Defending titles and personal bests at Bicton Summer Regionals

The Bicton Summer Regionals saw Abbie Newbury claim a double one-two placings in the D&H Intermediate I and Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges, whilst Laura Scott claims another regional title in the HorseQuest Elemenatary Silver.

© ESP Photographic 2026

Abbie Newbury had a standout show at the Bicton Arena Summer Regionals, taking home the top two spots in both the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold and D&H Intermediate I Gold. Aboard Keith Taylor’s eight-year-old gelding Seagry Viceroy (Vitalis x For Romance I), Abbie took home a personal best in the Prix St Georges with 70.539% in front of judges Sue McMahon (E), Helen Clark (C) and Clare Deithrick (M). Roy was bred at the Seagry Stud in Chippenham by Keith and has been ridden by Abbie since he was backed. Abbie describes him as “the sweetest and most generous horse”. In the D&H Intermediate I, the duo took the win on another personal best of 69.951% in front of judges Frances Turner (E), Helen Clark (C) and Sue Petty (M). When reflecting on their performance at Bicton, Abbie commented that “his highlights in the test were his canter half passes and flying changes, they are so easy and beautiful to ride on him! In the run up to nationals, we will work on continuing to build his strength with lots of hacking. It means a huge amount to win the regionals on him as I have trained him from the very beginning. We have such a lovely partnership which I’m so happy that is shows.”

Taking second place in both classes, Abbie piloted Lizzy Sweet’s 12-year-old mare Tophojs Zackira (Blue Hors Zack x Sorento) to score 69.363% in the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges and 68.235% in the D&H Intermediate I. “I have only been riding her since the beginning of the year and we haven’t done many shows together yet”, Abbie explained, “She is the kindest mare with a lovely personality. Her highlights are her trot work; she is so expressive and powerful. We will keep working on building our partnership, she is very capable and talented, but our main focus is ensuring that she enjoys her time in the arena. It was very special to have success on her at regionals as we are so early in our partnership and I’m so excited to see what we can do in time!”

In both classes, Elder Klatzko completed the top three with her own and Caroline Wheatley-Hubbard’s Hawtin’s Fiorino. The duo scored 68.873% in the Prix St Georges and 67.941% in the Intermediate I.

In the HorseQuest Elementary Silver, Laura Scott won with her British Hanovarian gelding CEI Summer Days (Summertime Blues x Hotline). Bred by Sara Lucas, Laura and Sunny scored 70.61% in front of judges Sue McMahon (C), Tamsyn Cowie (H) and Julie Hayes (B). This win comes off the back of the duo competing at the Hartpury CPEDI3* at the beginning of the month, where they achieved two top-three finishes in the Grade IV Grand Prix classes. Having been a partnership for just over two years, this combination are no strangers to the Championship environment. Previously, Laura and Sunny have won three consecutive Elementary Regionals, won at CPEDI3* level, and became the Grade IV National Champions at Somerford in 2025. Laura is a member of the World Class Programme as a Para Dressage Athlete, which she explains has been a “huge help… my ambition is to be a part of a British team one day!”. When talking about her results at Bicton, Lauren stated that “Sunny was brilliant, he always seems to rise to the occasion when he goes into the arena”. She then went on further to explain that she was “most pleased with how confident and professional he was throughout the test. I love competing at Bicton, so to win there is always special. It’s really tough at Regionals with some brilliant combinations competing, so to put all the training together and to produce it within the boards and to come out on top is a massive achievement. 

“I’m always trying to improve myself and Sunny, so will continue to do this with the help of Nina Venables and Pammy Hutton. We’ll do some fine tuning of the elementary test but continue to work on the medium movements and I have a few para competitions between now and Nationals, so we will also be focusing on those.”

Just behind Laura, Jane Littlejohn finished in second place aboard her own Not Just Anyone (Just Wimphof x Tolando) with 69.192% and Isobel Goodwin finished in third place with her Judy Brown’s Casajasmine (Honeybrook Casanova x Glenridge) on 68.838%.

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

Results – top three

Friday 17 July

Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Silver

1. Lisa Hoskins and Vamos Chicas, 71.133%

2. James Gothard and Homewood Rupert, 71.000%

3. Leah Hillson and Maxs H, 70.867%

Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Gold

1. Lucy Amy and Royal Sapphire, 74.200%

2. Amy Schiessl and Genesis Santorini, 73.000%

3. Joe Roome and Rituals Lightfeet, 72.533%

Advanced Medium Silver

1. Joe Roome and Acqua Marina Della Caccia, 68.704%

2. Olivia Luscombe and Eternal Kiss, 67.871%

3. Ben James and Belissamio, 66.667%

Advanced Medium Gold

1. Alice Peternell and Newton D, 69.815%

2. Lucinda Elliott and Mambo ChaChaCha, 69.491%

3. Mathew Baker and Romanno free spirit, 68.241%

Saturday 18 July

BETTALIFE Novice Silver

1. Alison Luscombe and Florence XII, 71.021%

2. Martha Eldred and Pompidou Van De Rabona Stables, 70.699%

3. Victoria Hamlyn-White and Langaller Tarak, 70.215%

BETTALIFE Novice Gold

1. Lucy Amy and Royal Sapphire, 73.118%

2. Robyn Walker and St Giles Ferrari, 72.473%

3. Amy Schiessl and Luxe Utopia MFS, 71.936%

TopSpec Medium Gold

1. Penny Smith and Leonid 2, 70.972%

2. Alice Peternell and Newton D, 70.972%

3. Lucy Amy and Phelim Naresh, 70.694%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver

1. Ella Glennon and Skovsbogaards Lord Franklin, 71.667%

2. Beau Williams and King Liberty, 69.118%

3. Alicia Laughton and Armada Bathsheba, 66.814%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold

1. Abbie Newbury and Seagry Viceroy, 70.539%

2. Abbie Newbury and Tophojs Zackira, 69.363%

3. Elder Klatzko and Hawtins Fiorino, 68.873%

Sunday 19 July

HorseQuest Elementary Silver

1. Laura Scott and CEI Summer Days, 70.606%

2. Jane Littlejohn and Not Just Anyone, 69.192%

3. Isobel Goodwin and Casajasmine, 68.838%

HorseQuest Elementary Gold

1. Penny Smith and Leonid 2, 72.979%

2. Alice Peternell and Prozello, 71.818%

3. Joe Roome and SJL Vivaldo, 69.242%

TopSpec Medium Silver

1. Lauren Aston and Free Flo, 69.861%

2. Jane Littlejohn and Not Just Anyone, 68.287%

3. Isobel Goodwin and Casajasmine, 67.546%

D&H Intermediate I Silver

1. Julia Umney and Woodlander Romance, 65.539%

2. Rebecca Burnett and Que Sera, 64.902%

3. Holly Kerslake and Cabochon Platinum, 64.706%

D&H Intermediate I Gold

1. Abbie Newbury and Seagry Viceroy, 69.951%

2. Abbie Newbury and Tophojs Zackira, 68.235%

3. Elder Klatzko and Hawtins Fiorino, 67.941%

FULL RESULTS