News
Cowell, Hughes and Platts shine at Wellington Autumn International
- Written By: British Dressage | Maddie Hinchliff
- Published: Fri, 16 Oct 2026 10:15
The Wellington Autumn International (5 – 11 October) continued in style with the senior riders, where standout performances across the 3*, 1* and U25 divisions delivered plenty to celebrate. Kate Cowell secured two victories in the CDI1*, Gareth Hughes led a family-dominated charge in the 3* with a Grand Prix and Freestyle double, and Isabel Platts enjoyed a dream U25 international debut with a clean sweep across the two days.
1*
The 1* competition saw Kate Cowell take a double victory aboard her 14-year-old dancing partner Hidalgo (Rousseau x Donnerhall). Starting on the Friday, the pair finished just off the podium in the Prix St Georges competition, scoring 67.402% to finish in fourth place. However, the pair grew in confidence over the following two days to claim the top spot on the podium in the Intermediate I and Freestyle competition, where they scored 69.902% and 75.267% respectively. “He felt really confident and great in the frame, so for the music I asked for more power and he really delivered! I feel there is lots more to come which is exciting. This was our first freestyle to music together, and he really zoned into it! He’s a great competition horse – he felt really solid in the full canter pirouettes and tempi changes.” These victories mark Kate’s fifth and sixth international wins, which Kate told us she “thrilled about!”
Kate and Hidalgo, who is known as Humphrey at home, made their BD debut in late April, where they scored 69.56% in the Prix St Georges class at Hunters Equestrian. “We are a new combination so being able to compete over three days was a great experience to get to know each other better in a competitive environment, and I just love Wellington!” From their debut, they went to the Wellington Premier League where they finished ninth and third in the Intermediate I and Prix St Georges classes. Moving on to the Hartpury Premier League, they finished second and eighth in the Prix St Georges classes. They then took the win in the Intermediate I class with 70.54%, qualifying them for the LeMieux National Championships where they finished seventh on 68.97%.
Humphrey initially arrived at Kate’s yard for schooling whilst his former owner was off with injury; “Jo Barry, his former owner, asked if I would put the Grand Prix work into him just after the New Year while she was having a shoulder injury fixed, and the opportunity to purchase him came up this spring so I jumped at the chance! We clicked straight away and Lesley Hughes kindly offered to buy him for me. It's nice as Jo is always on the end of the phone if I have any questions!”
Looking forward to the new year, Kate told us that “Humphrey will have a well-deserved mini break” before they crack on with their winter training towards the Grand Prix work with the help of Kate’s coach, Carl.
Elsewhere in the 1* competition, Nicola Naylor made British Dressage history as the first blind rider to compete in a CDI competition. Nicola, who was a part of the FEI World Championships team as a Grade IV para rider and individual bronze medallist, partnered with her own and Rosalind Emery Kay’s Humberto L (Cachet L x Haarlem) to bring home two podium finishes in her CDI debut. The pair finished third in both the Prix St Georges and Intermediate I Freestyle with 67.990% and 72.317% respectively, and finished fourth in the Intermediate I with 67.941%. Speaking in an interview with Wellington after her success’, Nicola told us that “The dream came true just to have the opportunity to come and compete here in the CDI. I owe an awful lot to Humberto – I think he is a very special horse to be able to go to Aachen and do world-class para tests and then to come here and perform… and to switch so quickly from one job to another job, it speaks a lot about the horse.”
“I would love to do CDI’s abroad, you’ve [the team at Wellington] have all been brilliant here, everybody in the office has been brilliant, BD has supported it, British Equestrian has supported it, and the stewards… I cannot tell you how good the stewards have been. They have just made it all possible in such a welcoming, inclusive way. I really hope that we can somehow transfer that and give other venues the confidence.
“You have to have the support of the venues and the stewards, and all of the organisations behind you, and then you’ve got to have the support of an amazing team.”
3*
The Hughes’ dominated the 3* competition, with Gareth taking a double win in the Grand Prix and Freestyle competition aboard his own, Rebecca Hughes and Georgina Wilkinson’s Mowgli-Olympia MC (Rousseau x Rubin Royal OLD). This duo has had a fantastic season together, having made their 3* debut back at the Hartpury Spring CDI at the end of March, and most recently finishing third in the LeMieux Grand Prix National Dressage Championships. In front of judges Alice Schwab (E – AUT), Kurt Christensen (H – DEN), Mariette Sanders Van Gansewinkel (C – NED), Carlos Lopez (M – POR) and Isobel Wessels (B – GBR), the pair scored 71.717% in the Grand Prix; and scored 74.095% in the Music in front of judges Pascal Strohbücker (E – GER), Alice Schwab (H – AUT), Carlos Lopez (C – POR), Kurt Christensen (M – DEN) and Mats Eriksson (B – SWE). Reflecting on their results on social media, Gareth wrote that "At the tender age of nne we are very excited for his future."
Ruby Hughes also made her big tour debut, finishing third in the Grand Prix on 68.000% and winning the Special aboard Abigail Lyle and Fenella Quinn’s Farrell (Fabregas x Davignon I) with 69.362%. This is another relatively new combination and has had had a formidable start to their career together in the six months since their British Dressage debut. Celebrating her first International Grand Prix win on social media, Ruby wrote "Farrell - you are my world. I am so unbelievably grateful the experiences you have given me and the exposure to this level. You have made so many of my dreams come true. Thank you to Abi Lyle and Fenella Quinn for your trust this season with this boy and Elina Pedersen in supporing me with this opportunity."
Henriette Andersen also had a brilliant competition, finishing second in the Grand Prix and Special with her own British-bred gelding Zackery (by Blue Hors Zack). This seasoned combination scored 69.631% in the Grand Prix and 68.468% in the Special, adding to their impressive resume of international podium finishes.
U25
In the U25 section, Isabel Platts made her international U25 debut aboard her own Pinfire Rock’s Foxfire Bliss (Fernet x Caritas), taking home a double win in the Intermediate II and 16-25 Grand Prix classes. In the Intermediate II, Isabel scored 65.980% in front of judges Carlos Lopez (H – POR), Mats Eriksson (C – SWE) and Pascal Strohbücker (B – GER), and stayed consistent in the Grand Prix to score 65.684% in front of judges Isobel Wessels (H – GBR), Mats Eriksson (C – SWE) and Pascal Strohbücker (B – GER).
Isabel has been slowly working her way through the levels over the past couple of years aboard the 18-year-old gelding and made their Premier League debut at Chard in the Intermediate II, where they finished fourth with 67.50%. Wellington marks Isabel’s second ever international competition, as she made her debut at FEI Pony level at Keysoe back in 2020. Posting on social media, Isabel reflected on her double win by saying “to be back at an international show has been nothing short of a dream, and to come away with all wins is just unreal. I have so many people to thank and I am grateful to everyone behind the scenes, but mostly I am grateful for this fantastic horse who has quite literally made dreams come true this weekend.”
Thanks go to the organisers and team at Wellington for delivering a superbly run event, and congratulations to all riders and connections for their hard work and excellent performances throughout the competition.
Results – top ten
U25
Intermediate II
1. Isabel Platts and Pin Rock's Foxfire Blitz, 65.980% (GBR)
2. Chloe Hill and Bon Jovi, 64.755% (GBR)
3. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 64.412% (GBR)
4. Isobel Lickley and Katniss, 61.912% (GBR)
Grand Prix (16 – 25)
1. Isabel Platts and Pin Rock's Foxfire Blitz, 65.684% (GBR)
2. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 64.103% (GBR)
3. Chloe Hill and Bon Jovi, 61.709% (GBR)
1*
Prix St Georges
1. Claire Abel and Sezuki, 69.608% (GBR)
2. Bryony Goodwin and Krack de, 68.088% (GBR)
3. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 67.990% (GBR)
4. Kate Cowell and Hidalgo, 67.402% (GBR)
5. Louise Gallavan-Gelder and Faberge, 67.206% (GBR)
6. Sara Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 67.059% (GBR)
7. Bruno Cid Romero and Boss 43, 66.422% (ESP)
8. Lucy Palmer and La Vida Loca, 66.078% (GBR)
9. Tara Hayes and Sandora BS, 65.784% (IRL)
10. Fenella Quinn and Kintyre, 65.392% (GBR)
Intermediate I
1. Kate Cowell and Hidalgo, 69.902% (GBR)
2. Claire Abel and Sezuki, 68.775% (GBR)
3. Louise Gallavan-Gelder and Faberge, 68.382% (GBR)
4. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 67.941% (GBR)
5. Sara Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 67.794% (GBR)
5. Bryony Goodwin and Krack de, 67.794% (GBR)
7. Anna Jesty and J'Adore, 67.108% (GBR)
8. Tara Hayes and Imperioso WW, 66.814% (IRL)
9. Bruno Cid Romero and Boss 43, 66.520% (ESP)
=10. Anna Wilson and Escojunio Ballante, 66.422% (POL)
=10. Sara Jane Lanning and Choice, 66.422% (GBR)
Intermediate I Freestyle to Music
1. Kate Cowell and Hidalgo, 75.267% (GBR)
2. Louise Gallavan-Gelder and Faberge, 72.959% (GBR)
3. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 72.317% (GBR)
4. Sara Jane Lanning and Hawtins Lirica, 71.075% (GBR)
5. Claire Abel and Sezuki, 70.567% (GBR)
6. Lucy Palmer and La Vida Loca, 69.975% (GBR)
7. Bryony Goodwin and Krack de, 69.025% (GBR)
8. Anna Wilson and Escojunio Ballante, 68.975% (POL)
9. Anna Jesty and J'Adore, 68.634% (GBR)
10. Fenella Quinn and Kintyre, 67.767% (GBR)
3*
Grand Prix
1. Gareth Hughes and Mowgli-Olympia MC, 71.717% (GBR)
2. Henriette Andersen and Zackery, 69.631% (GBR)
3. Ruby Hughes and Farrell, 68.000% (GBR)
4. Kimberley Siddorn and Dutch Class, 66.826% (GBR)
5. Daniel Bremner and Houston, 64.630% (GBR)
6. Olivia Oakeley and Full House 11, 63.913% (GBR)
7. Lewis Carrier and Rubico, 63.870% (GBR)
8. Jonny Clarke-West and Goomong Zinfandel, 61.304% (GBR)
9. Fenella Quinn and Hawtins Delicato, 59.326% (GBR)
10. Brenna Barratt and Lokomotiv, 56.891% (LAT)
Grand Prix Special
1. Ruby Hughes and Farrell, 69.362% (GBR)
2. Henriette Andersen and Zackery, 68.468% (GBR)
3. Daniel Bremner and Houston, 62.830% (GBR)
Grand Prix Freestyle to Music
1. Gareth Hughes and Mowgli-Olympia MC, 74.095% (GBR)
2. Kimberley Siddorn and Dutch Class, 71.370% (GBR)
3. Olivia Oakeley and Full House 11, 69.485% (GBR)
4. Lewis Carrier and Rubico, 68.890% (GBR)
5. Jonny Clarke-West and Goomong Zinfandel, 67.070% (GBR)
