Winter Regional Championships: Wellington Riding

Congratulations to the latest cohort of regional champions who have earned their NAF Five Star Winter Championship qualification tickets at Wellington Riding’s Winter Regional Championships held in Hampshire (22-25 February). 

After recently returning from a victorious overseas visit to Le Mans CDI, Demi Howard-Cartwright (17) and the nine-year-old gelding Newton Astro Nascente (pictured above) continued their success back on home soil with a double victory. Their strong performance in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver was rewarded with a score of 74.111% and the pair also secured the Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Silver crown on 70.509%.

The British-bred horse is no stranger to championships, having claimed the 2022 Novice Silver National Champion title with Hannah Luesley in the saddle; since then ‘Anton’, by Apache, has gone from strength to strength under the direction of one of Britain’s young team riders. Reacting to her double victory, Demi posted on Facebook to say, “I just don’t think I could be any prouder of him! Thank you so so much to everyone helping and supporting me. It literally makes days like this possible!”

Across the FEI levels, Gloucestershire’s Matt Frost and the 10-year-old Kerouac (Sezuan x Sorento) led the way in the Magic Prix St Georges Gold with a winning score of 71.471%. “I had an amazing time at the regionals with Jack,” said Matt, posting on social media in celebration. “Thanks to the whole team for their hard work and to Jack for trying his heart out.”

Additionally, having only started competing at the level last November, Matt and the 10-year-old gelding placed sixth in a closely contested Superflex Intermediate I Gold class on a strong score of 68.28%. Reflecting on their progress at this level, he explained, “We had a few mistakes in the Intermediate I, so I'm hoping for a wild card. I have to remember that this is a new level for us, so we will keep practicing and building confidence.”

Last year’s double Advanced Medium Winter Champions Evelina Shrieve and her Apache-sired gelding Insist TC claimed the Magic Prix St Georges Silver title on 68.971%. Whilst the Oxfordshire-based rider had grown up with horses and taken part in Pony Club, she didn’t discover the ‘dressage bug’ until she happened to take a job working for the Thurman-Bakers during a summer break from studying psychology at university. After buying her now 12-year-old gelding and beginning their BD journey together at Novice level just over three years ago, the pair have continued to rise up levels. They are now competing up to Intermediate I level under the guidance of Samantha Thurman-Pickett, whom the duo train with.

Following his recent Elementary win at Chard’s Regional Championships aboard his own six-year-old gelding Balthazar, Dylan Deutrom returned to take the Superflex Intermediate I Gold title on 70.735%, this time riding Helen Bell’s 10-year-old gelding King Boy (by Dream Boy). Meanwhile, Claire Abel and her own Sezuan-sired mare GF Sezuki led the Silver section with a score of 68.725%.

Having already claimed the honour at Chard Equestrian’s Winter Regional Championships a week earlier, the highest Silver scorers across the competition were Lauren Burrows and Beaux Lyon. The 21-year-old produced a beautifully ridden HorseHage Preliminary Silver test aboard Elizabeth Frampton-Hobbs’ Herzensdieb-sired gelding to take the win on 76.267%.

Following his notable success at Onley’s Winter Regional Championships last month, Dannie Morgan was once again on unbeatable form, winning six out of six classes to emerge as the standout competitor of the week. His impressive campaign kicked off with Elizabeth Frampton-Hobbs’ six-year-old gelding Empathic (Escamillo x Wolkentanz), who topped both the Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold with a score of 78.149% and the Prestige Novice Gold on 75.914%. He continued his success aboard the eight-year-old mare Vive la Reinne VH (by Revolution) owned by Kristina Rausing, securing the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold on 73.278%. Meanwhile, riding Amanda Bond’s Jockey Club Felaini S, Dannie clinched the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold with a score of 73.788%.

The Hampshire-based rider completed his unbeaten streak with his own seven-year-old gelding Fever Tree (Foundation x Dayano). The pair’s performance in the Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold left them clear of the field by over 10%, with an outstanding score of 81.556%, rewarded by judges Fiona Louise Wilson (C), Lotte Olsen (E) and Joyce Wood (M). A win in the Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold on 73.333% concluded a successful week for Dannie.

Other notable performances came from Sadie Smith and Peter Belshaw’s promising home-bred six-year-old Times Odd Job (by Vitalis), who went home with a PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold victory on 75.192% and also secured second place in the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold. Berkshire’s Becky Latimer piloted Filibertus CF to top the 27-strong HorseHage Preliminary Gold leaderboard with another impressive score of 74.533%. Meanwhile, Rose Hugh-Smith and Emily Nicol also earned titles, placing ahead of close to 30 competitors in their respective classes each with scores of over 70%.

Congratulations to all those who took part across the four days, especially those who secured their spot at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships. Thanks goes to Wellington Riding and their team for hosting a memorable Winter Regional Championships show. 

Results - Top Three

Saturday 22 February

Baileys Novice Freestyle Silver
1.    Maria Pook and Flashlight, 72.593%
2.    Sophie Lee-Amies and River Rise Ooo La La, 71.852%
3.    Emily Kemp and Boleybawn Arctic, 71.389%
PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver
1.    Alexis Knight and Mila, 71.795%
2.    Alison Heywood and Thomas K, 70.898%
3.    Mandy Keen and Jackpot IV, 68.718%
PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold
1.    Sadie Smith and Times Odd Job, 75.192%
2.    Jodie Pharaon and Coco Dancer, 74.872%
3.    Robyn Walker and St Giles Viola, 74.616%
Equi-Trek Elementary Silver
1.    Rose Hugh Smith and Quintana1, 70.556%
2.    Kate Purchase and Nethercote, 69.596%
3.    Alison Heywood and Thomas K, 69.394%
HorseHage Preliminary Gold
1.    Becky Latimer and Filibertus CF, 74.533%
2.    Jess Ralton and Top Secret I, 73.467%
3.    Lucy Amy and Phelim Naresh, 72.867%

Sunday 23 February

Baileys Novice Freestyle Gold
1.    Dannie Morgan and Empathic, 78.149%
2.    Jezz Palmer and Olaf TC, 73.982%
3.    Georgie Nichols and Headmore Belvedere, 73.149%
Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold
1.    Dannie Morgan and Vive la Reinne VH, 73.278%
2.    Charlotte Dicker and Amaranto d'Centurion, 69.000%
3.    Robyn Walker and St Giles Dark Magic, 68.278%
HorseHage Preliminary Silver
1.    Lauren Burrows and Beaux Lyon, 76.267%
2.    Victoria Bax and Dontino, 72.200%
3.    Victoria Chappell and Keystone Fair Farren, 69.333%
Equi-Trek Elementary Gold
1.    Dannie Morgan and Jockey Club Felaini S, 73.788%
2.    Sadie Smith and Times Odd Job, 73.081%
3.    Olivia Oakeley and Nulli Secundus 11, 71.768%
Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Silver
1.    Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 70.509%
2.    Elizabeth Richards and Diamantino, 70.000%
3.    Christina Wiederkehr and Poynstown AER J, 67.176%
Prestige Italia Novice Silver
1.    Emily Nicol and Adamo Cavaliere, 71.344%
2.    Victoria Bax and Dontino, 70.215%
3.    Sarah Rogers and Messi, 69.785%

Monday 24 February

HorseLight Medium Gold
1.    Beth Bainbridge and WHD Elton, 71.343%
2.    Jodie Pharaon and Coco Dancer, 70.324%
3.    Sarah Williams and Kapitan Reggie, 69.120%
Spillers Medium Freestyle Gold
1.    Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree, 81.556%
2.    Daisy Megan Coakley and Zezar Van De Waaldijk, 71.834%
3.    Beth Bainbridge and WHD Elton, 71.667%
Magic Prix St Georges Silver
1.    Evelina Shrieve and Insist TC, 68.971%
2.    Claire Abel and GF Sezuki, 67.794%
3.    Sacha Hamilton and Netstutteriets Nero, 65.098%
Magic Prix St Georges Gold
1.    Matt Frost and Kerouac, 71.471%
2.    Kate Cowell and Final Reign 106, 70.490%
3.    Ros Collins and Filligran, 69.363%
Prestige Novice Gold
1.    Dannie Morgan and Empathic, 75.914%
2.    Jessica McConkey and Treldegards Spirit DWB, 73.495%
3.    Bryony Goodwin and BB Florence, 72.581%

Tuesday 25 February

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver
1.    Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 74.111%
2.    Charlotte Smithwhite and Luciano, 72.167%
3.    Mandy Chaffin and Daley’s Daimler, 70.056%
Spillers Medium Freestyle Silver
1.    Rowena Gilbert and Finest Frank, 71.667%
2.    Nicola Morris and Headmore Bugatti, 70.723%
3.    Megan Austin and Kingcarra Carrick Cruise, 68.611%
Superflex Intermediate I Silver
1.    Claire Abel and GF Sezuki, 68.725%
2.    Alice Brindley and Dondee H, 66.176%
3.    Olivia Wrennall and Disneyland, 65.441%
Superflex Intermediate I Gold
1.    Dylan Deutrom and King Boy, 70.735%
2.    Kate Cowell and Final Reign 106, 69.853%
3.    Jezz Palmer and Totillah, 68.627%
Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold
1.    Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree, 73.333%
2.    Liz Diegutis and Total Ecstacy, 68.611%
3.    Zoe Sleigh and De Novo, 68.056%
HorseLight Medium Silver
1.    Grace Durkan and Navarro I, 69.722%
2.    Lucy Bridgwater and Monaco 11, 68.658%
3.    Tamsin Addison and Jaguar XI, 67.824%
3.    Lizzi Sharples and Soho, 67.824%

FULL RESULTS

Photo ©  Charlotte Bury Photography