D&H Associated Championships 26: Day four

Day four of the D&H Associated Championships saw a set of spook-tacular performances and Halloween spirit from our charming Coloured Horses and Ponies and delightful Draught horses, as they delivered super scores and hot competition.

Amanda Bettle and Southwood Florence | © British Dressage

Draught Horses

With over 90 starters down the centre line, the pure and part bred Draught horses danced their way around the levels from Intro to Medium, generating some super scores and standout performances along the way. From this incredible selection of individuals, Bronte Thompson became the highest scorer with her own ten-year-old Cleveland Bay gelding Aredis Little Ben. This powerhouse combination took the overall win in the Part-bred Prelim 6 Championships, and won the bronze section to finish second overall in the Novice 5 Championships. This was Bronte’s first ever dressage championship, and the debutant secured her groundbreaking championship title in front of judges Beverley Lynn (E) and Rachel Crook (C), who awarded the pair 72.000% and a fantastic scoresheet filled with 7.0’s and 7.5’s. Following into the Novice championship, Bronte produced another consistent test to score 69.500%. “It came as quite the shock!” Bronte recounted, “I have been very lucky to have achieved some amazing things with Ben, he has been Champion at the Royal International Horse Show and in the top ten at HOYS. I have home produced him since he was three, so it’s been quite the journey!

“I have been looking for something to do in the dressage world side saddle, so that is what originally drew us to the Associated Championships, but then to see they had classes to support the Cleveland Bay breed really sealed the deal for us! We love going out and promote the breed, and we are hoping to do our bit in supporting the breeds survival.”

Speaking about her experience at the Championship over the weekend, Bronte recounted that, “I headed down with just my mum and Ben for a fun weekend to end the season, but Ben outperformed himself as always! He never lets me down. A real highlight for me was Ben’s growth in confidence – he’s found the change from showing with other horses in the ring to going into the white boards alone quite tricky, so to feel him grow in confidence in each test really was the highlight for me! Mum and I both said the atmosphere and people at the show was incredible, we found everyone was so lovely and supportive of us first time dressage goers!”

Looking towards their next goals together, Bronte is hoping to go and do some more Novice qualifying tests and is aiming towards making their elementary debut next season.

Alongside Bronte’s success, Amanda Bettle (pictured) also made waves with Jemma Regnard’s 11-year-old Shire horse, Southwood Florence. Known as Flo to her friends, the 17hh mare made her stamp on the purebred Draught Horse Preliminary 6 Championships, where she took the overall win on 70.300% in front of judges Georgina Hemingway (E) and Jonathan Dunkley (C). “I started schooling Flo four years ago when she arrived as a livery,” Amanda explained, “I had never ridden a Shire horse before but I liked her temperament and paces even though she was very green… she didn’t bend right at all and her canter was virtually non-existent except for the wall of death!”

This was Amanda and Flo’s third time at the Associated Championships, having finished third overall in the prelim Draught championships in 2024, and fifth in 2025, “Flo had improved but so had the Irish Draughts! My aim was to beat them this year, but I wasn’t sure if we could. This championship has been our aim for 2026, and Flo produced her best test so far. She was relaxed, consistent and forward, and didn’t run out of petrol towards the end! I had hoped for a good score, and when Joanna [Flo’s owner] read out her mark, I was so pleased. Flo had tried her hardest and we were all so happy.”

Reflecting on their favourite moments from the weekend, Joanna told us about her mounted prizegiving experience, describing it as, “really special, and such a proud moment for Flo”.

This pair’s success didn’t just stop at the Draught championships, as they also contested in the Veteran Rider Prelim 6 Championships, where they took the win for the Gold section, and finished fourth overall on a final score of 68.400%. Looking forward to their future plans together, Amanda hopes to aim Flo at Novice level for the Draught and Veteran Rider Championships – “I love these Championships because you see so many different types and breeds of horses. They really do give us all who ride the ‘non-standard’ dressage horses a special Championship experience. Thank you to D&H for a beautifully run Championships and excellent coverage. We are looking forward to 2027!”

Coloured Horses and Pony

Headlining the coloured horses and ponies’ section, Lola Rega took an exemplary lead with her six-year-old Welsh pony Llynhelyg Gambler, who is known as Acey at home. Lola and Acey took a massive seven percent lead in the Novice 5 Championship, scoring 75.750% in front of judges Mary Robins (C) and Brenda Evans (E). This dynamic duo made their BD debut in July of last year, and this marked their second year competing at the Associated Championships. Speaking to Lola about her highlights from the weekend, she told us that, “I felt he was super with me and any question I asked he answered perfectly. I couldn't have asked for more and I think it is the best he's ever gone and I am super proud of him for it. When I had finished the trot and canter sections and was onto the walk I was so relieved we had done a clean test up to that point and was just beaming with pride that he performed like that.”

Looking back at her journey with Acey so far, Lola mentioned “I have owned him for just over a year now. He has been amazing to work with – he is so intelligent and really loves to please. As I got him as a five-year-old, it was a lot about strength building to begin with and gaining his ring craft. Now as a more experienced six-year-old we are bringing more technical elements into his work, he is really thriving and taking to all the questions we have asked so far.”

Reflecting on why she chose to return to the Championships this year, Lola emphasised to us that, “The opportunity to compete against our breeds and sections just felt very inviting! I came last year and everyone was so welcoming and encouraging that I knew I would come back again.” She also went on further to add that, “I think the Championship brought people together. I got to see Acey's old owner who is a long-term friend, and other than Acey's amazing results, that had to be a highlight for me.”

The Novice 5 proved to be a very hot class, with just one percent separating second and fifth place. Annabelle Aston-Wright finished in second overall and took home the Bronze title with Kirstie Wright’s Mill House Adimo Pectore on 68.167%, and silver rider Paula Tippett rounded off the top three with her own Top Hat n Tails on 67.584%.

Looking ahead to their bright future together, Lola plans to continue progressing up the levels with Acey as far as she can! It also wasn’t just the Colour Horse and Pony class where she reigned supreme, as this pair also took the title for the D&H British Native Pony Novice 5 Championships with 74.250% on the Sunday. Lola admitted that, “I was actually super nervous this day, however, he definitely was trying to say to me 'come on we've got this' and as we went into the ring, he had this presence about him and was showing off so I felt confident we could deliver and that was all down to him really!”

18-year-old Grace Brighton won the silver section and finished second in the Prelim Championships aboard her 12-year-old Haflinger, Bernstein, on a final score of 68.600%, and Annie O’Donnel completed the top three and won the Bronze section with her Irish Draught Leitra Lad on 67.700%.

Thanks go to the organisers and team at Addington Equestrian for delivering a superbly run event, and congratulations to all riders and connections for their hard work and excellent performances throughout the competition.

Results – winners from each section, with the overall winner from each class marked with *

Coloured Horses and Ponies

D&H Coloured Horse and Pony Bronze Introductory 3

B – Ellie Rush and Laceys Blueberry, 66.477%*

D&H Coloured Horse and Pony Preliminary 6

B – Sue Knight and Eleanor’s Ahh Bisto, 66.900%

S – Kerrie Heath and Benie K, 67.900%

G – Naomi Aguilar and Chynas Top Deck, 69.900%*

D&H Coloured Horse and Pony Novice 5

B – Annabelle Aston-Wright and Mill House Adimo Pectore, 68.167%

S – Lola Rega and Llynhelyg Gambler, 75.750%*

D&H Coloured Horse and Pony Elementary 5

B – Paula Tippett and Top Hat n Tails, 65.547%

S – Kelly Gladstone and Milwaukee Jazz, 67.813%*

D&H Coloured Horse and Pony Medium 5

B – Abigail Smith and Ryndvilles Iontas, 65.000%

S – Alys Matravers and Jannick, 69.917%*

Draught Horses

D&H Part Bred Draught Horse Bronze Introductory 3

B – Holly Chantler and Killasser Clover, 69.432%*

D&H Part Bred Draught Horse Preliminary 6

B – Bronte Thompson and Aredis Little Ben, 72.000% *

S – Kerrie Heath and Benie K, 68.100%

D&H Part Bred Draught Horse Novice 5

B – Bronte Thompson and Aredis Little Ben, 69.500%

S – Donna Fitzgerald and Castlelawn Diva, 68.250%

G – Okke Almond-Krol and Bohian Integrety, 71.750%*

D&H Part Bred Draught Horse Elementary 5  

S – Scott Williams and Criafol Grand Design, 67.500%*

D&H Part Bred Draught Horse Medium 5

B – Karissa Willingale-Mawson and Boleybawn Rebel, 66.750%*

S – Leah Hillson and Simnel Magdalena, 63.583%

D&H Draught Horse Bronze Introductory 3

B – Rhiannon Davies and Hayleys Benedict, 64.886%*

D&H Draught Horse Preliminary 6

B – Annie O’Donnell and Leitra Lad, 67.700%

S – Grace Brighton and Bernstein, 68.600%

G – Amanda Bettle and Southwood Florence, 70.300%*

D&H Draught Horse Novice 5

B – Kate Matthews and Indigo King of Hearts, 65.834%*

S – Georgie Richardson and Hurricane Luna, 65.750%

G – Cat Dalton and Meenies Hero, 60.084%

D&H Draught Horse Elementary 5

B – Emma Wiles and Indigo Pure Hubris, 66.563%

S – Hannah Briggs and Donbeg Grey, 68.282%*

D&H Draught Horse Medium 5

B – Ruby Walker and Moylough Cruz, 62.083%*

FULL RESULTS