News
Individual glory for Tennant and Bates at the 2026 Para Home Nations
- Written By: British Dressage | Maddie Hinchliff
- Published: Sun, 06 Sep 2026 09:00
The Para Home Nations (28 to 29 August) saw Pickering Grange welcome riders from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland as they came together to compete for team and individual honours. Ireland emerged victorious in the team competition and claimed two individual titles, while British riders Laura Tennant and Sara Bates secured impressive wins in the Grade III and Grade IV divisions.
The Irish team proved dominant over the two days of competition, claiming individual titles in Grades I and V and securing overall victory in the team competition. Despite this, North and East rider Laura Tennant and North and West rider Sara Bates claimed individual victories in the Grade III and IV competition.
Sara Bates was one of the British-based individual winners, taking the win in the tough Grade IV competition. Competing in the Grade IV Grade Prix A test, Warwickshire-based Sara topped the classes on both days with 68.389% and 69.167% with Megan Bates’ 18-year-old gelding Socrates Hit (by Santano). Sara has had a busy competition season, competing in not only international para competition but also able-bodied dressage, and most recently finishing second in the Onley Area Festival Advanced Medium Bronze class and finishing seventh in the Grand Prix B test at the Equissage Pulse Summer Gold Semi-Final’s at Hartpury. Speaking about her time at the Para Home Nations, Sara commented that she “was really pleased how Socrates Hit performed at the Para Home Nations as we tried a new way of riding him and so grateful for the win.
“I haven’t done one for a few years, so it was lovely to meet new riders starting their journey and see how they quickly became part of the Para Family. It reminded me of when I first rode at the Para Home Nations, it was felt like it was the Olympics to me then and to remind myself how far I have progressed. Also, this was a first for me as joint Para Rep with Sandra Edwards supporting and organising the team. I am really glad I rode this year to hopefully encourage riders to follow their dreams.”
Furthermore, Laura Tennant took the overall individual win on a combined score of 139.048 in the Grade III division, nearly three points clear of second place. Aboard Judith Bennett’s ten-year-old gelding Lamour (Hennessy x Sorento), the Nottinghamshire-based rider won the Grade III Intermediate A tests on both the Friday and Saturday with 68.929% and 70.119% respectively. Laura was also a part of the N&E Wilderness team who finished third overall in the team competition, on a final combined score of 407.38. Laura has also had a busy season of competing, where she also attended the Equissage Pulse Summer Silver Championships and claimed victory in the Grade III Intermediate A Championship class.
This duo are a relatively new combination, with Laura describing their time together as “still in the early days, Lamour and I are still getting to know each other this year so I am really excited about what’s to come in the future, but what an amazing first year it has been. Both the National Champions and Home Nations Champions… what a dream start. I am a very lucky lady!”
Margaret Lupton finished second in the Grade I Individual competition with 138.282, just one point behind Ireland’s Heather Lemmon. Aboard her 18-year-old gelding Domino XI, Margaret took the win in the Grade I Intermediate A tests with 69.375% and 68.907%, contributing to their brilliant final score. Margaret was also a part of the Scotland Magic Number team, who finished in second place. This duo was another combination who celebrated success at the Summer Championships, finishing second in the Grade I Intermediate A championship.
Sarah Oram led the way for the Brits in the Grade V competition, finishing second behind Cassandra Morris (Ireland) with 134.231. Representing the South and East region, Sarah and her 11-year-old Irish-bred gelding Swatch in Ballygraffin (Watermill Swatch x Olympic Lux) finished first and third in the Grade V Bronze Introductory Tests with 68.173% and 66.058% respectively. This East Sussex-based combination had also topped the podium recently at the Summer Championships, claiming victory in the Bronze Freestyle Summer Championships, and finishing third in the Grade V Bronze Introductory championships.
In the team competition the Scotland Magic Number’s, comprised of Margaret Lupton and Domino XI, Kyla Mantilla Ross and Libgate Spirit, and Lesley McNaughton-Wells with Libertys North Star, finished in second place with a final score of 410.82, just over 0.7 points behind the Irish winners. The N&E Wilderness team completed the podium with combinations Lisa Griffin with Chilly Breeze, Vicky Nurcombe and Wallstreet Hit, and Laura Tennant with Lamour, coming away with a combined final score of 407.38.
Thanks go to the organisers and team at Pickering Grange for delivering a superbly run event, and congratulations to all riders and connections for their hard work and excellent performances throughout.
Individual Results – top five
Grade I
1. Heather Lemmon and Ladechapel Narnia, 139.583 (IRL)
2. Margaret Lupton and Domino XI, 138.282 (SCT)
3. Laura Denny and Brynhaul Je Ne Sais Quoi, 129.211 (N&W)
Grade III
1. Laura Tennant and Lamour, 139.048 (N&E)
2. Vicky Nurcombe and Wallstreet Hit, 136.667 (N&E)
3. Kyla Mantilla Ross and Libgate Spirit, 135.238 (SCT)
4. Mark Griffin and Chilly Breeze, 134.500 (S&E)
5. Tara Flynn and Cascavel, 134.286 (IRL)
Grade IV
1. Sara Bates and Socrates Hit, 137.556 (N&W)
2. Lesley Mcnaughton-Wells and Libertys North Star, 137.433 (SCT)
3. Lisa Griffin and Chilly Breeze, 131.667 (N&E)
4. Mark Colvin and Knocknacree Berite, 131.200 (S&E)
Grade V
1. Cassandra Morris and Lots of Joy, 136.072 (IRL)
2. Sarah Oram and Swatch In Ballygriffin, 134.231(S&E)
3. Karen Burke and Secret Desire HW, 134.039 (IRL)
4. Karen Hale and For Fun Two, 132.116 (N&W)
5. Loretta Joynson and Tresais Lancelot, 132.115 (WAL)
Team Results
1. Ireland Celtic Cardence, 411.49
2. Scotland Magic Number, 410.82
3. N&E Wilderness, 407.38
4. N&W Gnomes, 398.88
5. S&E Woodsies, 396.78
6. Wales Y Ddraig Goch/Red Dragons, 393.21
7. S&E Shangri-La, 382.89
