News
NAF Five Star Winter Championships 25: day three
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Sat, 19 Apr 2025 10:37
The mid-point of the NAF Five Star Winter Championships provided a packed day of competition in both the NAF Five Star and Petplan arenas, with seven championship titles rewarded to combinations who delivered outstanding performances.
Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
Winner: Sadie Smith and Times Oddjob, 72.425%
Sadie Smith completed a ‘career-best’ show in the first class on day three, earning her fourth title of the week in the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold. It was Peter Belshaw’s Times Oddjob to get the job done, achieving 72.425% in the 22-strong class assessed by Islay Auty (H), Andrew Fletcher (C) and David Hamer (B).
“I’ve never had a show like this, I’ve never won every class I’ve entered before,” Sadie reflected on an outstanding three days of competition, “I think as well for me is that the best thing is I’ve come out happy after every test, that’s not really my thing! I always think I can do better but my horses have tried their best and given the best they can for the level they’re at, in every test they’ve done.”
“OJ was amazing today,” she continued, giving plenty of praise to Peter Belshaw’s chestnut champion, “he’s such a cool little horse. I thought he’d be a bit tired today, he’s been here all week, but he wasn’t he was bouncing along. He’s such a happy horse.”
This is the first Championship in a few where Sadie has been without her top partner Swanmore Dantina, ‘Dia’, but with talent waiting in the wings and delivering on the day: “I’m so lucky, and it’s nice because I’ve always felt that the others have also won something now. I’ve got a really exciting string of horses and I’ll do the best I can to produce them up the levels. We’ll work towards qualifying for the Nationals now and I’ve got some nice young horses I might aim for the KBIS classes.”
“Amazing,” is how Sadie summarised her experience at the 2025 NAF Five Star Winter Championships, but we think she’s been extraordinary.
Fellow in-form rider Dannie Morgan was runner-up this time around with Jockey Club Felaini S, on a score of 71.566%, whilst Jess Dunn and WHS Funtime Frankie delivered a secure performance for third. 
Horselight Medium Silver
Winner: Charlotte Monk and First Class V, 71.528%
First time title winner Charlotte Monk and her own First Class V stormed into the lead with only a few combinations left to go the HorseLight Medium Silver, achieving a score of 71.528% and impressing the judges panel of Mary Robins (C), Tom Graham (E) and Andrew Bennie (M).
Describing the feeling after her the lap of honour in front of the crowd in the NAF Five Star Arena, Charlotte said, “it feels pretty surreal really, we weren’t expecting it at all but I think it will sink in on the way home.”
“I would say her canter work was her highlight today,” she continued, speaking about her winning test, “I always find it her best pace but she was so consistent she is good in all three places and always delivers for me when she comes into the arena, it is like her little studio. During her test she always gives her heart and soul.”
The pair’s four year journey has taken them from backing to winning, “She’s a seven-year-old and I’ve had her since she was a first backed three-year-old, she is my little star really she is queen of the yard and knows it. I’m blessed with her, she tries her heart out everyday.”
The combination trains with Serena Pincus and gave her plenty of credit for today’s success adding, “I wouldn’t be where I am without her” Charlotte shared.
Charlotte, who hails from Shropshire, works park time as a dentist and away from work spends her time with the horses, especially her charming mare: “She is a proper girly girl and mare, she likes what she likes and who she likes. Over four years with her with have just formed a really special bond and the yard wouldn’t be the same without her.”
Virginia Turnbull took home the second place spoils after a 70.231% test on board Fabelwelt; Grace Durkan and
Petplan Novice Bronze
Winner: Caroline Saunders and TGI Ab Initio, 70.556%
In a hotly contested class, Caroline Saunders and her long-time partner TGI Ab Initio topped the leaderboard in the Petplan Novice Bronze Championship, sealing the win with 70.556%. For the 15-year-old gelding, known as Lenny at home, the result marked a milestone on their journey from unaffiliated outings to national-level success.
“I felt he went as well as he could have done and I came out happy with what we’d done,” said Caroline. Admitting that the win hadn’t quite sunk in yet, she added, “I think I’ll go home and probably let it all sink in.”
Lenny has been part of Caroline’s life for over 10 years after she bought him as a four-year-old from Ireland. However, the pair only started their BD journey a couple of years ago in 2023. “We started off mainly just going for a fun time, unaffiliated events.” the Warwickshire-based rider explained, “Then every time we came back, he seemed to win a rosette and was happy with himself, and we just progressed from there really, so I pushed him to do some BD.”
Their win builds on a seventh-place finish in the same class in 2024 and also a top-10 placing in the Elementary Bronze the day before, having only stepped up to the level six months ago.
Away from the arena, Caroline works as a teaching assistant and juggles riding around her two children. “We kind of just do it for fun when we can fit it in around life,” she smiled. “He fits in between ponies, Pony Club and work,” Although her children weren’t there on the day, her mum – her “biggest supporter” – was ringside to share in the celebrations.
Next up for the pair is an event at the Cotswold Cup in ten days’ time. “He does love his jumping,” she said. Whilst there are no major dressage goals for now, she hinted that a return to BD over the winter might be on the cards.
Taking second was Lissy Fell with Parker IV on 70.500%, just a fraction behind the top spot, whilst Ashlene Bagshaw and Dream-Maker scored 70.167% to complete a competitive top three.
Superflex Intermediate I Gold
Winner: Alexander Harrison and Mount St John Diamonds Are Forever, 71.079%
Somerset based, Alexander Harrison and Mount St John Diamonds Are Forever, owned by Emma Blundell, took the win in the Superflex Intermediate I Gold Winter Championship with a top score of 71.079%.
Having only been to the Winter Championships once before, Alexander told us, “it’s a little bit surreal at the moment, I haven’t done the Winters very often, maybe once. I hate riding in the wind and rain, so I avoid it like the plague! The horse was too good not give it a go, so I’m super chuffed that it paid off and all the hard work over the winter has cumulated in a win.”
Alexander described Diamond as “one of those horses that goes in the ring and doesn’t look at a thing, she doesn’t spook at anything, a bomb could go off and she’d just keep going and listening. She gives a great feeling when you’re in the ring!”
After recent success at Inter I at a local show before winning the Regional, this was only Diamond’s 3rd Inter I, “you don’t really know what you’re going to get when the horse is green at the level, but she just keeps going so you don’t have to push very hard.”
Diamond arrived with Alexander when Amy Woodhead was pregnant, “Amy won the 4-year-old on her, Emma has been great, because she just trusted me to train her which has paid off, credit to her for trusting me.”
Aspiring for a bright future, Alexander tells us, “she shows real talent in the Piaffe and Passage work, all her collected work is really good. With her attitude in the ring and her talent for her collected work, I don’t see any reason why she couldn’t be a top Grand Prix horse.”
“Especially everything that’s around the sport at the minute, it can get a bit depressing, and I’ve spoken to so many people at the show who question whether they want to continue going to shows as they feel there’s a spotlight on them the whole time, so when you’re constantly doubting yourself, it’s nice to have a success to show that the work you’re doing is paying off.”
Highlighting the importance of being kind to one another, whether it being at home, on the yard or at competition, “I think sport should make you a better person, if you can’t find a way to embrace other people’s success or take them along with you in your success then I don’t think there’s much point in doing it.”
“If people are happy, they’re kinder to their horses, so it’s a real full circle but I do think it starts with the people and feeling successful in yourself and wanting others to do well and that translates to your horsemanship as well, so I think that’s the most important thing.” Alexander concludes.
Matt Frost and Kerouac placed second place with 69.853%, closely followed by a joint placing taking third place, India Durman-Mills and Escade and Lucinda Elliott and Ice LH.
Petplan Advanced Medium Silver
Winner: Carrie Passmore and Star Gazer, 69.430%
There was a sense of déjà vu for Carrie Passmore in the Petplan Advanced Medium Silver Championship, as she and her home-bred gelding Star Gazer (Littledale Bright Star x Cassander) repeated their 2024 Medium Silver victory, this time stepping up a level to Advanced medium claiming the top spot with 69.430% after qualifying with a wildcard.
“It's absolutely amazing to have won last year and then to come back and win again. it's unbelievable: I didn't think I could do it again, having done it once. I’m absolutely delighted with him,” said Carrie.
The little gelding is very much a family project. “We bred him, so we’ve had him his whole life,” explained the Berkshire-based rider. “We backed him and we’ve done everything with him.” Though he began his career in eventing, Star Gazer switched his focus to dressage in 2022 and has been on a sharp upward curve ever since. “He’s done Novice, Elementary, he won here last year at Medium Silver, and now he’s at Advanced Medium – he’s just getting better and better.”
Carrie’s success is supported by her husband, who plays a vital role behind the scenes. “We do yard and the stuff together and he trains me a lot of the time so it's sort of a family affair... he comes everywhere with me,” she shared, acknowledging the team effort involved in developing their talented home-bred.
At home, Star Gazer’s character shines through. “He’s cheeky. He’s always the one who bangs the door in the yard, it’s always about him – ‘me, me, me’ as soon as somebody appears, but he loves the work, and the more you test his brain, the happier he is. He’s like a Duracell battery, he never tires”
Looking ahead, there could be a change in career for Star Gazer once again, with Carrie explaining: “We’ve got a couple of pony riders who are going to come and try him, so hopefully we can get him to go down the FEI Pony route – I think he’d be stonking at that level.”
In close second, Bedfordshire’s Tasha Wakely and Caroline Phillips’ Onis De La Espada, took the runner-up spot scoring 69.167%, whilst Freya Metters and Raine Harthern Hoghton Maverick completed the podium on 67.851%.
Petplan Novice Silver
Winner: Holly Powell & Millennium Star, 71,167%
Holly Powell and her own Millennium Star were showered in applause during our final Petplan Winter Area Festival Championship prize giving of the day. The fantastic duo won the Novice Silver class with a brilliant score of 71.167%.
First to go in the class Holly and Lennie set the bar high and held on to the lead throughout the day at their first Championship event, “I couldn’t have asked for a better result or a better day” Holly shared. Coming into the championships with no expectations Holly told us, “I just said to my mom as long as I don’t fall off and I remember my test I would be happy, so we have exceed all expectations today and I am chuffed.”
Knowing she was the first in the class Holly shared that she was “super duper nervous” but looking back on how her test went she explained, “it is the biggest atmosphere Lennie has ever been in, but he loved it and grew in himself, he knew it was his time to shine.”
Holly described Lennie as being “like a big dog at home, you wouldn’t know it here because he has been a bit excitable.” The pair have only been a partnership for 12 months and Lennie competed at his first competition only 12 months ago too, “we are both pretty green as a partnership, he is just super, loves him job and tries so hard he makes it feel easy.”
Primarily being an event rider Holly had not previously taken part in BD competitions before owning Lennie, “I had no idea what I had to do but I run a livery yard, and everyone told me what I needed to qualify,” From qualifying for the Winter Area Festivals to finishing second at Prestige Equestrian, Holly and Lennie with only 12 months of competition together already have a championship title to their names, “I ended up with such a nice horse it would have been a waste not to do dressage with him, but I find the dressage a lot more stressful than eventing, my event horse hates dressage to it was always more ‘stressage’ to me until I got Lennie who is so talented.”
Travelling three hours from Worcestershire, Holly spoke to us about her preparation leading up to the event “I train with Karen Nicholas, all credit to her she has helped me out no end into getting me her, she is a super coach and I couldn’t do it without her.” Holly already has her qualification scores for the Summer Area Festivals and herself and Lennie are now stepping up to Elementary, “we are going to keeping climbing the levels and have fun.”
With less than 1% separting the top three competitiors, Emily Baldwin and MBD Luna Blu finished in second place with a score of 70.994% and in thrid place was Emma Beswick riding Linkswood Fantasia scoring 70.445%,
Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver
Winner: Lauren Burrows and Beaux Lyon, 76.111%
Concluding day three at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships, Lauren Burrows and Beaux Lyon rose to the top in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver, scoring 76.111%, in front of judges Susie Cumine (H), Helen Clark (C) and Janet Surr (B).
An overjoyed Lauren told us, “I was super pleased with him, he’s never been to anything like this before. This was his first championship, so I wasn’t quite sure how he was going to be but he was such a cool customer, it’s like he’s been doing it his whole life and he just rose to the occasion, he just absolutely loved it in there.”
Known as 'Bentley' at home, he’s described as “a bit of a labrador at home, he’s so easy to handle and easy in every sense, you wouldn’t know he’s on the yard and he’s just the sweetest horse with a lovely temperament and really fun to ride.”
Success breeds success and Lauren, who trains with Dannie Morgan, added, “he’s been a massive help in my journey. He’s quite an easy horse, he doesn’t tend to be spooky so he doesn’t need to go to a lot of competitions, but we just work on the training at home, the suppleness, getting the nice frame, I think that’s what they want to see at Novice and it definitely pulled off today!”
Speaking on the support she has received during the championship, “here supporting me today, I have Dannie, my parents, Bentleys lovely owner, Liz Frampton-Hobbs, my friends Holly and Megan who are helping me groom for this show so it’s been a real team effort.”
Looking ahead to the future, “hopefully this year we will qualify Elementary and go to the Summer Nationals and we’ll just keep training and see how far we can get with him.” Lauren concludes.
2025 title winner Alexis Knight placed second in this class, with Mila earning 72.963% for another beautiful round, whilst Maria Pook earned the third place on the podium with her own Flashlight scoring 71.760%.
