News
The results are in for the LeMieux Quest Winter League
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Mon, 13 Jan 2025 15:35
The winners of the LeMieux Quest Winter League were crowned after thousands of centre lines were ridden across the country in pursuit of a place on the national leaderboards.
Launched in 2023, the LeMieux Quest Winter League runs annually for four months, from September to December, providing riders with the opportunity to compete at local Quest venues while accumulating points for the national rankings. It’s a great opportunity to continue building on progress made during the Quest Championship season or give it a go for the very first time. The 2024 league once again proved incredibly popular as over 600 Individuals and over 80 teams, each with up to seven members, competed for a spot on the Quest leaderboard, resulting in over 2000 entries nationwide across the four months.
Open Team
Herefordshire's Valley View Only Fools On Horses (pictured above) emerged victorious in the highly competitive Open Team Quest League, clinching the top spot with 50 points and an impressive average score of 1030.87. The team included Sarah Childs and Donallt Starlight, Faye Middle and Morgan Harris, Karen Rees and Suleika Star, Natalie Park and Lee Boy, Kate Davies and Bryncrugog Ianto, Claire Turner and Roise, and Ellie Tomlinson and Rancar Hercule.
Team captain Sarah Childs expressed her own and the team’s excitement: “We’re all absolutely thrilled to have done so well! A lot of effort was put into getting to as many competitions as possible while keeping it fun, and it’s paid off.”
The group came together through Valley View Livery Yard and shares a passion for dressage without the pressure. “We’re all about having fun, no stress, and enjoying time with friends,” said Sarah, “We’re looking forward to 2025 and can’t wait to get back out there.”
As well as praising her team, Sarah also expressed thanks for the fantastic support the team had around them from their coaches, John Biggs, Nick Lawson, Denise ORielley and Sarah Warner, as well as Madison Park, who kept up team morale and helped them succeed by being a top groom, calling out countless tests and making the all-important cups of tea!
U21 Team
The Surrey-based Wey Valley Junior Team topped the U21 Team Quest League Leaderboard with 50 points and a total average score of 980.60. The team featured Amber Edwards (11) and Lilly's Billionaire, Charlotte Haynes (10) and Aggie A La Folie, Connie Lunn (9) and Dazzling Queen Arna, Ellie Carter (15) and Scooby, as well as Keira Baker (15) and Jessie J.
“The team is absolutely over the moon to have come out on top of the Quest League Leaderboard - it means the world to them,” said team captain Bonnie Edwards. “It’s such a rewarding moment to see their hard work, dedication, and teamwork pay off in such a big way. It’s been a fantastic journey, and they’ve loved every minute, especially the chance to ride and grow together as a team. The added bonus of coming first was the icing on the cake!”
Open Intro
Lindsey White and Remus IV (Roland x Lucy) topped the Open Intro Quest League leaderboard with 25 points and an impressive average score of 69.01%. Describing how she felt as she realised they had won, Lindsey said, “I’m absolutely buzzing. I was so chuffed, it’s my first year ever doing anything like this.”
Before 2023, Lindsey described herself as a "happy hacker" with no competition experience. Encouraged by her instructor, she decided to try Quest and since then she has not looked back: “We’ve loved doing Quest and Remus is enjoying getting out and about, socialising and of course his post-test polos!”
Sharing why Quest has been the perfect introduction to dressage for her, Lindsay said, “Quest events are brilliant for building confidence. They’re just so different: you feel like you can do it because it’s low-pressure and you feel so welcomed.”
Looking ahead, Lindsey is keen to continue their dressage journey, “I've got the bug for dressage now! We’re aiming to move up to Prelim and Novice this year. I’m even tackling my first long arena test soon!”
Open Prelim
Madeline Ruff’s journey with her eight-year-old Irish Draught x Thoroughbred The Ginger Wizard has culminated in topping the Prelim Quest League Leaderboard with 29 points and a magnificent total average score of 70.42%. The pair also ranked third on the Novice leaderboard earning 26 points and a total average score of 69.43%.
For Madeline, a retired NHS Senior Manager and Chief Executive, this achievement represents years of perseverance throughout her journey with her beloved horse. “It doesn't feel real,” she said, “I’m so proud of him and it just shows how far we've come.”
“When I got him, it was quite daunting. He’d only just been backed and had done very little. He was quirky, green, and struggled with basic schooling,” Madeline recalled. “I spent the first year just working on the basics and building trust. He wasn’t straightforward - he even deposited me on the floor a few times - but we were determined.”
That determination paid off and Madeline found Quest helped them grow together: “It really gives you and your horse confidence, and watching him settle into his job has been so rewarding. He’s gone from being nervous in warm-ups to loving the atmosphere of competition... he’s just a lot more confident in his own skin.”
Open Novice
Georgie Courage, a 25-year-old rider from Shropshire, claimed the Open Novice Quest League title with her 10-year-old Welsh Section D gelding Hillgarth High Kingdom (Hwylog Ivanhoe x Caerberllan Rywysog Coch) on an impressive 30 points and a total average score of 70.45%. Georgie, who previously evented, only began competing in Quest in November 2024 and so has done astonishingly well to not only come out on top in the Novice, but also claim the runner-up position in the Prelim on 29 points and average total score of 70.30%.
U21 Intro
Abigail Fox from Warwickshire and her 16-year-old mare Alkadi (Oasis Dream x Diktat) topped the U21 Intro Quest League Leaderboard with 24 points and a total average score of 68.82%.
Abi described how she was “very excited” after finding out they had won and explained how she felt her hard work over the years was paying off: “Kadi was a racehorse before spending nine years as a broodmare. When we got her, she’d essentially come straight from the field. The retraining process was difficult, but it’s been worth every moment.”
Abi credits the Quest series for giving her a fun but structured way to develop Kadi’s flatwork, “I started Quest because we were doing more flatwork and my trainer encouraged me to give it a go. The best part is the people and doing it alongside your friends.”
U21 Prelim
Celia Child-Villiers (17) from Kent and her eight-year-old gelding Secret Cecil (FR) (Holy Roman Emperor x Ishinguru) secured the top spot on the U21 Prelim Quest League Leaderboard with 24 points and an excellent average score of 69.09%. In an incredibly close competition, the pair also placed second on the U21 Intro Leaderboard on 24 points and a total average score of 68.46%.
U21 Novice
12-year-old Lilly Davies and her talented Pony Holyoake Galaxy (Holyoake Fire Sprite x Twycross Cavalier) claimed the top spot in the Novice U21 Quest League with 17 points and an average score of 69.87%. This victory adds to Lilly’s growing list of Quest successes after being a BD member for just two years. Lilly’s Winter League win follows her previous victories at the 2024 LeMieux Quest Championships, where she became Intro and Prelim U21 champion, and her team also took the Open Team title.
Congratulations to all the competitors who topped the leaderboards and to everyone who took part in the Quest Winter League. Thanks go to our title sponsor, LeMieux, and to the amazing venues for running these fun and friendly events throughout the winter season, giving Quest riders a year-round pathway to enjoy.
Rosettes will be sent out to individuals shortly and to the team captains for each of their team members.
Results
(top three)
Open Team
1. Valley View Only Fools On Horses, 50
2. Hoof Hearted This Time, 50
3. Fifes Mane Attraction, 50
Open Intro
1. Lindsey White & Remus IV, 25
2. Heidi Holt & Loughehoe Leonardo, 24
3. Carrera Thorpe & A. Amelusiena 4, 24
Open Prelim
1. Madeline Ruff & The Ginger Wizard, 29
2. Georgie Courage & Hillgarth High Kingdom, 29
3. Clare Ley & Shannondale Sansa, 27
Open Novice
1. Georgie Courage & Hillgarth High Kingdom, 30
2. Karen Rees & Suleika Star, 27
3. Madeline Ruff & The Ginger Wizard, 26
U21 Team
1. Wey Valley junior Team, 50
2. Are We There Yet?, 49
3. The 'Mane' Attraction, 47
U21 Intro
1. Abigail Fox & Alkadi, 24
2. Celia Child-Villiers & Secret Cecil (FR), 24
3. Amber Edwards & Lilly's Billionaire, 24
U21 Prelim
1. Celia Child-Villiers & Secret Cecil (FR), 24
2. Isabella Golder & Artic Warrior, 22
3. Ellie Evans & Pele XII, 22
U21 Novice
1. Lillian Davies & Holyoake Galaxy, 17
2. Abigail Harrington & Pauldary's Alla, 12
3. Jasmine Lomax & Simply Bea, 9
Photos © Martin Fox Photography
