Big wins at Sheepgate U25 Championships

Young riders across the country competed for team and individual placings at the Sheepgate U25 Championships (18-23 August 2025). The Championships delivered great competition across the six days, with  647 tests ridden and much success earned for riders from the six BD regions.

Team competition  

Several teams went head-to-head during the championship representing their regions. With a great team effort, the North and West Windermere team came out on top in the Prelim. Ellie Brumwell, Amelia Thomas-Wymark and Gracie Stanbrook all contributed solid scores to see them take the team win, with a combined score of 426.72.  

North and East Vindolanda secured victory in the Novice team contest, coming home with 416.22. The team was made up by Lily Crisp, Phoebe Walker, Lilly Davies and Tia Howe. Dorset-based Chloe Dunn had the highest individual team score of 142.18 in the Novice. Chloe competed on her gelding Towerhill Shamie, a dun Connemara pony with a very consistent record. Chloe represented the South and West Donald Ducks team. 

Levelling up to Elementary, the North and East Chatsworth House team came home with a team win on a score of 407.90. Freya Percival, Rosie Shaw, Lily Crisp and Lottie Pownall all showed great sportsmanship, but Freya Percival led the team to victory with the highest individual score helping them take the top spot. 

Individual

The individual competition at Sheepgate U25s Championships has provided the footing for many future stars to go on and shine on the biggest of stages. It's renowned for allowing team riders to cut their teeth in the hotly contested FEI Championships, before they go on to represent their country and make it onto the BD Youth international pathways. 

Duncan Morgan took the win in the Prelim on a score of 73.73% with the ride of Neptunas-Utopia; the pair were also second in the Novice Championship with an equally impressive 74.29%. This combination continue their progression through the BD system, having taking a win at the 2025 Petplan Winter Area Festival Championships in the Prelim Silver. Duncan is a member of the East Sussex Pony Club, and holds his A Test - the highest award of The Pony Club.

In the Novice Championship Molly Webb scored 75.56% - the overall highest winning score of the championships. Molly rides her six-year-old gelding, Hawtins Siracusa, bred by Judith Davis of Hawtins Stud. The pair are a new partnership, formed earlier in the year and look set to use this experience to go on to big things. 
 
Freya Percival earlier led her team to victory in the Elementary, but she also took the win in the individual Elementary with an impressive 71.15%. Freya’s mare Happy Vemma, is a wonderful 13-year-old KWPN who’s successfully competed in many championships. 
 
The competition hotted up in the Medium which saw Olivia Rimmer take the lead on a score of 68.75%. With only a 0.46% margin behind Olivia, Ellie Tomkinson and Georgie Morgan claimed second and third place. 
 
Following on from her great results at Medium level, Ellie Tomkinson took first place in the Advanced Medium with 68.01%. Ellie has been part of the youth squad since 2023 and competes regularly.  

Moving onto the FEI categories, 11-year-old India Adams scored 68.94% in the Children's Championship. India rides Reitland’s Don Totilas, a 14.2hh mare owned by Emma Adams. Young rider Georgie Morgan with her elegant ride Brouwershaven’s Jasper won the Pony Championship on a score of 66.81%. The two are also a new partnership, competing together since February this year.  
 
The leading score of 67.53% in the Junior Championship went to Hope Wheway. The Leicestershire-based rider competed her horse Guess Who C, a 14-year-old KWPN gelding. Over the past year they have competed at several High Profile shows. 
 
Competition was close in the Young Rider Championship which resulted in Marie-Ayesha Barilits-Gupta and Megan Field placing joint first with twinning scores of 66.81%. Madison Eagle followed in hot pursuit finishing on a score of 65.25%, landing her in third place. 
 
The title of Inter I champion went to Durham-based rider Anna Bates who competed her own horse Gitina, who was imported from Denmark as a four-year-old. The pair have a very strong competition record. The partnership competed in last year's Sheepgate U25 Championships, winning the Freestyle Music Advanced Medium with a tremendous score of 70.67%. It was great to see them back for another year at Sheepgate U25 Championship.  
 
In the U25 Grand Prix, Josephine Clewlow took to the podium on a score of 60.00%. Josephine rode her 19-year-old chestnut gelding, Bon Jovi AKW. The pair are no strangers to success and competed at last year’s Cavago Associated Championships in the Veteran Horse 15-19 years Associated Championship where they placed a respectable third. 

Thanks go to the team at Sheepgate EC for another rendition of this much-loved opportunity for BD Youth riders to enjoy the very best experience of multi-day competition. Congratulations to all who took part, and to those who travelled home with the winner’s spoils.  

Our thanks go to those who sponsored the show, including: Horsequest, Baillie Haylage, Top Spec, Sue Carson Saddles, Uvex, Premier Performance, Tucker M E Building Services Ltd, Animalife, Alex Jewell Performance Coaching and Saracens Horse Feed. 

Results 

Team 

Preliminary Teams  
North and West Windermere - 426.72 
North and West Derwent - 416.80 
South and East Emerald - 415.21 

Novice Teams  
North and East Vindolanda - 416.22 
North and East Belton House - 411.95 
South and West Donald Ducks - 410.19 

Elementary Teams  
North and East Chatsworth House - 407.90 
Scotland Scot to Trot - 399.44 
North and East Tyne Bridge - 383.50 

Individual Championships 
Preliminary  
1. Duncan Morgan and Neptunas-Utopia, 73.73% 
2. Grace Carter and Jebeth Doctor Strangelove, 70.48% 
3. Hollie Davies and Hollyhurst After Eight, 70.16 

Novice 
1. Molly Webb and Hawtins Siracusa, 75.56% 
2. Duncan Morgan and Neptunas-Utopia, 74.29% 
3. Grace England and Giselle, 71.17% 

Elementary 
1. Freya Percival and Happy Vemma,71.15% 
2. Freya Ainscough and Showstar, 70.63% 
3. Molly Webb and Hawtins Siracusaq, 69.06%  

Medium 
1. Olivia Rimmer and Wadacre Fantasia, 68.75% 
2. Ellie Tomkinson and Whatapallava, 68.29% (128) 
3. Georgie Morgan and Brouershaven’s Jasper, 68.29% (124.5)  

Advanced Medium  
1. Ellie Tomkinson and Whatapallava, 68.01% 
2. Ellie Roberts and Lyon HK, 67.04% 
3. Hope Wheway and Guess Who C, 66.67% 

Children Championship 
1. India Adams and Reitland’s Don Totilas, 68.94% 

Pony Championship 
1. Georgie Morgan and Brouershaven’s Jasper, 66.81% 
2. Francesca Baker and Browbank Jacob Black, 64.07%  
3. Phoebe Simcox and Reitland’s Diamond Hit, 63.45% 

Junior Championship 
1. Hope Wheway and Guess Who C, 67.53% 
2. Molly Wing and Quartz II, 65.71% 
3. Marie-Ayesha Barilits-Gupta and Active Scarlatti, 64.29% 

Young Rider Championship 
=1. Marie-Ayesha Barilits-Gupta and Rob Roy II, 66.81% 
=1. Megan Field and Dargun, 66.81% 
3. Madison Eagle and Royalty II, 65.25% 

Inter 1 Championship 
1. Anna Bates and Gitina, 67.11% 
2. Megan Field and Dargun, 64.46% 

Grand Prix U25 Championship 
1. Josephine Clewlow and Bon Jovi AKW 60.00% 

Perpetual trophies 

Medium Cup (awarded to the Medium Championship Winner)
Olivia Rimmer

Dawson plate (awarded to the most deserving unplaced rider in the Elementary Championship)
Catherine Chalkly riding Bradwell Dun Deal

Rainbow Plate (awarded to the highest placed under 17 in the Novice Championship)
Molly Webb

Gunnerby Gallivanter Trophy (awarded to the highest placed Pony in the Novice Championship)
Grace Carter riding Jebeth Doctor Strangelove

For Certain Trophy (awarded to the highest placed D Squad rider)
Isla Needham riding Newtonhill Prince Phillip

Photo: ATG Photography