking about her winning ride in the Petplan arena Danielle gave a great review: “I was very happy, he was nice and round, supple and not tense, sometimes he can get a bit like that but he was amazing today. I was happy with all of my shapes, all of my stretches were lovely! I felt like I knew it was quite a good one, I was ecstatic with him – I let go of my reins and gave him a massive pat!” 

‘Bug’ as he’s known at home, who has a mix of Arab, Welsh and Thoroughbred bloodlines, shows that age is just a number winning today’s title at the age of 22. “He definitely doesn’t act like it,” Danielle laughed, going on to praise her lovely pony, “he’s an absolute pocket rocket! He’s amazing, he did eventing when he was younger and I’ve been trying to take him through the levels in dressage.” 

The duo have experienced a championship atmosphere prior to Addington, having placed second with their team ‘Jennings Juniors’ at last year’s LeMieux Quest Championships, before progressing onto the Area Festivals. “I loved doing Quest with my friends but I actually think he’s better behaved on his own! He likes to shout for his friends, but here he’s been lovely and calm.” 

“It was a massive relief, I’ve been working so hard for this,” said Danielle about the moment where she heard her score and claimed the lead; hard work for the fifteen-year-old rider is both in and out of the arena as she’s put her mind to balancing GCSEs with training, “it’s been tough but I’ve got an amazing family who support me in everything I do.” 

Next up, the duo aim to tick off more qualifications for Novice and Elementary this summer, with the ultimate goal of riding some Pony FEI tests.  

Second place in a class full of young talent belonged to Steph Garrison with Clearview Murty, whilst Emilie Lumbard and Balzak took the third spot.  

Petplan Prelim Silver U21 Area Festival Championship 

Winner: Laura Fowler and Veronica Bunnie, 70.714%  

Oxfordshire-rider Laura Fowler became an Area Festival Champion on Winters Saturday, collecting the Petplan Prelim Silver U21 title with her own Veronica Bunnie.  

“It’s amazing, I can’t believe it! It’s a bit of a surprise but it’s really lovely,” Laura said about her win, which followed a fantastic 70.714%. The duo are still relatively new to each other and dressage as a partnership of six months, speaking about her qualification journey she continued, “we did three tests to get our scores, we went with no expectations but she’s been brilliant always. She’s not done a stay away show before and this is her first Championship. She came here back in January and won the Area Festival, that was mind blowing because we weren’t expecting it, so to come and do this is amazing – we weren’t expecting it at all.” 

“She’s very proud that she got to do another prize giving, she absolutely loves them!” 

“I think she loves to get into the arena and dance,” Laura said about the character of her expressive pony, “we don’t have her breeding but she’s definitely Welsh and she let’s you know it! She’s actually better away from home than she is at home, she gets a bit bored, so she loves to be out and performing for everyone – that's her favourite thing for sure.” 

“Laura’s beautiful bay has an appropriate Easter themed name, ‘Bunnie’, “she’s cute, I think it’s a really fitting name because I always say she bounces like a bunny a lot!” The ten-year-old mare loves pears and jumping too, and Laura hopes to do have a go at eventing with her alongside dressage. 

Laura herself is an equestrian photographer and videographer who was actually working at the Championships on Thursday, “it’s been a bit of a busy month, I’m not sure how I’ve kept them going. It was nice to see so many tests, I used to feel like everything was hanging on that one moment and everyone cared – but actually you can go and enjoy it.”  

Heidi Wickington and Charlotte Wickington’s Lankill Rebell were worthy runners-up with 70.097%, whilst Neve Moran completed a top three who all scored over the 70% barrier on board Alex Farleigh’s Clareville Golden Knight.  

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver 

Winner: Amy Hose & Enrique, 71.278%  

It is title number two of 2025 for Amy Hose and Enrique, this incredible partnership has won four Winter Championships titles in two years following their win today in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver. Amy and Eric as he is known at home, scored an impressive 71.278% from our three judges in the NAF Five Star indoor arena.  

Describing how the moment felt following our final prize giving of day four Amy told us, “it’s just incredible, I did two tests last year and won them both and two test this year and won both, he is my own horse and I have done everything with him so it has just been amazing.” 

Amy and Eric have an incredible partnership which is demonstrated in their success and in how Amy described the nine-year-old bay gelding, “I absolutely love him, he is just starting to find his testing stage a little bit at the moment but I love the bones off of him. He just has the cheekiest face and when he gives me everything I have never ridden a horse like it.” 

The talented duo train with Jezz Palmer, who helped Amy find Eric she told us, “I am grateful to Jezz, and he has been there every step of the way and I am glad we have done him justice.” 

Amy had a change of plan with her music, and used freestyle program that Jezz had previously used she explained, “Jezz thought it would suit him really well so we changed it just before regionals.” Amy described the music as “slightly different to what I would usually use, we like light and bubbly, last year I used Elvis music but this one was quite twinkly in the trot and dramatic in the canter, Eric suited it really well.”  

Reflecting on her favourite moments of their test Amy shared, “his changes are really good and I can get them really expressive and through he is really reliable with them. The trot work is coming I am finding more lift in it so once I can get that that will be really good, but his canter work is always a highlight to me I love it.” 

Next week Amy and Eric are competing in their first Prix St Georges class together before Eric has a little holiday, “I am so excited for it, I have never done it and he has never done it so it is going to be a big day but I am buzzing I love him to pieces.” 

In second place we had Ellie Roberts riding Lyon HK with a score of 70.722% and finishing in third place was Lindsay Wilcox-Reid and Sanbonani who scored 69.334%.  

FULL RESULTS