FEI European Championships 25: Meet the Junior Team

As the Youth European Championships draw closer, it is time to meet the team that is heading out to represent Great Britain at Olomouc in the Czech Republic from 13 – 19 July.

Ella Grace Dovey

Hailing from Worcestershire, 2024 Children on Horses Individual gold medallist Ella Grace Dovey will be campaigning Hannah Dovey, Verity Jenner and Katie Bailey’s British-bred 11-year-old gelding Escomond, known at home as Ernie. Bred by Verity Jenner in partnership with the Mount St John stud, Ernie is one half of a set of twins obtained from an embryo transfer, the other half being Michael Eilberg's ride MSJ Encore. Ella-Grace and Ernie have been a partnership for just over four months and have shown outstanding strength and promise in such a short time.

Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?

A: I feel incredibly happy and grateful to be going. This incredible opportunity is down to so many people that help make my dreams come true.

Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?

A: Winning our first test together with 70% at Myerscough Premier League and finishing third in the team test at Wellington CDI

Q: Who is somebody you look up to and why?

A: My trainer Katie Bailey because she is a beautiful rider and just such a lovely person.

Sofia Games

From Gloucestershire, Sofia Games will be campaigning Katie Oliver-Games’ 7-year-old chestnut mare Bovary JBM, who is known as Bonnie at home. Sofia was previously on the Pony European teams in 2022, 2023 and 2024 where the teams finished fourth, fifth and fourth. Sofia was also named the second reserve for the Junior European Championships in 2024. Sofia and Bonnie have been a partnership since May 2025, and so far this year have shown a huge growth in confidence, having finished second together at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships in April in the Advanced Medium Freestyle to Music class, as well as finishing third at the Wellington CDI in the Junior Individual Test.

Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?

A: Being selected for the Europeans feels like a dream come true, especially as this is my last season in Juniors and my 7th season competing in Youth competition. I'm incredibly proud to have been selected with Bonnie, who is only 7 years old. To represent Great Britain at a European Championships with such a young horse feels like a huge achievement. I’m really looking forward to competing alongside the team at this Europeans!

Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?

A: The highlight of my season has been spending it with such a talented and beautiful horse. Bonnie and I have such a special partnership that has only grown stronger throughout the season. At the start of the season, I never imagined we would come this far together, so I’m incredibly proud of everything she has achieved. Feeling her develop and grow in confidence has been the most rewarding part of the journey. Beyond this, finishing on the podium in the Individual at the Final Selection Trial at Wellington CDI was a very proud moment for us. Being selected for the European Championships is just the cherry on top!

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever had?

A: The best piece of advice I’ve ever been given is, “You don’t know until you ask”. It’s a simple phrase but has completely changed my outlook. You never know what opportunities might come from putting yourself out there, the worst someone can say is no. In fact, I wouldn’t have Bonnie if it weren’t for this mentality. It’s always worth taking the chance to open the door. Sometimes the opportunities that change your life start with a simple question.

Oriana McNamara

From London, Oriana was a part of the 2025 Children on Horses European team, and this year has been campaigning Andrea McNamara’s Active Solaris, also known as Solly. Aboard the 12-year-old black gelding, with whom Oriana has only been partnered with since December, the duo have posted a strong European campaign, finishing second at the Wellington CDI Junior Team test and winning the Junior Individual class at Addington Premier League. Oriana was a part of the 2025 Children on Horses team, where she was the highest placed British rider of the team.

Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?

A: It is really special and unexpected as it is my first year campaigning Juniors and it wouldn’t be possible without the incredible team behind us, especially Andrew Gould who has dedicated a lot of time to getting us to this stage. I am immensely grateful.

Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?

A: 70% to finish second at the Wellington CDI final observation

Q: Who is somebody you look up to and why?

A: Andrew Gould because he really focuses on setting up young riders for the future and to not focus on results but enjoy and learn from the process and not rush the journey.

Isla Sully

Travelling from Somerset, Isla is a seasoned team member with this marking her fourth European Championships with her partner of four years, Vagabond de Massa, known as V at home. Having competed in the Junior Europeans every year since 2023, Isla has collected two team bronze medals and one team fourth, with scores in excess of 75% in the Freestyle classes. This season, Isla has dominated the domestic CDI's, claiming hattrick wins at both Hartpury and Wellington CDI's. She also campaigned at Lier in February, where she placed fourth, tenth and sixth in the Team, Individual and Freestyle competition.

Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?

A: Exciting... it is always an honour to be selected to ride for your country and I am so proud of the journey that V & I have been on. I’m really pleased with how V is feeling at the moment and we are excited to get out there!

Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?

A: Becoming world number one in the FEI Rankings!!

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever had?

A: To keep things in perspective, the world won’t stop turning over a bad test and to remember that you do this because you love your horse.

Abigail Gray

Based in Aberdeenshire, Abigail Gray has been selected as reserve rider aboard Jo Cooper, Patricia Webster and David Webster’s Jack Diamond. Known as Legs at home, the pair have only been a combination for seven weeks but posted a solid set of results, including taking the win at the Hickstead Premier League Junior Individual test and finishing second in the team test. Abigail is not a stranger to the European Championships, having attended as a pony rider in 2023 and 2024 and as a Junior in 2025. In 2024, Abigail took home the gold and silver individual medals in the Freestyle to music and individual tests and finished first in the Team test to help the team finish an overall fourth.

Q: How does it feel to be selected for this year’s Europeans?

A: I’m delighted to have been chosen as Reserve, it’s more than I expected and thankful to have the Selectors trust in us as a new combination

Q: What’s been the highlight of your season so far?

A: Winning the individual test at our first Premier League (Hickstead) after just 3 weeks together

Q: What is the best piece of advice you have ever had?

A: “Believe you can”

Photo - Tom Hobday | British Dressage 2026