News
Winter Regional Championships: Arena UK
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Thu, 06 Feb 2025 16:42
Congratulations to the 23 new regional champions and those who earned their NAF Five Star Winter Championship qualification tickets at the Arena UK Winter Regional Championships held in Lincolnshire last week (29 January– 2 February).
Amy Woodhead (pictured above) took home four regional champion titles as well as six top three finishes, including the highest score of the Arena UK fixture aboard Emma Blundell’s promising young mare MSJ Vienna (Vitalis x Jazz Rubin) in Sunday’s HorseHage Preliminary Gold on 76.467%. The Grimsby-based rider also won the Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold and HorseLight Medium Gold with former FEI WBSFH World Breeding Championships candidate MSJ Viva Dannebrog (Vitalis x Don Schufro) and the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold with the Secret-sired MSJ Secret Lady, all with scores over 70%.
"So proud of all my horses this week at Arena UK," said Amy, posting on Facebook, "It’s been a long week with a lot of driving, but all the horses behaved brilliantly and had a good start to the new year."
Bryony Goodwin secured two wins with David Pincus’ mare Sheepcote Big Deal by Benetton Dream, taking both the Prestige Novice Gold and Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold titles with two outstanding scores of 74.352% and 72.581%. Meanwhile, Laura Woodcock and her nine-year-old gelding Lightning Texel W also claimed a double victory, topping the HorseLight Medium Silver and Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver with 68.333% and 69.167%. After the heartbreak of losing her two top rides in 2020, the Nottinghamshire-based rider was thrilled to return to the top of the leaderboard and took to social media to say, “Nothing in this sport happens quickly, but patience, perseverance and hard work always pay off. If you’re out there wondering if you’ll ever get back on top, just keep going!”
India Durman-Mills (20) and Verity Saul’s Jazz-sired Escade took home the top score across the FEI classes after winning the Magic Prix St Georges Gold on 70.736%. Nikki Barker and Sara Lucas's Iwan (Charmeur x Evita) also secured a victory with a score exceeding 70% in the Superflex Intermediate I Gold.
The highest score from the silver sections came courtesy of Sarah Payne, who topped Thursday’s Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver aboard her own Woodlander Wild Romance with a score of 72.556%, ahead of runner-up Ellie Roberts and her Trafalgar-sired nine-year-old gelding Lyon HK on 69.889%. Ellie took home several top three finishes aboard her two rides, including a win aboard Lyon HK in the Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold with a score of 70.612%, which put her at the top of the leaderboard just ahead of runner-up Will Roberts with Saint Tropez (69.945%).
At the age of 71, Jackie Edginton from West Yorkshire claimed her first Regional Champion title, winning the Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver aboard the stunning palomino Welsh Section D Janton Colonel Mustard with a score of 69.445%. Jackie's 23-year-old granddaughter Bethany Edginton proudly celebrated her grandmother’s victory while she herself placed in the top three of the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold behind Mark Forrest and Amy Woodhead.
Congratulations to all competitors, especially those who collected NAF Five Star Winter Championships qualification tickets; thanks go to the organising team at Arena UK for running a fantastic Regional Championships.
Results – top three
Wednesday 29 January
HorseLight Medium Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog, 74.074%
2. Danielle Hardwick and Love Actually Wins MFS, 70.833%
3. Ruby Hughes and Champignon Sauvage, 68.519%
HorseLight Medium Silver
1. Laura Woodcock and Lightning Texel W, 68.333%
2. Denise Glanville and Gypsy Fortune, 66.991%
3. Jane Howard and Fior di Grano, 66.852%
Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Ellie Roberts and Lyon HK, 70.612%
2. Will Roberts and Saint Tropez, 69.945%
3. Tahley Reeve Smith and Maximo, 69.556%
Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Laura Woodcock and Lightning Texel W, 69.167%
2. Katie Roberts and Nemo IX, 68.000%
3. Denise Glanville and Gypsy Fortune, 67.834%
Thursday 30 January
Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog, 72.315%
2. Ruby Hughes and Fire Kracka, 70.093%
3. Louise Gallavan and Fabergé TF, 68.472%
Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Silver
1. Alison Timmins and Johnny Fletch, 67.685%
2. Sophie Browne and Franzisko, 67.454%
3. Ellie Roberts and Lyon HK, 66.019%
Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold
1. Kirsten Mayne and Habano GR, 69.723%
Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver
1. Sarah Payne and Woodlander Wild Romance, 72.556%
2. Ellie Roberts and Lyon HK, 69.889%
3. Sophie Browne and Franziska, 68.778%
Superflex Intermediate I Gold
1. Nikki Barker and Iwan, 70.098%
2. Harriette Williams and Creto, 69.167%
3. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 68.628%
Superflex Intermediate I Silver
1. Alex Chick and Giovanni BM, 69.951%
2. Judy Hancock and Just Dance BH, 65.882%
3. Louise Gallavan and Sandros Fire, 65.539%
Friday 31 January
Magic Prix St Georges Gold
1. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 70.736%
2. Harriette Williams and Creto, 69.755%
3. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Jazz Dance, 69.755%
Magic Prix St Georges Silver
1. Judy Hancock and Just Dance BH, 67.451%
2. Claire Ballantyne and Dvorak, 67.255%
3. Louise Gallavan and Fabergé TF, 67.010%
Equi-Trek Elementary Silver
1. Samantha Jimmison and Lillinghall Moment In Time, 68.737%
2. Imogen Swann and SJL Bueno, 68.636%
3. Imogen Swann and SJL Looking Good, 68.232%
PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold
1. Elli Darling and Vikander, 71.026%
2. Lara Edwards and Beaumont Franziska, 70.962%
3. Ellie Roberts and Koning Albert, 70.000%
PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver
1. Laura Bennett and Kanjer 111, 70.641%
2. Cat Dalton and Derrentigue Bruce, 68.526%
3. Stephanie Jenkins and Chamonix ll, 68.461%
Saturday 1 February
Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Secret Lady, 71.313%
2. Mark Forrest and Sheepcote Adios, 69.141%
3. Bethany Edginton and Nelson HD, 68.485%
Prestige Novice Silver
1. Imogen Swann and SJL Bueno, 69.516%
2. Freya Percival and Happy Vemma, 69.032%
3. Hannah Dury and Finito 111, 68.925%
Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold
1. Bryony Goodwin and Sheepcote Big Deal, 74.352%
2. Lara Edwards and Beaumont Franziska, 73.612%
3. Jessica Parr and Pro-Lissiomo, 72.685%
Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver
1. Jackie Edginton and Janton Colonel Mustard, 69.445%
2. Amy-Lauren Fillingham and Lincoln LDS, 68.889%
3. Mia Kirby and WFD Wild Thyme, 67.963%
Sunday 2 February
Prestige Novice Gold
1. Bryony Goodwin and Sheepcote Big Deal, 72.581%
2. Amy Woodhead and Ferrari IX, 72.473%
3. Jane Critchley and Never Mind M, 69.516%
HorseHage Preliminary Gold
1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Vienna, 76.467%
2. Mark Forrest and Esposito GF, 73.400%
3. Antonia Brown and SJL Poseidon, 71.933%
HorseHage Preliminary Silver
1. Tamsyn Hammond and Darkwaters Desire, 71.600%
2. Ashlene Bagshaw and Damali III, 71.333%
3. Kate Whitehead and Florisemo, 68.667%
Photo © ATG Photography
