Winter Regional Championships: Little Mill Equestrian

Congratulations to the 22 new regional champions and those who earned their NAF Five Star Winter Championship qualification tickets at Little Mill Equestrian’s Winter Regional Championships held in Carmarthenshire last week (21-23 February). 

Wiltshire’s Abbie Newbury (pictured above) stole the show at Little Mill Equestrian, securing three impressive victories aboard a mother and son duo. Making it a family affair, Abbie secured titles with both the 11-year-old mare Seagry Firstamour (For Romance x Stedinger) and seven-year-old gelding Seagry Viceroy. With Seagry Viceroy, Abbie claimed the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold and Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold regional champion titles with scores of 71.11% and 69.81%. Her success continued in the NAF Superflex Intermediate I Silver, where she and Seagry Firstamour delivered a winning performance to round off a stellar weekend.

“I was absolutely thrilled with Roy’s two wins. He’s only rising seven, still very new to the level and still has strength to build, but he’s so talented and a joy to ride and train,” said Abbie. “I feel so many similarities to his mother Seagry Firstamour (Amy), who won the Intermediate I Silver. Amy is training at Grand Prix level at home and I’m very hopeful Roy will follow in her footsteps. I train with Laura Tomlinson and Tessa Thorne who have helped me so much in developing my riding and the horses.”

Davy Harvey delivered consistently strong performances across multiple levels, with a notable win in the Superflex FEI Intermediate I Gold, where Judy Peploe’s Diamond Blue (by Don Frederic) posted a score of 70.15%, placing ahead of runners-up Mark Walters and Iceblue Valentino. Davy also secured second place in the Magic Prix St Georges Gold with the same horse on 71.76%, as well as riding the Belantis-sired gelding Benefit to runner-up finishes in both the HorseLight Medium Gold (69.03%) and Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold (68.89%).

Darren Hicks and Diana Rose’s Sir Robinson (Sir Donnerhall I x Rohdiamant) also impressed in the FEI ranks, taking the Magic Prix St Georges Gold with an outstanding 74.07% which was awarded by Sue McMahon, Alison Duck and Sharon Butterworth. Praising his equine partner on social media, the Cotwolds-based rider said, “He continuously tries his heart out for us and deserves every win!”

Having already claimed multiple regional titles this season, Bryony Goodwin added to her string of wins. Riding Antonia Brown’s seven-year-old SJL Niko (Jerveaux x Florencio), the Gloucestershire-based rider delivered a standout Prestige Novice Gold performance, which was rewarded with the highest score of the competition, 75.08%, from judges Suzannah Douglas-Osborn and Rebecca Alice Morris. Christy Shuall and her own Shaq O’Neal also produced a noteworthy performance, achieving the highest score across the Silver sections and a double victory after winning the Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver on 72.41%, followed by a win in the Prestige Novice Silver on 68.23%. Meanwhile, Nicholas Lawson and Brendan Tegg also joined the ranks of riders achieving double victories.

For Patricia Haskins and her own Gaelic Surprise, many years of determination paid off as they secured their first regional champion title in the PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold. Reflecting on the momentous win on social media she said, “12 years of BD and I finally won a regional title when I least expected to!”

Taking a fun and relaxed approach proved to be the winning formula, as the Wiltshire-based rider explained, “We tootled off to regionals with no expectations as the canter has been a real issue and she's lacking strength, etc. So, no real effort was put forth - just a fun weekend catching up with friends and dancing ponies, which it was. I totally enjoyed myself for the first time in a long time with no pressure or expectations. Bunny heard her Elementary music and decided to give me everything - I love her!”

Congratulations to all competitors, especially those who successfully secured their NAF Five Star Winter Championships ticket. Thanks go to the team at Little Mill Equestrian for hosting a superb Winter Regional Championships show. 

Results - Top Three

Friday 21 February

HorseHage Preliminary Gold
1.    Nicholas Lawson and First Dance II, 71.80%
2.    Sara Paul and Calcourt Fireblade, 71.40%
3.    David Molloy and Willowsway Code Red, 69.40%
HorseHage Preliminary Silver
1.    Theo Charnley and RSPCA George, 70.47%
2.    Bradley Moore-Taylor and Urkalinde, 69.53%
3.    Emma Williams and Dolce Signorina, 67.60%
Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
1.    Brendan Tegg and King’s Nexus, 68.59%
2.    Patricia Haskins and Gaelic Surprise, 64.29%
3.    Olivia Sealy and KL Mac One, 63.94%
Equi-Trek Elementary Silver
1.    Laura Parkes and Sienna’s Secret, 70.05%
2.    Silvia Lunnon and Sans Soucis T, 68.13%
3.    Rebecca Parsonage and Donnella, 67.88%
Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold
1.    Josephine Delahoyde and Klein Roderijs Gold Fee, 66.56%
Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver
1.    Tim Downes and Bruno The Buggane, 69.50%
2.    Kelly Jewell and Juno Watt, 67.67%
3.    Patricia Haskins and Gaelic Surprise, 66.94%

Saturday 22 February

Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold
1.    Abbie Newbury and Seagry Viceroy, 69.81%
2.    Davy Harvey and Benefit, 68.89%
3.    Nicholas Lawson and Milagros XVII, 56.67%
Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Silver
1.    Brendan Tegg and Foxcourt Solar Eclipse, 69.35%
2.    Yelavich Lyndal and Asterix 11, 67.69%
3.    Yelavich Lyndal and Ballodair Park Dauphin, 66.44%
PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold
1.    Patricia Haskins and Gaelic Surprise, 68.40%
2.    Sophie Dickinson and Furst Ricci, 66.22%
3.    Tim Downes and Bruno The Buggane, 63.91%
PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver
1.    Alicia Prim and Sapphire Blue, 71.22%
2.    Jemima Weaver and Stanley VII, 69.74%
3.    Laura Parkes and Sienna’s Secret, 68.97%
Prestige Novice Gold
1.    Bryony Goodwin and SJL Niko, 75.08%
2.    Sara Paul and Calcourt Fireblade, 71.21%
3.    Davy Harvey and MFS Simply Sensational, 70.40%
Prestige Novice Silver
1.    Christy Shuall and Shaq O’Neal, 68.23%
2.    Jack Stancombe and Fastnet Rock, 67.98%
3.    Rachel Thomas and Felicitas L, 65.16%
HorseLight Medium Gold
1.    Myles Graham and Macalena, 71.18%
2.    Davy Harvey and Benefit, 69.03%
HorseLight Medium Silver
1.    Charlotte Monk and First Class V, 68.61%
2.    Rebecca Parsonage and Donnella, 65.62%
3.    Clair Reed and Catherston Specific, 64.65%

Sunday 23 February

Magic FEI Prix St Georges Gold
1.    Darren Hicks and Sir Robinson, 74.07%
2.    Davy Harvey and Diamond Blue, 71.76%
3.    Mark Walters and Iceblue Valentino, 66.76%
Magic FEI Prix St Georges Silver
1.    Chantelle Oliver-Symonds and Stadmorslow Coffee n Cream, 59.75%
Superflex FEI Intermediate I Gold
1.    Davy Harvey and Diamond Blue, 70.15%
2.    Mark Walters and Iceblue Valentino, 64.12%
Superflex FEI Intermediate I Silver
1.    Abbie Newbury and Seagry Firstamour, 64.51%
2.    Julia Umney and Woodlander Romance, 60.88%
Nupafeed Freestyle Advanced Medium Gold
1.    Abbie Mae Newbury and Seagry Viceroy, 71.11%
2.    Kirsty Farren and Jerezano Montemarina, 66.56%
Nupafeed Freestyle Advanced Medium Silver
1.    Alicia Prim and Rivameyer Blue, 66.22%
2.    Kelly Jewell and Juno Watt, 63.06%
3.    Barbara Delahoyde and Marlton Scout, 62.89%
Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold
1.    Nicholas James Lawson and First Dance II, 71.20%
2.    Sophie Dickinson and Furst Ricci, 70.18%
3.    Lucie Stokoe and Nicolaas B, 67.78%
Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver
1.    Christy Shuall and Shaq O'Neal, 72.41%
2.    Georgia Cadogan and Stars of Jupiter, 70.93%
3.    Theo Charnley and RSPCA George, 70.18%

FULL RESULTS
 

Photo © Rhian Mai Photography