Associated Championships 25: Baroque brilliance

Kicking off a week of Associated Championship action, the inaugural running of the Baroque Championships saw a grand mix of Iberian and European breeds take to Onley Grounds in Warwickshire (21 October 2025).  

Oxfordshire rider Gracie Catling (pictured) has long been a champion of the Friesian breed, and capitalised on the opportunity to present her star rides at the Associated Championships for the first time. Fraithwens Wytske fan ter Lune, owned by Gaynor Morris, has been rarely out of the placings at BD Championships in 2025 and owned the Medium Gold Championship at Onley, winning with 70.167%. Speaking about Wytske, Gracie commented: “Wytske came to me two years ago to start her BD career. She is an extremely talented and clever mare, we gelled so quickly already having five reserve national titles from the winter and summer championships. Her test was great, though she did have a rather extravagant and rare spook which cost her a really high score, she’s normally miss perfect! She is training towards and showing lots of talent for the PSG work, which we’ll work on over the winter.” 

Not to be outshone by her stable mate, Gaynor’s six-year-old mare Jeldau fan Fraithwen collected two titles, with Gracie riding to 72.900% in Prelim Championship and 72.083% in the Novice Championship. “Jeldau won the Prelim and Novice has already had two foals,” Gracie said about her rising talent, “this time last year came to me to start under saddle again. She’s small but extremely athletic, and as she’s getting stronger she is showing lots of talent. It took her a while to get used to being a career girl and not a mum, but I feel as though she’s just starting to get quite confident which definitely showed in her tests, she couldn’t have done any more.” 

“To have the Friesians at the championships was amazing, especially seeing so many come from all over the country was brilliant and I hope it inspired other riders to come in future years. It was a great opportunity to showcase the breed and their talent for dressage across all the levels.” 

2025 has been a year to remember for Gracie, who summarised the Associated Championship experience: “The Associated Championships finished off our competition year. We have had 12 major shows including Nationals and Internationals, but winning here on these horses means a lot. At those other championships the Friesians have to give 110% to be taken seriously against the other horses, so to be competing in a class specifically put on for them is special for the breed. Onley did a brilliant job and it was a great event to attend!” 

Showing the talent across the category, there were plenty of Iberian winners to celebrate too. Tasha Wakely is a strong advocate for the breed, and rode to two wins with her stable stars Onis De La Espada and Altivo LXXV. Owned by Andrew Aston, the outstanding PRE gelding Altivo LXXV returned to the podium following victory at the Area Festival Championships earlier in the month; the pair topped the Medium Silver Championship with 69.917%. With Onis De La Espada, Tasha repeated her results from 2024 where she also travelled home a winner with her super 12-year-old ANCEE registered gelding. Stepping up to Prix St Georges level, the Bedfordshire-based rider rode to 69.191% to take the overall and Silver title. Tasha and Onis now head to Le Mans to represent Great Britain at the MCI European Championships in the Level 3 Lisboa Fandango class; several Associated Championship competitors and winners are also set for this great experience, we wish them all the best of luck.  

Daisy Coakley and Kate Tora’s Zezar Van de Waaldijk were a standout combination from the day, topping the Advanced Medium Championship overall and winning the Gold title with 70%. ‘Zezar’ hails from bloodlines including the popular and successful stallion Beart 411; now under the tutilage of Daisy, the 10-year-old was the first Friesian horse in the UK to achieve the Sport Predicate through BD Medium level tests, which resulted in his dam, Sierkje van de Waaldijk, being awarded Prestatie status in The Netherlands. Speaking on social media, a delighted Daisy said: “So proud of Zezar winning the Advanced Medium Baroque Associated Championship class! He is still so green at the level and the changes are still a work in progress, Zezar really tried for me! It was wonderful to see so many Friesians in one place. Thank you to everyone who made today so much fun!” 

Emma Butler and Yacare de Palojo were jubilant winners of the Prelim Silver Championship with 69.300%. “This was my first ever championship win and our first championship together, “ Emma explained, “I have been dreaming of winning a sash since I first started competing in affiliated dressage 20 years ago. 2025 was our first season of competing in affiliated dressage and my aim was to qualify for the Associated Championships.”  

Emma’s dancing partner ‘Raymond’ has been on a wonderful journey from backing to competing: “I bought Raymond in September 2022, as a just backed 3-y-o stallion, I imported him into the UK and helped by my husband began our journey. I had him gelded in Spring 2023 and in 2024 he contested MCI classes with my husband before being selected for the European Finals in Holland. Once this was over it was time for me to take over the reins and we began our BD journey in April. 

“I almost sold him in January this year after struggling with a long cold winter and a fresh young horse! But with the help of a great team around me I was able to keep going and this win means so much to me. I was over the moon with the test and I was knocking on the door of the gold riders, some of whom have competed internationally.” 

In the Part-Bred Championships, Alys Matraver’s Jannick stood out with two Championship titles. The combination secured the top spot in both the Novice Gold and Elementary Silver classes, winning both overall titles at each level too. The Somerset-based rider has a penchant for producing unusual types, and reaped the rewards at Onley taking home no less than seven sashes across multiple championships. Denise Kersley’s Barock Pinto Jannick, now 14-years-old, returned to competition this year following a six-year break and looked a picture on route to two top scores of 70.667% and 67.031%; before returning later in the week to earn two CHAPS titles too.  

Danielle Mead and her own Portuguese-bred Diamond X Diurno were also dual winners, making their mark on the Advanced classes and earning two overall championship crowns. The combination's top score came in the Advanced Medium Bronze where they earned a super 66.645%.  

Danielle’s owned Diurno for three years, “owing to injury shortly after I bought him, this is my first year of competition. I rode my first ever Advanced Medium and Prix St Georges test at an MCI show in June so I have rather thrown myself at things this year! My success has to be attributed to Nicky Barrett and Fiona Harter training me so well.   Diurno has become my great friend, he is cheeky and fun and might not be a world-beater but he has taught me so much, especially if I don’t ask correctly...I just don’t get it!” 

Speaking about her experience at the show, Danielle continued: “On arriving at Onley I stepped out of my trailer and my knee gave a huge crack and the pain was extraordinary.  Luckily, I had friends at the show that got the horse tacked up and helped me with getting on board.  My right leg was pretty useless but I was determined to try.  So my very special horse, who loves a party, gave me so much more than he needed to.  My tests were far from perfect but 100% better than I hoped.  My dancing partner did me proud and the sashes are for him because I wasn’t much of a jockey! 

Concluding on the experience, she said: “Onley was a great venue and the whole day was run superbly.  To get to the Associated Champs was amazing, given that I only started to ride at these levels a few months ago and to win was the icing on the cake.  I wasn’t anxious at all because Diurno fills me with confidence that he is on my side and we are there to just have fun! 

“Now we are going back to training through the winter to refine things a bit and hopefully by next year I won’t be winging the tempi changes so much and we will be back to try to reclaim our title.” 

Congratulations to all riders who took part, and to those who earned the winners’ sashes. 

Winners 

Baroque Champions 

Preliminary Gold: Gracie Catling & Jeldau fan Fraithwen *  
Preliminary Silver: Emma Butler & Yacare de Palojo   
Preliminary Bronze: Annie Wise & Jackpots Jazz-Time   
Novice Gold: Gracie Catling & Jeldau fan Fraithwen *  
Novice Silver: Emma Pewter & Normando NG   
Novice Bronze: Georgia Youngs & Barcelo IX  
Elementary Gold: Patsy Bartram & Portento JMG *  
Elementary Silver: Alison Heywood & Thomas K   
Elementary Bronze: Ann Coller & Zircao Songhurst   
Medium Gold: Gracie Catling & Fraithwens Wytske fan ter Lune *  
Medium Silver: Tasha Wakely & Altivo LXXV   
Medium Bronze Alison Heywood & Thomas K   
Advanced Medium Gold: Daisy Coakley & Zezar Van de Waaldijk *  
Advanced Medium Silver: Joanne Ivimey & Al Bacefalo   
Advanced Medium Bronze: Roshan Karkhairan & Naco JMG   
Prix St Georges Silver: Tasha Wakely & Onis De La Espada * 

Part-Bred Baroque Champions 

Preliminary Silver: Anna Warnock & Mochaccino Surprise   
Preliminary Bronze: Lorraine Williams & Rembrant’s Kirby *  
Novice Gold: Alys Matravers & Jannick *  
Novice Silver: Anya Durbidge & Currito   
Novice Bronze: Anna Warnock & Mochaccino Surprise   
Elementary Silver: Alys Matravers & Jannick *  
Elementary Bronze: Oliver Lawery & Falsete   
Medium Silver: Claire Griffiths & Brookhouse Rioja   
Medium Bronze: Oliver Lawery & Falsete *  
Advanced Medium Bronze: Danielle Mead & Diamond X Diurno *  
Prix St Georges Bronze: Danielle Mead & Diamond X Diurno * 

*Overall Champion  

Photos © KB Photography 

FULL RESULTS