Addington CDI: British youth build momentum

British youth riders displayed top riding at Addington CDI (2–5 May 2025), setting the scene for the season ahead at the first domestic international fixture of the year.

Young Riders

Mette Dahl (pictured above) achieved a clean sweep with her 2024 team partner Fidelio van het Bloemenhof (Fidertanz x Jazz), stepping up to complete their international Young Rider debut. The combination showed great consistency across the week, achievig 73.333% in the Team test, 73.039% in the Individual before completing their week with 74.017%, rewarded by Agne Uždavinyte (LTU – E), Maja Stukelj (SLO – C) and Leif Toernblad (DEN – M).

“I’m absolutely delighted,” said Mette, “It was my first time competing at this level with Fidelio and he exceeded all of our expectations. A huge thank you to super groom Sally Williams, as well as Anders Dahl for getting me ready to compete in only six weeks due to me travelling for the first part of the year.”

India Durman-Mills and Isobel Lickley shared the remaining podium places in all three Young Rider tests. In the team test, ‘Izzy’ and her Galaxie-sired mare Katniss were runners up on 71.372%, before earning two third spots to complete a strong week. India Durman-Mills continues to enjoy great form with Verity Saul’s Escade, achieving a Team test third, before climbing the leaderboard to take second in both the Individual (70.833%) and Freestyle (72.483%).

Juniors

At Junior level, it was Warwickshire’s Ruby Hughes to open the week with a win in the Team test on Claire Wyatt’s eight-year-old stallion Fire Kracka, by Fidertanz. The well-matched combination delivered a strong test to score 70.960%, taking the first spot ahead of Myles Graham, who followed closely in second on 70.455%, whilst Scotland’s Pony gold medallist Abigail Grey stepped up to complete the podium on 69.141%.

For the remainder of the competition it was Myles and Josephine Eley’s Nibeley Black Pearl (Nibeley Union Jack x Conto) to build momentum, delivering a double victory that culminated in the highest score across the youth divisions. 70.539% was their Individual test winning mark, before a beautifully ridden Freestyle placed the 18-year-old comfortably at the top of the podium with a superb score of 75.017% from judges Agne Uždavinyte (LTU – E), Leif Toernblad (DEN – C) and Maja Stukelj (SLO – M).

“Wow, lost for words,” Myles posted, reflecting on the performance of his second Nibeley star, who steps into the shoes of Caroline Bell’s medal winning mare Nibeley Union Hit, who takes a step back from top level competition now after eight successful years on the youth international scene. “She tried her absolute hardest for me today and it was rewarded with our first rug together. There’s so much more to come and develop – I cannot wait for the season ahead.” Myles also paid thanks to owners Bernard and Josephine Eley alongside a nod to his mum Caron Roberts and their team at home ‘who make those seven minutes in the whiteboards possible.’

Ponies

The Pony division saw an exciting weekend battle between three promising British riders, Queenie Moule, Ella Fraser and Sophia Longworth, with less than half a percent separating the top three in the Team and Individual tests.

Queenie and her nine-year-old pony Amden Supreme Golden Dancer (by Dating AT) claimed top honours in Saturday’s Team test (68.952%) and returned on Monday to win the Freestyle on 72.842%. Ella Fraser and her Jurjen H-sired gelding Brouwershaven’s Viceroy split Queenie’s wins with their own victory in Sunday’s Individual class, climbing to the top of the tightly contested podium on 68.513%. Whilst Sophia Longworth and Elizabeth Hart’s Don de Luxe presented a strong challenge too, securing second place in both the Team and Individual tests, whilst Ireland’s Kate Murphy and Top Hero 2 completed the Freestyle podium.

Children on Horses

In the Children on Horses classes, Oriana McNamara delivered a standout performance to repeat her double successes at Chard Premier League with a double of international victories. Aboard Andrea McNamara’s Lafite (Bordeaux x Vivaldi), Oriana rode to 74.050% and 74.107% for two uber cool and consistent Team and Individual tests.. Millie Cosgrave and Let’s Dance flew the Irish flag to victory in the Preliminary class with a score of 71.322%, ahead of Britain’s Melissa Hargreaves in second, who gained great experience with John Hargreaves nine-year-old gelding Lagerfeld W.

Congratulations to all competitors, owners and their support teams. Thanks go to Addington Equestrian who provided the perfect platform for the next generation of riders to gain experience and confidence at the start of the international season.

Results – top three

CDICh Children on Horses Preliminary B
1. Millie Cosgrave and Let's Dance, 71.322% (IRL)
2. Melissa Hargreaves and Lagerfeld W, 70.679% (GBR)
3. Oriana McNamara and Lafite, 70.625% (GBR)

CDICh Children on Horses Team Test
1. Oriana McNamara and Lafite, 74.050% (GBR)
2. Millie Cosgrave and Let's Dance, 73.100% (IRL)
3. Melissa Hargreaves and Lagerfeld W, 67.700% (GBR)

CDICh Children on Horses Individual Test
1. Oriana McNamara and Lafite, 74.107% (GBR)
2. Millie Cosgrave and Let's Dance, 68.797% (IRL)
3. Melissa Hargreaves and Lagerfeld W, 68.297% (GBR)

CDIP Pony Team Test
1. Queenie Moule and Amden Supreme Golden Dancer, 68.952% (GBR)
2. Sophia Longworth and Don de Luxe, 68.762% (GBR)
3. Ella Fraser and Brouwershaven’s Viceroy, 68.524% (GBR)

CDIP Pony Individual Test
1. Ella Fraser and Brouwershaven’s Viceroy, 68.513% (GBR)
2. Sophia Longworth and Don de Luxe, 68.108% (GBR)
3. Queenie Moule and Amden Supreme Golden Dancer, 68.063% (GBR)

CDIP Pony Freestyle
1. Queenie Moule and Amden Supreme Golden Dancer, 72.842% (GBR)
2. Ella Fraser and Brouwershaven’s Viceroy, 72.358% (GBR)
3. Kate Murphy and Top Hero 2, 70.550% (IRL)

CDIJ Junior Team Test
1. Ruby Hughes and Fire Kracka, 70.960% (GBR)
2. Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 70.455% (GBR)
3. Abigail Gray and Empire B, 69.141% (GBR)

CDIJ Junior Individual Test
1. Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 70.539% (GBR)
2. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 69.265% (GBR)
3. Madi May Haerr and Floran, 68.235% (GBR)

CDIJ Junior Freestyle
1. Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 75.017% (GBR)
2. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 74.817% (GBR)
3. Ruby Hughes and Fire Kracka, 72.667% (GBR)

CDIY Young Riders Team Test
1. Mette Dahl and Fidelio van het Bloemenhof, 73.333% (GBR)
2. Isobel Lickley and Katniss, 71.372% (GBR)
3. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 70.392% (GBR)

CDIY Young Riders Individual Test
1. Mette Dahl and Fidelio van het Bloemenhof, 73.039% (GBR)
2. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 70.833% (GBR)
3. Isobel Lickley and Katniss, 68.774% (GBR)

CDIY Young Rider Freestyle
1. Mette Dahl and Fidelio van het Bloemenhof, 74.017% (GBR)
2. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 72.483% (GBR)
3. Isobel Lickley and Katniss, 70.967% (GBR)

FULL RESULTS

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