News
Wellington Premier League: Top combinations, dazzling freestyles and future stars
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Tue, 10 Jun 2025 10:51
The 2025 Wellington International Festival of Dressage opened with four action-packed days of Premier League competition (3 – 6 June 2025), featuring standout performances from Tom Goode’s LeMieux Grand Prix victory to Dannie Morgan’s Nirvana Spa Prix St Georges Freestyle win, and future talent also shining across the Young Horse classes.
Friday’s LeMieux Grand Prix delivered one of the week’s standout moments, as Tom Goode piloted Richard Jackson’s 10-year-old Fürstenrausch PS (Fürstenball x Festrausch) to victory with a score of 71.232%, securing their ticket to the LeMieux National Championships. Joining the Oxfordshire-based rider on the podium were Matthew Hicks and San-Marco, whose score of 69.094% placed them narrowly ahead of Kimberley Siddorn and Dutch Class, third on 69.058%.
“I was really happy with the test – we had no mistakes and lots of things we’ve been working on really came off,” Tom explained. “It’s his second season at Grand Prix and he’s just feeling a lot stronger this year. We’ve done a lot of work over the winter, and it’s really paying off. I’ve had Fürstenrausch since he was five; he’s only 10 now, so last year he was still quite green, but he’s such a talented horse and I’m really excited for what’s to come.”
Earlier in the week, Fiona Bigwood and her nine-year-old homebred mare Donna Bella, by Don Schufro, topped the Grand Prix class on Wednesday with a strong score of 72.138%. “Donna Bella was fab today and won her third Grand Prix,” Fiona said, posting to Facebook as she reflected on their partnership. “Taking them on the journey from birth to Grand Prix makes it so special and rewarding.”
Wellington has long championed freestyle competition, and this year’s feature class did not disappoint. The coveted Nirvana Spa Prix St Georges Freestyle win went to Dannie Morgan and Kristina Rausing’s eight-year-old mare Vive la Reinne VH (Revolution x De Niro). The pair impressed the judging panel of Susie Cumine (H), Clive Halsall (C) and Sue McMahon (B) with their performance, earning a winning score of 73.333%, ahead of Darren Hicks and Quintino 43 on 71.208%, and Gracie Catling with Qwinton in third on 71.000%.
“Really very proud of what Delilah (Vive la Reinne VH) achieved last night at Wellington, especially as I never thought we might stand a chance of winning with only just stepping up to Prix St Georges. She rose to the occasion and gave me a stunning ride to win the strong class,” Dannie said, posting to Facebook. He also thanked fellow rider Sadie Smith for letting him borrow the music that had brought her much previous success, adding with a laugh, “I did feel a bit of pressure to not let the side down.”
Dannie also enjoyed further success across the week, winning the TopSpec Medium with Kirstie Clarke’s Nureno (by Blue Hors Farrell) on 72.963%, and the BD Young Horse Seven-Year-Old Final test with his own Foundation-sired gelding Fever Tree on 72.486%.
Having recently claimed a double win at Somerford Premier League, Michael Eilberg and MSJ Dante VX continued their strong form, winning Tuesday’s Stübben Intermediate II on 70.392%, before placing second in Wednesday’s Grand Prix. Rowan Bryson and Izonik claimed Wednesday’s Intermediate II honours with 68.088%, whilst Becky Edwards topped Thursday’s class riding Dita Von Teese to 69.902%.
Sara-Jane Lanning enjoyed another successful outing, claiming the top spot in Tuesday’s Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I with Nicola Seale’s Hawtins Lirica on 71.471%. She also secured second place in Friday’s Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges riding her own Choice I (Dayano x Ferro), behind Bryony Goodwin and Krack DE, who took the win on 68.088%. Meanwhile, Kate Cowell also delivered a pair of strong Small Tour performances aboard Joolz (by Jazz), placing second to Sara-Jane in Tuesday’s Intermediate I (70.981%) before taking the win herself in Wednesday’s class with a score of 70.882%.
Speaking to David Sheerin after her tests, Kate said, “He [Joolz] was brilliant. I was thrilled with him. He can be a bit of a joker, this one. He doesn’t like things like the fronds and the flowers when they move, but he was absolutely awesome today… It couldn’t have gone better, I’m delighted.”
The Worcestershire-based rider also secured victory in the Bret Wilson Dressage International Advanced Medium riding Samarkand to an impressive 73.009%.
The KBIS Young Horse classes were led by Sadie Smith and River Rise Onassis, who scored an outstanding 86.200% to top the Six-Year-Old. Lily Laughton and Bonds Junior also impressed, topping the Four-Year-Old class on 82.200%, whilst Clare Yetton and Dream On W posted the highest score in the KBIS Young Pony classes to claim the Four-Year-Old win. Exciting prospects also emerged in the BD International Young Horse classes, where Jezz Palmer headed the Five-Year-Old class with Martin Price’s Premier by First Date, scoring 79.400%, and Fiona Bigwood enjoyed further success – this time with Newton Sylvanite (Tørveslettens Sylvester) – posting 74.600% to win the Six-Year-Old section.
A big thank you goes to the team at Wellington Riding for delivering a fantastic event, and congratulations to all the riders, horses and owners on their achievements.
Results - top three
Tuesday 3 June 2025
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Darren Hicks and Quintino 43, 69.853%
2. Jessica McConkey and Wilson Stensvang, 69.608%
3. Nikki Barker and Shareholder II, 68.431%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Sara-Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 71.471%
2. Kate Cowell and Joolz, 70.981%
3. Darren Hicks and Kinnear, 70.637%
TopSpec Medium
1. Dannie Morgan and Nureno, 72.963%
2. Owen Cooper and Milano 111, 69.491%
3. Toni Terry and Mhanaica, 68.009%
Stübben Intermediate II
1. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Dante VX, 70.392%
2. Rowan Bryson and Izonik, 69.314%
3. Becky Edwards and Dita Von Teese, 69.069%
Bret Wilson Dressage International Advanced Medium
1. Kate Cowell and Samarkand, 73.009%
2. Davey Harvey and Benefit, 72.593%
3. Bryony Goodwin and Dion II, 71.991%
Carr & Day & Martin Advanced Medium Freestyle
1. Linda Hoad and Atterupgaards Capirossi, 72.611%
2. Bryony Jones and Northcliff Fairoak NE, 71.500%
3. Anna Wilson and Finest Hour, 69.834%
Wednesday 4 June 2025
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Kate Cowell and Joolz, 70.882%
2. Fiona Brennan and De Angelis II, 70.539%
3. Sonnar Murray Brown and Tomoko, 70.392%
LeMieux Grand Prix
1. Fiona Bigwood and Donna Bella, 72.138%
2. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Dante VX, 71.341%
3. Alexander Harrison and Kickback, 68.587%
Stübben Intermediate II
1. Rowan Bryson and Izonik, 68.088%
2. Jonathan Clarke-West and Goomong Zinfandel, 67.304%
3. Deborah Childs and Pk Vangraf, 66.568%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Lisa Anne Hopkins and Liss La Belle, 69.755%
2. Anders Dahl and Ellely's Focus, 68.480%
3. Evelina Shrieve and Insist TC, 68.039%
KBIS 4YO Young Horse
1. Lily Laughton and Bonds Junior, 82.200%
2. Jezz Palmer and Viktorious Anmore, 77.800%
3. Rowan Collins and Melody HC, 75.800%
KBIS 5YO Young Horse
1. Oliver Gould and Di Mano, 78.200%
2. Kerry Mackin and Finest Romance, 78.000%
3. Lucy Amy and Promo-vayden, 74.200%
KBIS 6YO Young Horse
1. Sadie Smith and River Rise Onassis, 86.200%
2. Nicola Mahoney and Game On I, 83.400%
3. Robert Barker and Kilian's Bartholomew, 81.200%
BD International Young Horse 5YO Preliminary Test
1. Lucy Amy and Promo-vayden, 74.400%
BD International Young Horse 6YO Preliminary Test
1. Ruby Hewitt and Oilily B, 72.600%
2. Kerry Mackin and St Giles Esquire, 69.400%
3. Naomi Maxted-Massey and MM Ferro’s Finest, 69.000%
BD International Young Horse 7YO Preliminary Test
1. Louise Bell and Peaky Blinder, 67.397%
Thursday 5 June 2025
Stübben Intermediate II
1. Becky Edwards and Dita Von Teese, 69.902%
2. Rachael Hawkins and Amicella, 69.608%
3. Charlotte Dicker and Catherston Timeless, 69.314%
KBIS 4YO Young Pony
1. Clare Yetton and Dream On W, 76.000%
2. Shelley Reeve Smith and No Doubt I, 72.200%
KBIS 5YO Young Pony
1. Leanne Bailey and Hej Sassy So Soon, 68.800%
2. Charlotte Cutts and Thistledown Cadillac Jack, 67.200%
KBIS 7YO Young Horse
1. Olivia Oakeley and Nulli Secundus 11, 75.800%
2. Abbie Newbury and Seagry Viceroy, 75.067%
3. Carol Wagstaff and Narocko, 70.350%
BD Young Horse 5YO Final Test - World Breeding Selection Trial
1. Jezz Palmer and Premier, 79.400%
2. Sophie Bass and Invisible Touch, 74.400%
3. Sarah Rogers and Thomas Ticino, 63.800%
BD Young Horse 6YO Final Test - World Breeding Selection Trial
1. Fiona Bigwood and Newton Sylvanite, 74.600%
2. Jezz Palmer and Bovary JBM, 74.400%
3. Hayley Colwell and Magnetic, 74.400%
BD Young Horse 7YO Final Test - World Breeding Selection Trial
1. Dannie Morgan and Fever Tree, 72.486%
2. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog, 68.943%
3. Abbie Newbury and Seagry Viceroy, 68.057%
Friday 6 June 2025
Nirvana Spa Prix St Georges Freestyle
1. Dannie Morgan and Vive la Reinne VH, 73.333%
2. Darren Hicks and Quintino 43, 71.208%
3. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 71.000%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Bryony Goodwin and Krack DE, 68.088%
2. Sara-Jane Lanning and Choice I, 67.745%
3. Ulrik Molgaard and Ostergardens Twilight, 67.647%
LeMieux Grand Prix
1. Tom Goode and Furstenrausch PS, 71.232%
2. Matthew Hicks and San-Marco, 69.094%
3. Kimberley Siddorn and Dutch Class, 69.058%
FULL RESULTS
Photo © Charlotte Bury Photography
