The fourth and final day saw our LeMieux National Dressage Champion crowned, the new 2026 KBIS Young Horse Champions in the five and six year olds and our Youth riders showcased the best of our upcoming young talent in the U21 Championships.
Kudos Grand Prix Freestyle Gold
Winner: Charlotte Dujardin and Braveheart II, 79.400%
Charlotte Dujardin marked her return to the LeMieux National Championships in style as she delivered a fabulous freestyle on board Braveheart II under the Somerford sunshine to win the class by over four percent and become the 2026 LeMieux National Champions.
This was Braveheart II’s first ever freestyle, not that he showed that fact in any way as he confidently took to the LeMieux Arena, packed full of spectators, to deliver a beautiful test. Riding to Gio’s music from Tokyo 2020, the performance that earned Charlotte a bronze Olympic medal, the pair rode a complex floorplan that scored 8.5s across the board for degree of difficulty.
Speaking of how it felt riding to the music that was created for that medal-winning test, she said, “I love the music. I love riding to it; Tom Hunt did it for me. We had that Tokyo theme where I won the bronze and it has special memories for me riding it. And it's great to be able to ride it again because you sometimes think, ‘oh, because obviously I sold Gio, am I going to get to ride it again?’ So it was lovely to be able to ride it again.”
This was a third National Championship title win for Charlotte, having won in 2015 with Barolo and with Freestyle in the 2020 LeMieux Grand Prix Championships that were held behind closed doors due to Covid. “It's always exciting to have another one here doing it”, said Charlotte, reflecting on her third win with a third horse. “I've done very few shows with him, it’s his first ever freestyle today, so we’ve not really ever practiced it.”
Charlotte reflected on how she felt the test went, “He didn't know where he was going, what he was doing, so for him to go in there and us not make any big mistakes. The degree of difficulty; there's a lot of pirouettes, a lot of piaffe turns. I did get a little bit ahead of the music at the start, so that was a little bit holding me back. But the canter work, he doesn't make any mistake in the changes. He's just so up for giving everything a go. When you go into extended canter, he's like, ‘I'm off!’, so it's great to have that feeling, and it's just lovely to be able to do. All year I've been working on the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Special and really trying to focus on that because that's what really counted for the team. So I really haven't had the time to do a freestyle and it was just fun to come and do that.”
“He was just brilliant, he's just such a good little pony so I'm really proud of him.”
The rest of the podium was made up of 2026 World Championship duo Fiona Bigwood and her own Donna Bella, scoring 75.050% to finish in second place, followed by Gareth Hughes and Georgina Wilkinson’s Mowgli-Olympia MC with a score of 73.950%.
Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Gold
Winner: Jezz Palmer and Spotify Anmore, 75.933%
Jezz Palmer and Spotify Anmore (Las Vagas x Daily Diamond) were our Absolute Equestrian Collective Preliminary Gold Champions, winning the class with a fabulous score of 75.933%! The talented young gelding shined in the Vector arena infront of judges Jane Peberdy (M), Leanne Wall (C) and Davide Hamer (E).
Sharing how the 16.3hh superstar felt in his test Jezz explained, “He’s only four years old but he’s actually quite tired today, he did the four-year-olds the other day and he felt good in the warm up and he was a bit fresh, so I thought I’d do a little bit more in case he gets out in the back arena, sometimes he gets a bit like ‘oh where has everyone gone!’ I was going round thinking ‘oh I hope this is enough’ because he normally has a very powerful trot and it was very calm but actually it meant the transitions were good and he let go in the walk more. The horse is just amazing, four-years-old and the feeling he gives is just unreal.”
Reflecting on their journey together so far, Jezz shared, “We bought him in Holland, I’ve tried a lot of horses in Holland and I know the yard we got him from quite well, we’ve bought a few from them and they were like ‘don’t move!’, I was like ‘what do you mean don’t move’, and he was so sensitive but it never ungenuine, it felt ‘I’m just a bit scared’. You could see how talented he was, just super for sensitive. The lady who does our backing and breaking had him for six months and to be honest he wouldn’t be where he was today without our team at Anmore. She got him trusting us then I started riding him and he’s very much one of those when he knows you and trusts you, he will give you everything. If someone else takes him hacking he’s like ‘oh who are you!’, he’s very aware of who’s on him and who’s doing what. I feel like I have a really good bond with him. I shouldn’t have favourites, got too many to have favourites but he’s definitely the favourite.”
After competing in the four-year-old class the day before Jezz reflects on what an experience it has been for the horse owned by Anmore Stud, “For four years old I can’t moan, he was second in the four-year-olds to Fiona Bigwood, he had a couple of big mistakes, he just got a bit nervous, he has so much natural spring and uphill but he got himself a bit tight and didn’t let go in the walk enough. That’s what I really wanted to focus on today. But today he goes in like ‘yeah I’ve got it, you’re fine!’, so I was very happy. I finished and Lucy my wife and Danny had their thumbs up to say we were in the lead, it’s always nice to know that straight after the test. It’s amazing having the Equipe app so you’re able to see it.”
He is certainly a very exciting talent to watch out for, Jezz commented,“He has the biggest future; he has a talent for all of it. The amount of people that say I’d love to ride that one. You get on him and he feels so lovely every day, even if he is a bit sensitive, he’s never nasty, he just doesn’t have a nasty bone in his body. I bought him one of the LeMieux teddies, a lion, because he needs to be a bit more ‘roarrrr’ then he came out the first day a bit ‘roar’ and I thought maybe I should change it, maybe I should get him a pig or something now! But he’s amazing, we’re super lucky to find him. Gina who we go with in Holland, she’s an amazing agent so we were very lucky to find him on a trip and I’m glad we did, and now everyone wants him!"
It was an incredibly close top three, all within 0.7% of one another. Second in the class was Imogen Swann riding SJL Zebedee, with a great score of 75.467% and in third place was Lily Laughton and Angelica V with 75.267%.
Under 21 Championships
Young Rider
Winner: Myles Graham and Fred Astaire WD, 71.814%
European Championships team member Myles Graham, claimed victory in the British Dressage U21 Championship on board Fred Astaire. Reflecting on the experience, Myles described it as “just amazing, we came here to give Freddie exposure to the wonderful atmosphere at Nationals, and he stepped up in that arena. He really showed me and the team what he’s made of. He gave me the best ride today. He gave me his all and he was amazing; he was a real pleasure to ride.”
Fred Astaire, known as Freddie at home, is owned by Dan Sherriff and Lyndsay Roberts, Myles commented, “I can’t thank the owners enough, they were an amazing support as per usual and I’m so grateful to be able to ride their boy.”
Speaking about their winning test, “the big highlights were a couple of our tempis and the pirouettes, our half passes, really every stride is a highlight.”
The duo has only been a partnership since November last year, and since then had been campaigning to go to Young Rider Europeans in Hungary, Myles told us, “Freddie tried his heart out there for me too. It was his first time abroad. Then we’ve come here and next step will be winter training ahead of next year.”
“He definitely grows to an atmosphere, He does enjoy competition a lot, The atmosphere here is really good, really buzzy so that gave me a good feel and Freddie stepped up into that arena, which is really good, that’s what you want from your horse.” Myles explained how he handles the different atmospheres at competitions.
At home, Freddie is described as “the sweetest, kindest soul.” Standing at an impressive 18hh, he truly is a gentle giant. “There’s no other way to describe him. He absolutely loves people and is a real people person.”
Looking ahead, the duo has their sights firmly set on the Young Rider Europeans in Germany next year. “Nothing is planned just yet, as we’re focusing on winter training and looking at where we can find that extra half mark to build on for next season. The main goal for next year will be the Young Rider Europeans in Germany and really stepping up the marks.”
Francesca Cawley and her own Dame Blanche, rose to the occasion to secure second place with 67.990%, while Mia Smith and Dutch Discovery owned by Ellen Smith, completed the top three scoring 66.666%.
Junior Riders
Winner: Abigail Gray and Jack Diamond, 68.889%
Abigail Gray and Jo Cooper’s Jack Diamond (Electron x Diamond) took the win in the British Dressage U21 Junior Championships, scoring 68.889% in front of Susie Cumine (E), Pam Bushell (C) and Sue Carson (M). This duo, who are still relatively new to each other, produced a brilliant test together, with Abigail explaining to us that, “He was really good, we didn’t have a clean test, and missed one of our changes. Our highlight was probably the extended trot, and we’re just getting to know each other a lot better too, which is good to see.”
This duo partnered together back in May, and Abigail has just finished her A-levels. She is now based at her trainer’s yard with Becky and Hannah Moody, and is planning to take a gap year to focus on her riding and gain more experience. When thinking about her aims for next year, Abigail explained that, “He’s quite a big horse, and I’m not really used to riding such a big mover, but we’re getting to know each other, and I’m really pleased with how it went today. It’s reflected how our training has gone over the past couple of months.”
In the prize giving, Abigail and ‘Legs’ got a bit excited, and Abigail laughed, saying that, “He’s normally quite a chilled guy, so I was a bit surprised in the prize giving when he was going a bit crazy! But it was quite fun to see a different side to him. I was kind of under control, but yeah… I stayed on! So that was really fun.”
Looking forward to next season, Abigail shared that she is hopes to campaign next year at Young Rider level, saying that, “We’ve started doing some of the Young Rider movements, so that’s our plan for next year.”
Sofia Games finished in second place with Katie Oliver-Games’ Bovary JBM on 68.283%, and Sophia Longworth completed the lineup with Ben McClumpha’s Harald on 67.576%.
Pony Riders
Winner: Amelia Goodear and Furioso V.H. Enkershof, 69.619%
2026 European Championships team member Amelia Goodear took the win in the Pony Championships, winning aboard Claire Goodear’s Furioso V.H. Enkershof with 69.619%. Despite initially being chosen as reserve, Amelia went on to compete at the European Championships after a withdrawal, and ended up being the sole British rider to qualify for the Freestyle on the final day. However, reflecting on their performance today, Amelia simply said, “I’m feeling incredible, he was so perfect today, and I’m really pleased with him.”
Reflecting on their test, Amelia described that “Our test was incredible”, going on to talk about her highlights: "In our simple changes and half passes were really good, which we’ve been practicing at home, so I think he really shone through and showed all the hard work we’ve been doing. At some points he lacked a little ‘oomph’ but I was so pleased that he came back to me and gave me more when I asked him to.”
Amelia and Fury have been partners for many years, and talked to us about the journey that she and the now 11-year-old gelding have been on: “We bought Fury as a four-year-old and we’ve trained him all the way up with help from my trainer Sonia Baines. He’s now 11 and he did his first high profile last year, and he did his first CDI last year as well and he’s just been incredible. He’s just gorgeous, he loves to be the centre of attention of everything. He loves the big atmospheres and everyone looking and clapping at him. Sometimes he finds it a bit overwhelming with spooky things but generally with crowds, he likes the attention of everyone looking at him.”
Reflecting on their incredible 2026 season, Amelia recounted some of her top highlights, including winning at the May Hickstead CDI, the European Championships in June, and the teammates that she has met along the way, “It was just incredible, the camp, the team was just so supportive, and he behaved himself so beautifully. Now coming here to win this, it’s been absolutely amazing.”
Looking forward to 2027, Amelia and Fury have big plans. Amelia stated that following a bit of downtime and a holiday following their busy season, “We might bring him out towards end of this year or start of next year to hopefully qualify him again for the Europeans and do some CDI’s. We might go abroad in the Spring, we would just love to have lots of fun on him next year.”
Fellow European’ teammate Ella Fraser finished in second place on 69.429% aboard Rebecca Fraser’s Brouwershavens’s Viceroy, and Lacey Owen-Morgan completed the top three lineup aboard Lily Cawley’s Sulaatik’s Vingino on a score of 67.428%.
Children on Horses
Winner: Amelia Dovey and Sheepcote Jackson, 77.925%
Amelia Dovey and Hannah Dovey’s Sheepcote Jackson (Johnson x Don Primero) took the win in the British Dressage Under 21 Children on Horses Championship with 77.925%. In front of judges Susie Cumine (B), Sue Carson (B) and Pam Bushell (C), Amelia and Jackson earned 84.250% for the rider mark, and 71.600% for their technical performance. “Today Jackson felt amazing”, Amelia explained to us, “We did have a few eights, and a highlight for me was definitely that we didn’t get below a seven at all for all of our movements. We did good leg yields, including we got an eight for those, and my medium trots with my loop as well.
“At home he is normally a bit lazy, and he can be a bit behind the leg in the warmup, but when he goes into the arena he is just amazing. In the test, he goes in and loves showing off. He loves the prize giving as well.”
At the Europeans, Amelia was the highest placed British rider in the individual competition, and came within touching distance of the medals to finish fourth with 77.27% in the individual test. As part of the team, alongside Sebastian Houlston, Isabelle Stuart and Stella McComb, they brought home British Dressage’s first ever Children on Horses team medal. The quartet finished in third place, and Amelia explained to us that since the Europeans, they have just been at home. “Jackson had a little holiday, and has done lots of hacking and just chipping away at home with training.
“I would also like to say a massive thank you to my trainer, Katie Bailey, for everything she’s done for me this year. I couldn’t have done any of it without her.”
Sophia Parry finished behind Sophia with Morgan Haerr’s Floran with 76.175%, and Sebastian Houlston completed the top three with Charlotte Lutener’s Full Fusion BS on 74.825%.
British Dressage Advanced Medium Gold Championship
Winner: Dannie Morgan and Freya VII, 71.639%
Dannie Morgan won a third 2026 National title in the British Dressage Advanced Medium Gold Championship with Freya VII, scoring 71.639% to secure the top spot.
In front of judges Andrea Smith (E), Nick Burton (H), Richard Baldwin (C), Clive Halsall (M) and Øivind Instefjord Oedemotland (NOR) (B), Dannie produced a clean test to put him over 3% in front of second place. Speaking of his test afterwards, Dannie commented, “The highlights would be that she just did really a solid test. We had no major mistakes and the way of going I think was quite nice. And the mare chose a nice harmony and nice relaxation throughout the test. She's only seven years old and would be one of the younger horses in the class, but she just really does have a super temperament and it's a bit like she's read the script, so she does make my job a bit easier.”
The 16.3hh bay mare (Fidertanz x Rosengold) won her first title at the NAF Winter Championships earlier this year, with this second title coming just five months later. Asked whether he was excited about the future on this horse, Dannie said, “Yeah definitely. I'm in a fortunate position that I do have a few really nice, talented horses that I've had from young horses and I'm just really enjoying the journey with them and training them and results like this are a bonus. But it's more that I'm delighted for my team. Her owners, Karen and Kristina Rausing, they're big supporters of mine and it's just really nice to pull off that result for them as well.”
Freya VII will now have some time off before Dannie will work on developing the small tour work with her next year and progressing from there.
As the LeMieux Nationals looked to draw to a close on the final day, Dannie spoke of his experience of competing at these Championships and what he enjoys about competing here year in, year out “I think it's just the buzz of the competition atmosphere and challenging yourself to go and ride a good test and present the horses in a nice way. And I think also we're competing against the best guys in the country. So that does definitely give me a buzz."
Lucy Palmer and her own La Vida Loca finished in second place with a score of 68.611%, followed closely by Jayne Turney and Vienna WD, owned by Lindsey Roberts, on 68.44%.
KBIS Five-Year-Old Young Horse Championship
Winner: Sarah Millis and Toddington Reet Petite
Sarah Millis took the 2026 KBIS Six-Year-Old Young Horse Championship title with her own and Scarlett Denny’s Toddington Reet Petite (Valverde x Lord Leatherdale). Having finished third in the pre-test the day before, Sarah and Toddington Reet Petite, who is known as Lola to her friends, impressed the judges to come away victorious. Speaking after the results, guest judge Sven Rothenberger described the young mare as a, “Wonderful horse who showed us an ability to get more suspension and a beautiful uphill canter… a super light-footed trot” and “super adjustable topline”, before commenting that the mare’s amazing canter was her highlight, and that, “He would have loved to have a sit on your [Sarah’s] horse, because it really must be a great feeling!”
Speaking to Sarah after the class, she reflected that, “She felt really super. I have to say, in this atmosphere as well, she's never seen anything, as with a lot of them, have never seen this before. But she's a horse that is so focused with the rider, and that's really shone through today as well. She might take a look and be unsure, and then she comes back as if to go ‘oh no, you're holding my hand. That's fine’, and is very confident and willing.” And speaking in comparison to her way of going on Saturday, Sarah explained how the mare’s confidence grew overnight: “You come into this arena, and it has more to see, and with the grandstand and everything around… when you're warming up here, they hear people moving in the grandstand and that can set them off. But she went around and went ‘oh what's this?’ and rises to the occasion, but she was really breathing today, and I felt she actually showed her walk better today than she did yesterday.”
Toddington Reet Petite was also selected to go to Verden, Germany, for the FEI World Breeding Championships this year, but ultimately decided the timing wasn’t quite right as Sarah’s rider, Lilah Gibbs, has not long been out at the U25 European Championships: “It would have been very nice to take her to the worlds. But we just we had had a lot of on… the mare hadn't had that much consistent work at that time as well, closer to the time, and I just felt that we didn't necessarily need to. It's a shame not to, but I think it is also still quite a lot for a five-year-old, and you know. But I think for sure next year it'd be lovely to work towards.”
Rowan Collins, a pupil of Sarah’s, was placed in second with Eduardo Bundyra’s Melody HC (Morricone x Danciano) and Tom Goode place third with Melissa Roos’ Dynamic Prince (Dynamic Dream x Foundation).
KBIS Six-Year-Old Young Horse Championship
Winner: Lily Laughton and Viva Valentine
Lily Laughton and Dr Amanda Crouch’s Viva Valentine (Viva Gold x Ampere) were crowned six-year-old champions for the 2026 KBIS Young Horse Championships. Having finished second in the pre-test, Lily and Viva Valentine blew judges Sven Rothenberger, Isobel Wessels, Spencer Wilton and guest rider Phoebe Peters. Isobel Wessels described what she loved in the young stallion as, “Such activity, the hindleg coming off the ground, his willingness to go forward… it’s a horse that is on side. Really with the rider, and the rider can ride in a nice way because the horse wants to work.”
When Lily described what it felt like in the arena yesterday with Viva Valentine, who is known as Vinnie at home, she simply said, “that horse feels amazing every day. People ask me how was your ride today, or how was this, and he comes out the same every single day. Always gives me 110%, and in there he lit up even more. And he kind of knew that it was a big occasion. He just tried so hard for me, and I couldn't ask any more of him.”
Lily and Vinnie were partnered together at the beginning of the year, and have had a fantastic first season together, having won both the Novice and Elementary Gold at the Aintree Summer Regionals, and finishing third in the Northallerton Young Horse Semi Finals, their journey has been one filled with excellence: “At the beginning when I first got him, he had literally done nothing. At first Premier League, it was, it wasn't his best test. It was quite average, like nothing special. You know, you wouldn't have looked at him and gone ‘that is going to be the six-year-old winner’, and then he's just come out to every show and just got better and better and rose to the occasion. And in his training, he's getting so much stronger. And for him to become national six-year-old champion is just… yeah. He's still very inexperienced for his age. He's really done nothing in his life, really. And this is first like proper year of competing, so it’s really special.”
Vinnie is bred and owned by Dr Amanda Crouch, who explained to us that, “It's very hard breeding horses. So much has gone into them, and to see them actually out competing and doing well… I mean, I knew that little horse when he was born. He's amazing, and to hear all the lovely comments about his self-carriage and things like that… that's what means the most to me. He just phenomenal and I'm just blessed that I’ve got him, and very lucky to have found Lily.”
Finishing just behind Lily was the winner from the pre-test: Bryony Goodwin and Antonia Brown’s Simply Secret (Secret x Waikiki), and Jezz Palmer finished in third place with Adrienne Ward’s MS Broadway M (Bon Courage x Royal Classic).
Horsequest Elementary Gold
Winner: Dannie Morgan and River Rise Pizzazz, 73.939%
Dannie Morgan claimed his fourth and final title of the week aboard Sarah Tyler-Evans and Sadie Smith’s River Rise Pizzazz (Valverde x Lord Leatherdale) with 73.939%. Dannie impressed judges Jane Critchley (E), Claire Ballantyne (H), Mary Robins (C), Claire Moir (M) and Harry Payne (B) with his glittering performance aboard the six-year-old gelding. Dannie had also competed earlier on in the class with his own and Rose McMillan’s Zalando (Zack x Dylano), with whom he finished fourth on 71.697%, but ultimately it was River Rise Pizzazz who took the crown. The young gelding finished second in the KBIS Young Horse Finals the year before, and claimed the Novice Gold title with co-owner Sadie Smith: “I'm very lucky that Sadie's trained the horse so beautifully. So, for me to get on and go and have a little spin round hasn't been too difficult. He really is a credit to Sadie's training.”
Speaking on their test today, Dannie commented that: “I had a horse in this class earlier. One of mine, Zalando, and he did a great test, but had one mistake. So, I really wanted to go in and try and do a clean test on this horse. He's got amazing quality in his paces, and he's a pleasure to ride. Really, so it was nice to go and do a good job for the horse, and also for my great friend Sadie, who owns him with Sarah Tyler Evans.
“She's [Sadie] very busy, and she asked me if I could ride him a bit for her. So, we're doing that. Over the winter we will just keep training the horse and producing him, and then he'll probably be for sale because Sadie's got so many horses, and you just can't keep them all. But he's such a talent, and it's nice that he's come here once again, and shown that today.”
Looking forward to the winter and the very exciting set of horses that Dannie has at home, he explained that, “I'm so fortunate to have so many nice horses to train… it's my dream job. So, I can't really complain, but they're all good horses. I think my job is just to keep developing them each of them as best as I can, and we'll see. But no, I'm very lucky that I have obviously Fever Tree, which everyone knows. But there's a nice string of horses coming up behind him.”
Penny Smith finished in second place with her own Leonid 2 on 73.182%, and Nikki Barker completed our podium lineup with her own Danoa on 72.333%.
British Dressage Advanced Medium Silver Championship
Winner: Katie Alexandra Scott and Liverpool KS
Katie Alexandra Scott made a return to the National Championships winners podium as she won the British Dressage Advanced Medium Silver Championship with Tracey and Wyn Price’s Liverpool KS, three years after the duo’s debut LeMieux Nationals win.
Fiona Lace (E), Alison Duck (H), Fiona Wilson (C), Debby Lush (M) and Lotte Olsen (B) took to the judges’ boxes as 28 riders went down the centre line to compete in the Vector Arena’s final class of the Championships.
Liverpool KS, or Junior as he’s called at home, had recently undergone major surgery and Katie had been unsure whether he would be fully recovered in time for qualifying for the Championships, “I think this win is so special, because Junior had recently had a major surgery and we didn't think I would get him to Regionals”, said Katie. “I only had a few rides on him before Regionals, so no way thought we'd get here. Today was just like a fun ride to try and just enjoy him and give him a good experience because we didn't really feel like he was prepared, and he just succeeded all our expectations.”
After a tricky start to the week, where the pair had to retire from the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver Championship, Katie was able to put this behind her as she headed into the arena for today’s test, where she was the only rider to finish above 70%. Speaking of their performance, she commented, “He went in that arena, he went down the centre line and he halted and I heard the judges go 6, 6, 6, and he put his head up and he was like ‘oh, this again!’ And then he just tried and tried and got better and better. When I came out and heard the score I just didn't expect it. I’m so happy because there was some really good quality and it was a big class, so I didn't think we'd do that well.”
Katie talked of how these Championships are extra special to her, as she used to train with the late Stephen Clarke, who sadly passed away recently and was such a prominent figure at Somerford Park, “I know he wanted to stand in that Pavilion and watch me ride and so I know that he'd just be so happy today. He's the reason that we do this, he's the reason we started our dressage journey because he said to me ‘you're good at this so you need to have a go at it’. He's always been the only person I’ve trained with but he introduced me more recently to Charlotte [Dujardin], so Charlotte came and warmed me up today before she did the Grand Prix. She ran over and helped me, which is just invaluable, and gave me the confidence.
But I want to dedicate my win today to Stephen.”
And the duo have their sights set even higher; “Stephen said he'd eat his hat if I don't get Junior to Grand Prix! So that’s our challenge” said Katie. They’re aiming next for the PSG and Inter I at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships.
In second place was Anna Burns and San Isidro, owned by Jo Cooper, with a score of 69.722%, followed by Joe Roome and his own Acqua Marina Della Caccia on 68.805%.
