LeMieux Nationals 25: Day three

Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina continued their atmospheric rise through the BD levels, taking the LeMieux Grand Prix title on day three, whilst there were some amazing winners to celebrate on a super day of national sport.

KBIS Seven-Year-Old Championship 

Winner: Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Dannebrog, 79.467%  

It was home-bred victory for the Mount St John in the KBIS Seven-Year-Old class, as Amy Woodhead rode MSJ Viva Dannebrog to 79.467% in front of Sascha Schulz, Spencer Wilton and Eva-Maria Vint-Warmington.  

Viva Dannebrog has now notched up three out of four of the age category titles at the LeMieux Nationals, winning as a four, five and seven-year-old. 

Dannie Morgan and the gorgous gelding Fever Tree were our second place combination with a score of 78.767% followed by the 2024 six-year-old champions, Alicia Lee and Della Ballerina, scoring 76.617%.  

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Silver Championship 

Winner: Gijs Van Vooren and Hawtins Quattro, 71.294%  

Second win of the week for Gijs Van Vooren and the 12-year-old gelding Quattro, owned and bred by Judith Davies. The duo received a respectable 71.294% from the judges in the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Silver.  

“He was on fire today” Gijs explained to us whilst reflecting on their test, “he just loved it and I was so happy with him. He did a mistake free test which is all I wanted to do, I am just thrilled.” 

Still riding high on the emotion of yesterday Gijs and ‘Q’ will be leaving Somerford park with two championship wins to their name, “yesterday was surreal and today feels beyond that, I am over the moon.” Gijs also finished in third place on Hawtins Bellegra with 68.524% only adding to Gijs’ success this week so far.  

On the lead up to the Championships Gijs explained to us how he does not change their routine too much, “we don’t try and school every day, he loves to go hacking and we took him for an arena hire before coming here. Thats how it all came together.” 

Gijs gave us an insight into Q’s personality, “he is a very cheeky chappy, he is the main man of the stables, sometimes you do need to hold his hand but he is gorgeous. He loves the work and it is very exciting for his future.”  

It is never to early to look ahead to your next goal or aspiration, Gijs told us, “now we have done this we need to aim towards Intermediate II, which will be really exciting but we will just take it as it goes.”  

Between Gijs’ two rides in the top three, Jade Clark and Jemimah HH were in second place with a score of 69.393%.  

LeMieux Grand Prix Gold 

Winner: Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina, 71.957%  

Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina continued their wave of good form in 2025 with a win on their debut attempt at the LeMieux Grand Prix Gold, having progressed from taking the Stuebben Intermediate II title in 2024. In front of an experience panel of Sandy Phillips, Nick Burton, Stephen Clarke, Leanne Wall and Eva-Maria Vint-Warmington, the duo achieved a class-topping score of 71.957%.  

“I was really pleased she was a lot more confident,” Sadie said reflecting on ‘Dia’s’ way of going, “the extended trots were lovely, the half passes were nice. The rein back felt a little bit on the hand, we have to work on that but I was pleased. We've been working on the passage and the piaffe was probably a little bit underpowered today compared to what I have had, as it hard not to make her to hot because it can cause tension.” 

“This is a dream for me to win the Grand Prix at the National Championshps, it is the highest level I have won a National title at. I am so lucky to have the ride, she always gives me her best.” 

“It means a lot to me,” Sadie continued, reflecting on the journey with her outstanding mare, “I brought her when she was three and she was quite ordinary at the start. She was a bit straight-legged and fat! So when I tried to ride her because my legs are quite short and she is deep in the girth she used to get upset with my leg, so my friend use to ride her.”  

“I think because of her brain and her work effort, every level she has taken she tries her best and I don’t have to work very hard because she is so relaxed and so easy.”    

“We have started at Novice and worked our way through,” Sadie continued, summarising a dream achievement, “this is a real career highlight to me to have won the Grand Prix at the Nationals. I always dreamt as a kid that one day to get to Grand Prix, so I am really happy.”  

Reflecting on what it takes to make a busy week a success, she said: “I am really luck as I have two really good girls that work for me, Sophie who is riding today and is second in the Novice Silver and Maddie. Where I am based with Sarah Tyler-Evans they do the livery of my horses and the general care, so I am lucky I can just concentrate on the training and riding. We all do it together as one team and they are here today working their a**** off as I have six horses competing!”  

“I have got great owners Peter Belshaw and Sue Garrard, I only have a small amount of owners and some really nice horses. I am really lucky to go back to Carl’s, he has helped me a lot and I kept pestering him to help me today so he did. I have a really good support team, including my vet and farrier as well.”  

Tomorrow Sadie returns to have a shot at the Kudos Freestyle title, where she rides to a programme created by Tony Hobden.  

Gareth Hughes and Lufada MVL notched up a great score of 69.413% to place as runners up, whilst Alexander Harrison and Kickback earned 68.957% completing the top three.  

TopSpec Medium Gold 

Winner: Robert Barker and Kilian's Bartholomew, 73% 

Rob Barker and Christine Kirk enjoyed a rider-owner double dose of success in the TopSpec Medium Gold, claiming both of the top spots. It was the eye-catching six-year-old Kilans Bartholomew to win the TopSpec sash, earning 73% and repeating his Regional success earned back in July. 

Gloucestershire-based Rob was delighted with his results: “I’m really pleased, both horses are great. They gave me such a good feeling in there, it’s nice for the whole team, the owners, people at home and sponsors.” 

Speaking about Kilan’s Bartholomew, he continued: “He was a good boy, I have to work him when I’m in there, he was a little fresh going into the canter, I thought he was going to have a bronck but he didn’t so I was really pleased.” 

“He’s amazing, he’s so easy and willing. It’s making sure we get fit enough without doing the hours in the school, so he does a lot of hacking and pole work.”  

Christine Kirk’s Lord Loxley-sired gelding Licorno placed second on 72.139%, as Rob commented, “I was really pleased with him as well, he got a bit excited in the walk but again, I was really pleased.” 

“I’m very fortunate to have quite a few owners,” he continued, giving credit to his team in supporting him throughout the process, “Christine owns the two that are here today. I do a lot training with Isobel Wessels, she’s a huge support, mentor, coach and everything. The girls at home work really hard, so it takes a lot of people but I’m very grateful.”  

Speaking about his approach to riding multiple tests and handling the press, Rob said: “It’s a new test, start fresh, ride what’s underneath me and stay in the moment. I do a lot with Ahead for Sport, Debbie Hill, a lot of sport psychology, so I might ring her now quickly and she can get me back into staying in the moment.” 

“Whatever level I’m riding at and whatever horse, I just focus on a really nice balance and the horses feel really happy and are going for themselves, that does bring me the most happiness and that’s what I really strive for is the horses feeling happy and feeling good in their bodies and hopefully the results are by a product of what we do on a daily basis.”  

Sadie Smith completed an uber successful day at the championships with third place in the Medium, this on board Peter Belshaw’s Times Oddjob with a score of 71.500%.  

BETTALIFE Novice Silver 

Winner: Lauren Burrows and High Hoes Esquisse, 72.387% 

In a high standard BETTALIFE Novice Silver class, Lauren Burrows and her own High Hoes Esquisse succeeded in producing a title winning test on a score of 72.387%.  

“It’s a bit surreal really,” Lauren said after her prize giving, “she came here last year and won the Prelim, I really wanted to come here today and do the Novice. My test wasn’t perfect, she was quite hot in the arena and I wasn’t sure it would be quite enough!” 

Lauren has now won titles at three consecutive BD Championships, the 2024 LeMieux Nationals, followed by wins at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships and the National Championships again in 2025. When asked what her secret to success was, Lauren laughed “hard work! It’s long hours. I’m based with Dannie Morgan, I groom and ride for him as well – he's a massive part of my success and I couldn’t do it without him. The hours he dedicates to helping me and Kizzy, I’m really grateful for it. He gives me amaing opportunities riding lots of different types of horses, it’s made me so much better as a rider.”  

Speaking about six-year-old Kizzy, Lauren said: “She’s by Escalito and bred by Nicky Hallam at High Hoes. I bought her as an unbacked three-year-old so she’s been my first young horse that I’ve done myself from scratch, with the help of Dannie on the ground. I know her so well because I’ve done everythng with her, it’s really special.” 

“We have a good bond. She is quite a typical mare and she can be quite grumpy in the stable! But I know when she wants leaving alone and she tries so hard for me.” 

“I hope she’ll be the horse to take me to Grand Prix. She was hot in the arena today, which you need for Grand Prix, so I hope in a few years that energy will be useful! That would be the dream.” 

Jack Stancombe and Fastnet Rock were reserve champions on a score of 71.936%, whilst Sophie Lee-Amies and River Rise Ooo La La finished just a fraction behind in third on a super score of 71.839%.  

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Freestyle Gold 

Winner: Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore, 74.400% 

Michael Eilberg broke his seconditis at Somerford, returning to the top step of the podium with former seven-year-old championship MSJ Encore. Now 10-years-old, the gelding came into his own in the LeMieux Arena, excelling to a fantastic music programme which earned 74.400%.  

“We’ve been bridesmaids this week, finishing second twice – Sarah did us a favour today and didn’t start! But he pulled out a really good test, we managed to nail a test with no mistakes. The music really suits him, he’s really on the beat and he’s an impressive horse – he really stands out.” 

Speaking about ‘Eric’, who was bred at Mount St John, Michael continued: “He came to us as a foal and we’ve produced him from the beginning. I’ve had some good friends who bought into him when he was five-years-old – Nicky and John Hannam – they own him now and they’ve kept him with me. We’ve had some great succes recently, he’s moved into Small Tour really well – he won the CDI at Hartpury and he’s had some quite amazing scores. He’s a really classy sort with a lot of potential, it’s lovely to have the ride on him.” 

“I was trying to remember all the titles,” said Michael reflecting on his successful record at the National Championships, “most of them came at Stoneleigh, I actually haven’t had a win here since the seven-year-olds a few years back. I’ve always had a bit of seconditis here at Somerford, so it’s nice to break that barrier!” 

Matt Frost and Kerouac stepping to the second spot today after a lovely performance earned 72.350%; Jessica McConkey and Wilson Stensvang completed an accomplished top three, with 70.900%.