News
Multiple Wins for British Riders at Aachen
- Written By: British Dressage | Maddie Hinchliff
- Published: Fri, 08 May 2026 09:00
Competing at the iconic Allianz Park at the CHIO Aachen Showgrounds, CDI Aachen (4 – 6 May) delivered outstanding success to our British riders competing in the CDI3*, U25 and Young Rider classes.
On Monday, Ruby Hughes extended her impressive form this season to take the win in the Young Rider Team Test aboard Emma Blundell’s Mount St John Jazz Dance, winning on collectives ahead of Polish rider Caroline Pawluk riding Fuerst Fernando OLD with a score of 68.333%. Following Ruby’s impressive win, her father, Gareth Hughes, took to the arena aboard his own, Rebecca Hughes and Georgina Wilkinson’s Mowgli-Olympia MC. The nine-year-old gelding completed his first trip abroad in only his second 3* event, finishing fourth out of 30 competitors with a highly respectable score of 70.131%. This followed their first Grand Prix just six weeks ago at the Myerscough Premier League.
Tuesday brought forward a second win of the week for Ruby, this time in the Young Rider Individual Test. Riding Mount St John Jazz Dance, known as Jillz at home, Ruby scored 69.314% in the combinations second international competition together, taking a 0.2% lead over Swiss rider Sabrina Reitiker. “It was our first abroad international so to come away with two wins was just phenomenal- I’m so proud of her. She really stepped up to the atmosphere of Aachen- there’s no feeling quite like that stadium so to go there and win just feels so special. It’s a credit to all of our hard work this season, I feel like we have grown as a partnership and just clicked”.
Gareth went on to compete in the Grand Prix Special, to secure third place with 70.702%, just under half a percent behind the Finnish winner, Henri Ruoste. "This was a big step up for him [Mowgli]", Gareth commented, "we wanted to take him just to gain experience. Aachen always has a very special feel; it was really nice to just take him in there. He coped with it all extremely well, maybe a little bit shy in the Grand Prix but he really stepped up in the special. We had a couple of little mistakes on both days, but he is just such a young horse at Grand Prix. Georgina and ourselves are really excited about him- he feels like he is an out-and-out Grand Prix horse. He's very comfortable with the work, he just now needs to gain that strength, confidence and maturity but it will be really exciting to see where he ends up".
Later in the evening, Harrison Ashton and Ruby went head-to-head in the U25 Intermediate II, with Harrison taking the win aboard Henri Rouste and Equeco GmbH’s Spectre. In their debut competition together, Harrison scored 69.167% with the 13-year-old, Rousseau-sired gelding. Reflecting on the experience, Harrison took to Instagram to say that this show was “His [Spectre’s] first big tour class, and first show in many years… he tried his best for me today” going on to add, “He’s a lovely horse, and I think there’s still much more to come from him”.
Following Harrison, Ruby undertook her second test of the day, this time aboard Fanella Quinn and Abigail Lyle’s Farrell. In the combination’s first international together, they finished just behind Harrison with 67.941%.
Wednesday saw Harrison and Ruby go head-to-head in the U25 Grand Prix, this time with Ruby taking her third win of the week, securing victory on 68.846%. When asked to reflect on the experience, Ruby commented: “This was my first ever U25 international, I’ve got very limited experience at this level, so Farrell really held my hand around those tests. He’s like my professor so I’m really just so grateful to learn from him. We definitely grew throughout the show and our scores got better so to come away with the win on the final day was just so special. It’s been quite a lot of juggling as I start my A-levels next week so this wouldn’t be possible without my amazing team around me, and from Elina Pedersen who is supporting me with the opportunity of the ride on Farrell”.
Harrison finished just 0.384% behind Ruby, on a score of 68.462%. Via Instagram, he shared, “Another strong promising score today for his first debut with many tired mistakes from a long week. Very proud of him”.
Congratulations go to all the riders and support team involved for the achievements over the week as we look forward to the remainder of the season ahead.
Results- Top Three and British Riders
Monday 4 May
Young Rider Team Test
1. Ruby Hughes and Mount St John Jazz Dance, 68.333% (GBR)
2. Caroline Pawluk and Fuerst Fernando OLD, 68.333% (POL)
3. Sabrina Reitiker and Faviola 3, 68.186% (SUI)
3* Grand Prix
1. João Pedro Moreira and Fuerst Kennedy OLD, 71.413% (POR)
2. Henri Ruoste and Delaurentis FRH, 70.587% (FIN)
3. Nicolas Wagner Ehlinger and Quarter Back Junior FRH, 70.348% (LUX)
4. Gareth Hughes and Mowgli-Olympia MC, 70.131% (GBR)
Tuesday 5 May
Young Rider Individual Test
1. Ruby Hughes and Mount St John Jazz Dance, 69.314% (GBR)
2. Sabrina Reitiker and Faviola 3, 69.069% (SUI)
3. Caroline Pawluk and Fuerst Fernando OLD, 68.431% (POL)
3* Grand Prix Special
1. Henri Ruoste and Delaurentis FRH, 71.170% (FIN)
2. Nicolas Wagner Ehlinger and Quarter Back Junior FRH, 70.723% (LUX)
3. Gareth Hughes and Mowgli-Olympia MC, 70.702% (GBR)
U25 Intermediate II
1. Harrison Ashton and Spectre, 69.167% (GBR)
2. Ruby Hughes and Farrell, 67.941% (GBR)
Wednesday 6 May
U25 Grand Prix
1. Ruby Hughes and Farrell, 68.846% (GBR)
2. Harrison Ashton and Spectre, 68.462% (GBR)
