Hartpury Regionals showcase success across the levels

The Hartpury Regional Championships (3 – 5 August) delivered three days of top-class competition, with impressive performances across the levels. Amongst this impressive selection were Gold rider Davy Harvey, who secured multiple podium finishes with a talented string of horses, and Silver rider Tess Wilson, whose long-standing partnership reached another memorable milestone.

© Jasmine Punter Photography

In the Gold section, Davy Harvey had a standout show campaigning four horses across the levels. In the Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Gold, Davy claimed the top two spots with Reign Royal (Rubin Royal x Furst Heinrich) and Summer-time Blue (So Unique x Conteur) with 73.267% and 71.267% respectively. Reign Royal, who is joint owned by Judy Peploe and her breeder Alison Walton from the Sulby Hall Stud, is a six-year-old British Hanovarian mare who made her competition debut back in early May. With only 10 scores under her belt at both Prelim and Novice, the young mare impressed judges Jo Rose (C), Suzi Douglas-Osborn (H) and Nicky du Plessis (B) to come away with a scoresheet filled with 7.0s, 7.5s and 8.0s. “We didn’t go there with huge expectations for them both, but we decided to get them out there and they just went out there and performed. Reign Royal is just such a consistent mare, she is so reliable in her way of going. I was really pleased with how she stayed consistently in a more open, balanced frame and kept a really good rhythm. She is just such a lovely, easy-going character.”

Sitting in second place, Judy Peploe’s British Hanovarian mare Summer-time Blue also came away with a stellar score sheet boasting 7.0s and 7.5s. Bred by Dan Henson, the six-year-old was originally presented by Alicia Prim in 2024 for a Young Horse class and reappeared in April of this year with Davy who posted a debut score of 72.20%. “We weren’t really sure how she was going to react to Hartpury as she can be a bit more reactive, and we hadn’t gone to any different venues with her before. It was her first time out at Hartpury, she had a little look at things before we went in but as soon as she was in the arena she just got on with and felt really good. She wasn’t phased by anything, so I was really pleased with her for that. Both Reign Royal and Summer-time Blue are quite special to us because of their parentage: Reign Royal is out of the same stallion as my retired Grand Prix mare, Hawtins Rossana, and Summer-time Blue is out of the same dam as one of my future hopeful Grand Prix horses, Diamond Blue. That was what really drew us to buy them!”

Alongside his success in the Preliminary class, Davy also finished second in the very hot Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold aboard Judy Peploe’s Benefit (Belantis x Caretino). Benefit, who Davy describes as “Mr Consistent”, scored 69.262% in front of judges Susie Cumine (C), Debbie Wardle (B) and Judith Harris (H) to finish just 0.1% off first place: “He only stepped up to PSG at the end of April, and we then took him to the Hickstead Premier League not long after” Davy remarked, “He is just such a super consistent horse with a fabulous laid back and easy-going attitude. He truly is a horse who enjoys his job and gives you his all in the arena. I would like to say thank you to my super team of owners who make it all possible”.  

The Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges class was won by Rob Barker on Anne Keen’s homebred British Hanovarian gelding Bordlandeaux (Bordeaux x Democraat) with 69.461%, and Jade Clark competed the podium with her own Jemimah HH (Lord Leatherdale x Cassander) on 68.039% to finish third.

For Silver rider Tess Wilson, her victory at Hartpury highlighted another milestone in her journey with her 14-year-old KWPN gelding Hyatt (Lord Leatherdale x Rousseau). The pair claimed their victory in the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges, where they scored 67.647% in front of judges Linda Waller (H), Sue McMahon (C) and Suzi Douglas-Osborn (B). “I have owned Hyatt since he was a six-year-old, taking him from Prelim to Inter I” Tess commented, “He has come into his own as an advanced horse and won the PSG Bronze at the PetPlan summer finals in 2025. He is a very nervous soul, so we have to manage him very carefully at shows and stay away from busy warm up arenas!  I am just so delighted he coped at Hartpury as we had to retire at the winter regionals.” When speaking about the highlights from their test, Tess remarked that their “'clear round' canter tour was the highlight... we were on 7.0 or more from all three judges for both pirouettes which is a first ever! He was just with me, so it was a pleasure to ride. We are due to contest the Inter I and Inter I FSM at the Chard Area Festival next week. Apart from that, we will be focusing on training between now and the Nationals with our wonderful trainers Ferdi Eilberg, Tessa Thorne and Calum Whitworth.”

Following just 0.2% behind in second place, Elizabeth Richards finished in second place with Wendy McKay’s British Hanovarian Diamantino (Dancier x Furstenreich). Rebecca Cowderoy finished just 0.05% behind in third place with her homebred stallion Nights Dream (Dream Boy x Florencio) on a final score of 67.353%

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

Results – top three

Monday 3 August

Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Silver

1. Isabel Bernhardt and Sadya vom Heithof, 74.467%

2. Pamela Ewell and Master Rousseau, 70.800%

3. Soph Icke and Captain Baker, 70.000%

BETTALIFE Novice Gold

1. Jackie Siu and D’Oro, 72.473%

2. Lucinda Scudamore and Replay VH, 72.150%

3. Jezz Palmer and Joker Caledonia Anmore, 70.860%

HorseQuest Elementary Silver

1. Ivan Kelly and Viscount, 68.889%

2. Sofia Mirza and MSL Louis V, 68.384%

3. Ceri Shephard and Milano Van Hof Olympia, 67.828%

TopSpec Medium Gold

1. Abigail Lyle and Neverland MFS, 72.037%

2. Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Forever Ruby, 71.898%

3. Katie Bailey and Hillgrounds Foxtrot, 71.806%

Tuesday 4 August

Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Gold

1. David Harvey and Reign Royal, 73.267%

2. David Harvey and Summer-time Blue, 71.267%

3. Robert Barker and Faside Secret Affair, 70.733%

BETTALIFE Novice Gold

1. Jehanne Saaidah-McPherson and Solyst Salvation, 70.699%

2. Alice Reid and Iggy Pop II, 70.215%

3. Molly Ryan and Tyga Fleur Caledonia Anmore, 68.817%

HorseQuest Elementary Gold

1. Lara Butler and San Serai ZK 72.222%

2. Jezz Palmer and Premier Anmore 71.717%

3. Brendan Tegg and King’s Nexus 70.606%

TopSpec Medium Silver

1. Ellen Glover and Morricone’s Love MFS, 70.741%

2. Sophie Bass and Invisible Touch, 69.213%

3. Amy Searle and Hawtins Felicita, 67.593%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold

1. Rob Barker and Borlandeaux, 69.461%

2. David Harvey and Benefit, 69.363%

3. Jade Clark and Jemimah HH, 68.039%

Wednesday 5 August

Advanced Medium Silver

1. Brendan Tegg and Foxcourt Solar Eclipse, 67.917%

2. Lily Cawley and Quimbaya 6, 67.593%

3. Ben James and Clapton Banks Primadonna, 67.500%

Advanced Medium Gold

1. Abigail Lyle and Neverland MFS, 70.509%

2. Bryony Goodwin and Marciano A, 70.139%

3. Lynn Wickes and Furstino, 69.583%

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver

1. Tess Wilson and Hyatt, 67.647%

2. Elizabeth Richards and Diamantino, 67.402%

3. Rebecca Cowderoy and Nights Dream, 67.353%

D&H Intermediate I Silver

1. Charlotte Smithwhite and Luciano, 66.863%

2. Holly Norris and Abbottsvale Dance Till Dark, 65.980%

3. Lauren Lavender and Fantastic Khan, 64.461%

D&H Intermediate I Gold

1. Sarah Wilkinson and Horacia, 70.294%

2. Daniel Greenwood and Kensington II, 69.412%

3. Jade Clark and Jemimah HH, 69.020%

FULL RESULTS