News
Top-tier dressage at Chard’s first Premier League
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Thu, 10 Apr 2025 16:13
Chard Equestrian’s inaugural Premier League event (2 - 6 April 2025) provided an exciting showcase of top-class dressage, with riders competing not only for podium spots but also for direct qualification to the LeMieux National Championships.
The Big Tour classes at Chard Premier League saw Sarah Millis (pictured above) and Sara-Jane Lanning rise to the occasion, collecting a win each at Grand Prix level and multiple podium places across the four-day fixture.
Sarah Millis delivered a commanding performance in Friday’s LeMieux Grand Prix. Partnering with Impressive VDC (by Charmeur), she claimed a winning score of 70.652%, awarded by judges Nick Burton (C), Islay Auty (E) and Clare Deithrick (M), securing her ticket to Nationals. The rider from West Sussex also picked up two podium spots aboard her own nine-year-old Le Zorro (Hero x Florencio I). In Thursday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges, she took second with 70.049% behind Sonnar Murray Brown and Tomoko on 72.059%, before returning the following day to again take second at the Prix St Georges level with a score of 70.735%.
“I’m delighted with Ed (Impressive), who was feeling good in himself to win the Grand Prix on a solid 70.65%, whilst Zorro continues to grow in maturity,” said Sarah, posting on social media. “They are both such lovely characters who always try their hardest.”
Meanwhile, Sara-Jane Lanning closed her week in style with a win in Sunday’s Grand Prix Freestyle, riding her own Sigurd (Richman x Tamitta) to 70.125%. Posting on Facebook, the Hampshire-based rider shared: “I’m so proud of him at 19 years old to be still out there having fun! I hadn’t ridden him since Wednesday as I’ve been here with two other horses, so thank you to Andrew Griffin for delivering Smurf raring to go!” Earlier in the week, she had success in the Small Tour with Nicola Seale’s Hawtins Lirica, by Lemony’s Nicket, winning Friday’s Prix St Georges on 71.519% ahead of Millis, before finishing second in the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I with 71.225%.
Cotswold-based Darren Hicks and Tramontana Tiger Feet (Grey Flanell x Hotline) joined Sara-Jane Lanning on the Grand Prix Freestyle podium, taking second place with 69.750%. His week also brought a collection of strong Small Tour results with Sir Robinson (by Sir Donnerhall I), starting on Thursday with a win in the Intermediate I (70.539%) and third in the Prix St Georges (68.432%). The pair returned on Friday to claim a second Inter I victory with a score of 72.794%. Adding to his success, Darren also impressed in the TopSpec Medium and Medium Freestyle with Keeva Dedicoat’s nine-year-old mare Lenika (Foreign Affair x Lord Sinclair), claiming two more wins with scores of over 72%.
Isobel Lickley and the Charmeur-sired mare Katniss stood out with an impressive win in Sunday’s Prix St Georges/Young Rider Freestyle class, earning a top score of 73.375% ahead of Darren and Sir Robinson, whilst earlier in the week Worcestershire’s Bryony Goodwin and Dion II (Dante Weltino x Rubiquil) also claimed a score over 73% in the Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium. Having not competed the 10-year-old gelding since their win at the same level at last year’s LeMieux National Championships, Bryony returned to form with a score of 73.241%.
In the youth divisions, Oriana McNamara topped both the Children on Horses Team and Individual tests with two outstanding scores of 76.525% and 74.977% aboard Andrea McNamara’s nine-year-old Bordeaux-sired gelding Lafite. Also delivering notably strong performances, Abigail Gray and Empire B delivered two excellent scores of 72.892% and 73.384% in the Junior Individual and Team tests. Meanwhile, in the Grand Prix 16-25 Millie Gover took the top spot with a score of 67.521%.
The young horse classes at Chard Premier League also provided a showcase of exciting talent for the future. Jezz Palmer was in flying form, earning the win in the BD International Five-Year-Old class with a score of 88.200% aboard Premier (by First Date), whilst also dominating the KBIS Five-Year-Old qualifier with MS Broadway M (Bon Courage x Royal Classic) on an incredible 92.600%, awarded by judges Matt Hicks and Frances Turner. Praising his young ride after the standout performance, Jezz shared on Facebook: “He really shows some real class and is such an exciting one for the future.”
Charlotte Dicker and the elegant mare Bovary JBM (Baron x Dacaprio) were another pair to watch. The duo scored 86.600% to win the KBIS Six-Year-Old class before returning to place second in the BD International Six-Year-Old behind Fiona Bigwood, who took top honours aboard her own Toerveslettens Sylvester-sired gelding Newton Sylvanite with another strong score of 86.600%.
Congratulations to all competitors, owners and supporters, and thank you to the team at Chard Equestrian, judges, stewards and volunteers for delivering a fantastic event across the four days.
Results - top three
Thursday 3 April 2025
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Sonnar Murray Brown and Tomoko, 72.059%
2. Sarah Millis and Le Zorro BH, 70.049%
3. Darren Hicks and Sir Robinson, 68.432%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Darren Hicks and Sir Robinson, 70.539%
2. Olivia Oakeley and Full House, 69.951%
3. Jezz Palmer and Romanno Weltino, 69.755%
Bret Wilson Dressage International Advanced Medium
1. Bryony Goodwin and Dion II, 73.241%
2. Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree, 72.037%
3. Alicia Laughton and Armada Bathsheba, 69.907%
Advanced Medium Freestyle
1. Elizabeth Allen and Freestyle R, 71.112%
2. Emily Ormerod and FLS Samphire, 70.889%
3. Chloe Dawes and Danibelle Delicious, 69.167%
TopSpec Medium
1. Davy Harvey and Benefit, 71.444%
2. Angus Corrie-Deane and Maigret VD Watermolen, 69.111%
3. Jessie Kirby and EQP DaFinest, 69.111%
Friday 4 April 2025
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Sara-Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 71.519%
2. Sarah Millis and Le Zorro BH, 70.735%
3. Lewis Carrier and Rubico, 68.529%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Darren Hicks and Sir Robinson, 72.794%
2. Sara-Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 71.225%
3. Jezz Palmer and Romanno Weltino, 71.176%
LeMieux Grand Prix
1. Sarah Millis and Impressive VDC, 70.652%
2. Ellie McCarthy and Braveheart, 70.362%
3. Nathalie Wahlund and Gorklintgards Scorpion, 69.819%
Grand Prix 16-25
1. Millie Gover and Kamil T, 67.521%
2. Caitlin Burgess and Chocotoff, 63.205%
Children on Horses Individual
1. Oriana McNamara and Lafite, 74.977%
2. Lillian Waller McSweeney and RSH Larencia, 66.084%
Pony Individual
1. Ella Fraser and Brouwershavens’s Viceroy, 68.514%
2. Violet Hawkins and DZL Royal Sunrise, 66.892%
3. Jemima Byam-Cook and Twyford Salamander, 65.540%
Junior Individual
1. Abigail Gray and Empire B, 72.892%
2. Isla Sully and Vagabond De Massa, 70.833%
3. Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 69.804%
Young Riders Individual
1. India Hamilton-Burnet and Kissingdale, 67.206%
2. Teghan Cantrell and Woodlander Donna Summer, 67.059%
3. Mia Smith and Dutch Discovery, 64.608%
KBIS Young Horse 4YO
1. Angus Corrie-Deane and Veyron II, 85.000%
2. Jezz Palmer and Furstin Fleur Caledonia, 82.600%
3. Rowan Collins and Quince HC, 81.000%
KBIS Young Horse 5YO
1. Jezz Palmer and Ms Broadway M, 92.600%
2. Lily Laughton and Primeros Ultimate Dream, 81.400%
3. Jessie Kirby and EQP Deidre, 80.000%
KBIS Young Horse 6YO
1. Charlotte Dicker and Bovary JBM, 86.600%
2. Gijs Van Vooren and Hawtins Brunelli, 85.600%
3. Dannie Morgan and Verity I, 82.600%
KBIS National 7YO
1. Jody Haswell and Valentinio, 79.967%
2. Abbie Newbury and Seagry Viceroy, 73.717%
3. Olivia Oakeley and Nulli Secundus II, 73.234%
Saturday 5 April 2025
Medium Freestyle
1. Darren Hicks and Lenika, 72.778%
2. Tyler Bradshaw and Mexx, 67.334%
3. Sally Bell and Hilton VI, 64.389%
Junior Team
1. Abigail Gray and Empire B, 73.384%
2. Isla Sully and Vagabond De Massa, 71.717%
3. Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 70.050%
KBIS Young Pony 5YO
1. Amy Durkin and Llechfaen Bay Flyer, 58.600%
BD International Young Horse 5YO
1. Jezz Palmer and Preimer, 88.200%
BD International Young Horse 6YO
1. Fiona Bigwood and Newton Sylvernite, 86.600%
2. Charlotte Dicker and Bovary JBM, 78.700%
3. Jacob Denham and Woodcroft Dante’s Romancier, 68.200%
BD International Young Horse 7YO
1. Jody Haswell and Valentinio, 77.868%
2. Jade Deter and Santorin, 68.747%
Pony Team
1. Ever Sinfield Day and Machno Excalibur, 67.667%
2. Jemima Byam-Cook and Twyford Salamander, 66.762%
3. Georgie Morgan and Brouwershaven's Jasper, 65.238%
Children on Horses Team
1. Oriana McNamara and Lafite, 76.525%
2. Amelia Dickens and Ghabar Doncorleoni, 59.750%
Young Riders Team
1. Isobel Lickley and Katniss, 69.804%
2. Teghan Cantrell and Woodlander Donna Summer, 69.559%
3. Soraya Rogers and Kanishka, 68.627%
Sunday 6 April 2025
TopSpec Medium
1. Darren Hicks and Lenika, 72.731%
2. Tyler Bradshaw and Mexx, 64.954%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Davy Harvey and Diamond Blue, 70.245%
2. Sara-Jane Lanning and Choice, 67.402%
Medium Freestyle
1. Chloe Dawes and Femma Lijbra, 70.667%
2. Tyler Bradshaw and Mexx, 68.723%
Pony Freestyle
1. Ella Fraser and Brouwershavens’s Viceroy, 68.625%
Junior Freestyle
1. Marie-Ayesha Barilits-Gupta and Rob Roy II, 66.000%
Prix St Georges Freestyle
1. Isobel Lickley and Katniss, 73.375%
2. Darren Hicks and Sir Robinson, 71.917%
3. Daisy Hills and Midtgaards Gijon, 69.667%
Grand Prix Freestyle
1. Sara-Jane Lanning and Sigurd, 70.125%
2. Darren Hicks and Tramontana Tiger Feet, 69.750%
3. Kate Smith and Last Love, 69.208%
Photos © ESP Photographic
