Double triumphs and first Regional Titles at Vale View

The Vale View Regionals (17 – 19 July) showcased a top class performance for former event rider Ryan Trafford, who took a double victory aboard DA Louis. Dan Greenwood also topped the podium in the advanced classes, showcasing a stellar performance aboard SJL Baks Zacco.

© Kevin Sparrow 2026

Ryan Trafford had an extremely successful few days at Vale View, taking a double win with Jane Boothroyd’s British-bred Hanovarian gelding DA Louis (Danone I x Sporcken) in the BETTALIFE Novice and HorseQuest Elementary silver classes. Ryan has previously evented until 2024 up to Intermediate level and started his British Dressage journey towards the end of 2023. He is now a rider for Sophie Wells and has been campaigning a number of horses across the levels for the past couple of seasons. However, aboard the six-year-old gelding DA Louis, Ryan delivered two excellent scores, bringing home 72.100% in front of judges Jane Peberdy (C), Steph Cooper (H) and Claire Ballantyne (B) in the Novice. In the Elementary, Ryan impressed judges Pamela Bushell (C), Lise Roberts (H) and Alastair Ewart Gibbs (B) to score 70.200%, making him the only competitor to break the elusive 70% barrier in the class. “I was very proud of him as we are still a relatively new partnership”, Ryan commented, “His wins are very special to me as these are my first regional titles having only turned to competing in pure dressage recently. Our highlights were the canter work which was full of eights! Before the Nationals we will be continuing to work on our suppleness and frame; he is a very cheeky, funny character, and I’m very grateful to his owner Jane Boothroyd for allowing me to ride and train him. I would also like to thank Sophie Wells for all her support and training as none of it would have been possible without her”. 

Ryan also campaigned a second horse in the BETTALIFE Novice Silver, posting yet another impressive score of 70.270% to complete the podium in third place on Eleanor Rycroft’s Irish Sport Horse, Glen Creevagh (S Creevagh Ferro Ex Siebe x Bustomi).

In the BETTALIFE Novice Silver, Isabel White finished in second place with her own Sir Quattrohall (Sir Donnerhall I x Quattro B) on 70.540%. For the HorseQuest Elementary Silver, Imogen Swaan placed second aboard Antonia Brown’s LeFiesta (Glamourdale x Gribaldi) on 69.800% and Erin Dobby finished in third on her own Woodlander Million (Millenium x Songline) on 69.290%.

In the Gold section, Dan Greenwood also had a very successful show, having won the D&H Intermediate I aboard Sara Lucas’ SJL Baks Zacco (Blue Hors Zack x Don Schufro) and finished third in the HorseQuest Elementary Gold on Valarie Berman’s For Diamond (For Romance I x Diamond Hit) with 71.310%. Commenting on Zacco’s performance, Dan remarked that “he’s really turned a corner in terms of his balance. He has so much energy and willingness that it is a case of less is more. I was really happy with the feel he gave me and delighted that the judges all loved it too!”

In the D&H Intermediate I, Louise Bell was the only other competitor to score over 70% in the class, following in second place with 70.930% on her homebred gelding Peaky Blinder (by Uthopia), who is co-owned with Denise Reynolds. Following in a closely behind, Amy Woodhead finished in third aboard Suzy Dawe’s Extra II (San Remo x Cocktail) on 69.560%. In the HorseQuest Elementary Gold, Tom Goode took the win on Debbie Cunningham (Zenon x Apache) on 74.950%, followed by Paul Hayler in second place with Vikki Ray’s Oliver XV (Fontaine TN x Fidertanz).

Furthermore, Tom Goode had a standout weekend of wins. Claiming his collection of direct qualifications to the LeMieux National Championships, Tom took the top podium spots in the Advanced Medium Gold, Horsequest Elementary Gold and BETTALIFE Novice Gold, scoring 73.570%, 74.950% and 75.420% respectively. In the Advanced Medium, he won aboard Megan Black and Noora Hamad Al Khalifa's seven-year-old gelding Veto (Vitalis x Sir Donnerhall). In the Elementary he claimed victory aboard Debbie Cunningham's five-year-old mare Razzila (Zenon x Apache), and the Novice was won aboard Melissa Roos' five-year-old gelding Dyanmic Prince (Dynamic Dream x Foundation). 

Thanks go to the organisers and team at Vale View Equestrian 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

Advanced Medium Silver

1. Stephanie Graves and Donna Danita, 71.200%

2. Rachel Lade and Lawrence M, 68.840%

3. Laura Woodcock and Lightning Texel W, 68.470%

Advanced Medium Gold

1. Tom Goode and Veto, 73.570%

2. Michael Eilberg and EDH Franklin Rose, 71.530%

3. Ruth Hole and Echo IV, 70.230%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver

1. Olivia Commins and Scuderarri, 67.990%

2. Ellie Roberts and Lyon HK, 66.770%

3. Angharad Harries and Nonovanck, 66.670%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold

1. Ruby Hughes and Fire Kracka, 72.600%

2. Amy Woodhead and Extra II, 70.740%

3. Louise Bell and Peaky Blinder, 70.390%

D&H Intermediate I Silver

1. Claire Ballantyne and Dvorak, 69.170%

2. Elice Willett and Gerento, 69.120%

3. Sir Lee Pearson and Breezer III, 68.630%

D&H Intermediate I Gold

1. Dan Greenwood and SJL Baks Zacco, 71.620%

2. Louise Bell and Peaky Blinder, 70.930%

3. Amy Woodhead and Extra II, 69.560%

Saturday 18 July

HorseQuest Elementary Silver

1. Ryan Trafford and DA Louis, 70.200%

2. Imogen Swaan and LeFiesta, 69.800%

3. Erin Dobby and Woodlander Million, 69.290%

HorseQuest Elementary Gold

1. Tom Goode and Razzila, 74.950%

2. Paul Hayler and Oliver XV, 74.340%

3. Dan Greenwood and For Diamond, 71.310%

TopSpec Medium Silver

1. Charlotte Wood and Alfred De Niro, 69.120%

2. William Scott and Lord Lucan II, 67.920%

3. Madelaine Hinchliff and Mynosa, 67.450%

TopSpec Medium Gold

1. Sophie Wells and Ontario HL, 72.730%

2. Bryony Goodwin and SJL Niko, 71.530%

3. Jayne Turney and Mara BKO, 71.020%

Sunday 19 July

Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Silver

1. Louise Danton and Fursten Lili, 71.270%

2. Sara Boonham and Love Poem Caledonia Anmore, 70.070%

3. Harriet Dixon and Dark Storm, 69.600%

Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Gold

1. Angus Corrie-Deane and Veyron II, 75.930%

2. Noah Brook and Promiss, 72.400%

3. Marcin Stachurski and iKANDi Danny JRN, 72.200%

BETTALIFE Novice Silver

1. Ryan Trafford and DA Louis, 72.100%

2. Isabel White and Sir Quattrohall, 70.540%

3.Ryan Trafford and Glen Creevagh, 70.270%

BETTALIFE Novice Gold

1. Tom Goode and Dynamic Prince, 75.420%

2. Bryony Goodwin and Fendi X, 73.820%

3. Jayne Turney and Online, 70.700%

FULL RESULTS