Hickstead Premier League returns with five days of top-class action

Back at the iconic venue for the first time since 2024, the Chart Stables International Dressage Festival hosted the Hickstead Premier League (11 - 17 May). Across five days of competition, the show delivered world-class performances from both established partnerships and rising stars.

Anders Dahl and Esquire | Spidge Photography

Sussex-based Anders Dahl topped the big tour classes, earning a double-win in the Grand Prix and Special aboard Angela Jones’ Esquire (Valeron x Nimmerdor). The 17-year-old stallion impressed the judges, securing 70.290% and 68.191%. Reflecting on their performance, Anders explained “the highlight was really the Grand Prix. I was super happy with him; he stayed relaxed the whole way through and at no point did we have any issues. He just gave a really nice feeling. Because of him being a stallion, he used to get quite uptight and nervous in the ring, but he has developed massively this season, bringing home three wins in his last three competitions and feeling much more relaxed.

“It was brilliant to be back at Hickstead. We are based five minutes down the road, so it is just amazing to have the facilities so close to home. The team did a fantastic job of running the competition, and it was really good to see the riders supporting it so well. You could feel the support for the show from the riders, and the appreciation for the showground and its facilities- the new arenas, surfaces and stables are just amazing.”.

Another rider with multiple-wins was Worcestershire-based Michael Eilberg. Competing in both the Premier League and CDI, Michael won the Stübben Intermediate II and Aviar Developing Grand Prix Intermediate A with his own and Nichola Hannam’s MSJ Dante VX (Dante Weltino x Quattro B). The combination scored 69.657% in the Intermediate II and 70.392% in the Intermediate A, taking a two percent lead over second place in front of judges Lotte Olsen, Alison Duck and Mary-Anne Horn. This powerhouse combination are not strangers to the podium, having won the 2025 Wellington and Somerford Park Premier Leagues at Intermediate II, and winning the Grand Prix at Aintree High Profile at the end of 2024. The 13-year-old gelding has been produced by Micheal, having first debuted the horse in 2017 in the 4-year-old classes.

A further stand out result was Charlotte Dujardin and her own Secret Agent (Secret x De Niro). Charlotte and Secret Agent won the Advanced Medium 6 with 80.833%, taking a four percent lead over second place. The combination then went on to compete in the  Young Horse International 7yo class, to win on 83.397 (73.393 Technical; 93.400 Quality), earning a 9.8 for his walk and perspective and 9.5 for the canter work. Following off the back of the duo’s success at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships having won the HorseLight Medium Gold, this marks the start of a very exciting future for this young horse.

The Aviar Developing Grand Prix Intermediate B was won by Carl Hester riding Daniel Bremner, Lucy Bremner and Susan Singer’s Monet X (Guardian S x Bretton Woods), scoring 75.045% in the combinations debut competition. Michael Eilberg followed in second place on MSJ Dante VX scoring 71.757%, and Davey Harvey finished third on Judy Peploe’s Diamond Blue (Don Frederic x I Conteur) with 67.162%.

In the KBIS Young Horse qualifier tests, the Four-Year-Old commanded classes boasted some impressively hot competition, with Fiona Bigwood winning aboard her own BPS Supreme Bella (Sezuan x Don Juan de Hus) with 95.600%. Earning an impressive score card, including a 10.0 for her general impression, and 9.8 for way of going. BPS Supreme Bella is the daughter of Fiona’s homebred CDI3* ride, Donna Bella, who is the daughter (via embryo transfer) of her former Olympic ride, Atterupgaards Orthelia. Fiona commented “BPS Supreme Bella showed the same talents and characteristics as her mum… this was her first ever show and she behaved like a pro. We are so excited about her future”. Jezz Palmer then followed in second and third place, riding Martin Price’s Spotify in ‘T Veld Anmore (Las Vegas x Daily Diamond) and Anmore Silore (Desperado x Special D), scoring 91.200% and 86.400% respectively.

In the Five-Year-Old Commanded Route, there was further impressive competition, with Lily Laughton taking the win aboard Dr Amanda Crouch’s Angelica V (Dynamic Dream x Ampere) with a hugely impressive score of 95.000%. This score included some huge marks, including a 9.5 for her walk, and 9.7 for way of going and general impression. Lucy Palmer finished in second place aboard her own Roulette (Las Vegas x Ampere) on 83.600% and Tahley Reeve-Smith finished in third with Sarah Stoute’s K.I Smargd on 82.000%.

The Six-Year-Old Commanded Route saw Tyla Schou and Laura Tomlinson’s Vallemaggia (Vivino x Sarkozy) take the win with 89.200%, scoring a mighty 9.3 for the trot, 9.0 for the canter and way of going, and 9.3 for her general impression. Tyla and Vallemaggia then went on to compete in the BD Young Horse International 6yo class on the Sunday, further impressing judges Sandra Edward and Dan Sherriff, to finish on a fantastic score of 95.400, earning a 10.0 for perspective, 9.8 for her canter and 9.6 for the trot.

The KBIS National 7-Year-Old Test saw Dylan Deutrom win on his own and Bea Snudden Burnham’s Balthazar III (Baron x Zack), with a final score of 82.900%; this included 73.000 technical score and 92.800% quality score, boasting 9.6 for perspective and 9.5 for his submission and canter work. Jane Turney and Lindsey Robert’s Vienna WD (Vitalis x Donnerhall) finished in second with a final score 78.017%, and Thomas Bobis finished in the third with his own Paradize de Massa (Addict de Massa x Done Frederic) on 69.534.

Thanks go to the team at Aster Events, who organised the Chart Stables International Dressage at Hickstead, for delivering a superbly run event, and congratulations to all riders and connections for their hard work and excellent performances throughout the competition.

Results- Top three

Wednesday 13 May

TopSpec Medium 6

1. Jessica Davies and Nemo II, 68.611%

2. Sophie Wells and Ontario HL, 68.056%

3. Lynn Wickes and Furstino, 66.944%

Advanced Medium 6

1. Jessica Davies and Nemo II, 70.417%

2. Lynn Wickes and Furstino, 69.305%

3. Sacha Hamilton and Netstutteriets Nero, 68.148%

Fairfax Prix St Georges

1. Jody Haswell and Valentinio, 71.961%

2. Fiona Bigwood and Newton Sylanite, 71.373%

3. Sarah Higgins and Geniaal, 69.363%

Stübben Intermediate II

1. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Dante VX, 69.657%

2. Millie Gover and Kamil ‘T’, 68.922%

3. Tom Goode and Margot, 68.235%

Thursday 14 May

TopSpec Medium 6

1. Sophie Wells and Ontario HL, 71.806%

2. Claire Abel and New-Nosalita, 70.278%

3. Lynn Wickes and Furstino, 70.278%

Advanced Medium 6

1. Charlotte Dujardin and Secret Agent, 80.833%

2. Dylan Deutrom and Balthazar III, 76.389%

3. Sarah Ingham and Mowgli S, 72.083%

Fairfax Prix St George

1. Zoe Sleigh and De Novo, 70.343%

2. Davey Harvey and Hercules III, 68.873%

3. Sarah Millis and Imperial Magic Dream, 68.039%

Aviar Developing Grand Prix Intermediate A

1. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Dante VX, 70.392%

2. Charlotte Dicker and Catherston Timeless, 68.137%

3. Sarah Khairallah and Ilowette, 67.794%

Friday 15 May

Advanced 1

1. Abigail Lyle and Neverland MFS, 68.906%

2. Zoe Sleigh and De Novo, 67.031%

3. Grace Durkan and Navarro I, 65.938%

D&H Intermediate I

1. Nikki Barker and Iwan, 69.167%

2. Kim Siddorn and Dexterity, 68.873%

3. Darren Hicks and Kinnear, 68.579%

Stübben U25 Intermediate II

1. India Durman-Mills and Escade, 67.108%

2. Alice Knight and SJL Dom Perignon, 66.177%

3. Isobel Lickley and Depeche-Mode, 63.039%

LeMieux Grand Prix

1. Anders Dahl and Esquire, 70.290%

2. Sarah Millis and Le Zorro, 69.710%

3. Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Bella Ruby, 69.565%

PYO FEI

1. Isla Sully and Vagabond de Massa, 69.706%

2. Abigail Gray and Jack Diamond, 69.495%

3. Queenie Moule and Amden Supreme Golden Dancer, 67.857%

Saturday 16 May

KBIS Young Horse Commanded Route 4yo

1. Fiona Bigwood and BPS Supreme Bella, 95.600%

2. Jezz Palmer and Spotify Anmore, 91.200%

3. Jezz Palmer and Silore Anmore, 86.400%

KBIS Young Horse Commanded Route 5yo

1. Lily Laughton and Angelica V, 95.000%

2. Lucy Palmer and Roulette, 83.600%

3. Tahley Reeve-Smith and KI Smargd, 82.000%

KBIS Young Horse Commanded Route 6yo

1. Tyla Schou and Vallemaggia, 89.200%

2. Jezz Palmer and MS Broadway M, 83.000%

3. Emily Ward Hansen and Esperado, 82.000%

KBIS Young Horse National 7yo Test

1. Dylan Deutrom and Balthazar III, 82.900%

2. Jane Turney and Vienna WD, 78.017%

3. Thomas Bobis and Paradize de Massa, 69.534%

KBIS Young Pony Commanded Route 6yo

1. Claudia Davis and Denver de Doré, 67.200%

Fairfax Prix St Georges

1. Laura Tomlinson and Digal, 71.176%

2. Nikki Barker and Iwan, 69.608%

3. Matt Frost and Lenika, 69.608%

Aviar Developing Grand Prix FEI Intermediate B

1. Carl Hester and Monet X, 75.045%

2. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Dante VX, 71.757%

3. Davey Harvey and Diamond Blue, 67.162%

LeMieux U25 Grand Prix

1. Alice Knight and SJL Dom Perignon, 64.744%

2. Jo Fenton and Kashan Maheer Ibn Montroze, 64.701%

3. Isobel Knight and Finero, 60.513%

PYO FEI

1. Abigail Gray and Jack Diamond, 70.343%

2. Isla Sully and Vagabond de Massa 69.118%

3. Morgan Haerr and Grolschstar 69.069%

Sunday 17 May

BD Young Horse International 5yo

1. Rowan Collins and Melody HC, 82.400%

2. Tahley Reeve-Smith and KI Smargd, 74.400%

3. Aimee O’hara and Rolling Stone 1, 72.900%

BD Young Horse International 6yo

1. Tyla Schou and Vallemaggia, 95.400%

2. Emma Thomas and Piñacolada TR, 83.600%

=3. Sophie Bass and Invisible Touch, 80.600%

=3. Ashley Jenkins and Thomas Ticino 80.600%

BD Young Horse Preliminary 7yo

1. Charlotte Dujardin and Secret Agent, 83.397%

2. Fiona Bigwood and Newton Sylanite, 77.222%

3. Ruth Hole and 00 Heaven, 73.929%

Advanced Medium 6

1. Nikki Barker and Lestingdale VS, 70.000%

2. Kirsty Mepham and San Diego de Westfalia, 63.611%

3. Anna Dalrymple and Bayfield Absolutely Fabulous, 63.056%

Advanced 2

1. Grace Durkan and Navarro I, 70.000%

2. Louise Clark and Dimaggio's Hit, 60.833%

3. Janine Jansen and Rockoko, 59.306%

D&H Intermediate I

1. Nikki Barker and Iwan, 69.216%

2. Matt Frost and Lenika, 68.971%

3. Nicola Naylor and Humberto L, 68.039%

LeMieux Grand Prix Special

1. Anders Dahl and Esquire, 68.191%

2. Darren Hicks and Tramontana Tiger Feet, 68.085%

3. Matt Frost and Atterupgaards Berlucchi, 67.518%

FULL RESULTS