NAF Five Star Winter Championships 26: day three

Day three at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships saw another British team superstar take a title and more first-time winners enjoy their debut moment in the spotlight, whilst Magic Prix St Georges champion Gracie Catling took her second major win of the week. 

Equi-Trek Elementary Gold 

Winner: Sophie Wells and Ontario, 72.475% 

After placing second in yesterday’s SPILLERS Medium Freestyle Gold, British team stalwart Sophie Wells went one better and claimed the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold title with hher own Ontario. The pair delivered a sublime performance to soar clear of the field on a winning mark of 72.475%.  

Speaking about ‘Rio’ who’s been part of the team for 18-months, Sophie said: “I bought him from Amy Woodhead, she’s been instrumental in me getting him. I own him with Charlotte Hogg who’s been a long-term owner for me, I’m very grateful for that. He’s such a cool dude.” 

“He’s only seven, so he’s still young although not a baby-baby,” she continued about the gelding who’s stepped up from competing at Novice level at last year’s LeMieux Nationals. “For him to have stepped up and come second at Medium level yesterday and then to win today is super, I’m thrilled with him. I’m just more thrilled that he went in the arena and was happy as Larry, like he is at home. It’s a really impressive arena, so you never know how they’re going to be.” 

“He’s not the most expressive horse but he’s got three good paces, it’s all nice and there’s something to build on. His walk is mega and has potential for big marks. He’s just a good trainable sort with a great brain. I’m very lucky to be training him.” 

Sophie’s now preparing for a trip to Belgium with her other ride MSJ Gold Standard, “we’re off for one of the qualifying events for the World Championships this year. Hopefully he’ll be following in her footsteps and potentially looking at LA 2028; it would be amazing if he’s up there, strong enough and ready to do it. 

“We’ll keep developing him through the levels and I want him to be the happiest horse in the arena. That’s such a thing for me, I’ve had some amazing horses and I just want them to go in their and really enjoy their job. Not feeling any extra in the arena compared to at home, I’m trying to get that balance right and so far he’s thrived off it.” 

“It’s been great,” Sophie concluded reflecting on the Winter Championships experience, “it’s been relaxed but when you go in the arena there’s a great buzz there, a real championship feel. You don’t get many opportunities to get them into that sort of environment so this is part of his preparation hopefully for the future.” 

It was a one-two switch from the final podium on day two, as today Dannie Morgan and Fürst Lady III earned second place with 70.151%;  Jayne Turney – who rode first at 7.50am this morning - had made the most of living just around the corner and turned her horse back out in the field, before making a swift return back to Addington for the prize giving as Fiona O’Hara’s Finnegan Mac earned third with 69.949% 

Petplan Novice Bronze 

Winner: Ella Green and Majestic Artist, 71.333% 

The Petplan Novice Bronze was won by Berkshire-based Ella Green, riding her own 13-year-old mare Majestic Artist, with a score of 71.333% . The combination wowed judges Penelope Lang (C), Gillian Peters (M) and Sophie Dickinson (E) in their first year of British Dressage, and at their very first NAF Five Star Winter Championships.  

When summing up her test, Ella highlighted “her medium trot and canter were a real highlight. Her medium trot just felt amazing, I’m just so pleased”. The mare, known as Magic in the stable, as very hot and “easily wound up and sensitive in new situations, but it’s lovely how chilled and relaxed it is here”.  

Originally destined for eventing, Ella purchased the mare seven years ago but found that Magic didn’t take to cross country: “We decided to give dressage a go and she’s absolutely thriving at it!”. The combination will now aim to step up to elementary and hopefully be back here next year.  

Second place was claimed by Michelle Woolmer riding her own Tullibards Mr Globetrotter, a nine-year-old chestnut Irish-bred gelding, on a score of 70.389%. Third place was another newcomer to the world of British Dressage, Jazz Blucher riding her own 12-year-old gelding For Fusion II (For Compliment x Lord Loxley). Jazz, who only joined BD in October last year, danced her way to 70.111%.  

HorseLight Medium Silver 

Winner: Natasha Gibbons and Penhaligon Soleilette Aimee, 73.565% 

Natasha Gibbons made it three titles in three consecutive years with her wonderful Penhaligon Soleilette (Freischutz x Soliman De Hus), returning to the championship podium in the HorseLight Medium Silver. From succeeding at Novice in 2024 and Elementary in 2025, today it was a step up to Medium level and a winning score of 73.565%.  

“It’s lovely,” Natasha smiled reflecting on her win, “I’m very excited. There’s a little bit of relief too because she’s won for the last two years. At some point the streak is going to end... but not this year! 

Their convincing test earned a host of eights, as well as a nine for medium canter. “She warmed up really calmy, she was a little tense when we arrived yesterday but she was super chilled this morning and then lit up again in the ring which was great.” 

“We brought her home at six months,” Natasha said of her now eight-year-old, having purchased her as a foal at the Elite Auction, “we’ve had her the whole way through and done it all ourselves. She's been great, she hasn’t had any obstacles – she's just found everything very easy.” 

Natasha admits her wonderful mare can be a little high maintenance, although remains a dream horse: “She’s lovely, a dream to have, we’re very very lucky.” 

Concluding about her future hopes, Natasha said: “She’s out at Advanced Medium, we’re hoping to do an Advanced in the summer, we’re starting to play with stuff. Hopefully [said with fingers crossed] by the end of the year, PSG! We’ve got some lovely music, but she gets very excited with the music... so we need to do some desensitising!” 

Bethany Edginton has a wonderful track record at these championships and added another second place to her collection, scoring 72.176% with Nelson HD. Third place belonged to Emma Mason, who rode a lovely test with Emma Jenkinson’s Fleur G to notch up 70.787%.

Superflex Intermediate I Gold 

Winner: Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 70.833%  

After winning her first championship title yesterday, Gracie Catling fast earned her second – impressing Claire Deithrick (H), Nick Burton (C) and Jane Peberdy (B) to score 70.833% and secure the Superflex Intermediate I Gold title with Qwinton.  

Gracie was overjoyed to claim her second title, saying “To win two at once is a surprise, especially after such a long time of not winning! So I’m so pleased.” 

“I was really pleased with him because he came off the lorry extra spicy today,” the local young rider continued, speaking about her test today. “I was a bit concerned that he might not be able to keep a lid on it, but he did the whole way through. He gets hotter and hotter as he goes on but I was really pleased that he did contain himself! Me and Mum were on the lorry keeping him calm and tickling his face.” 

Gracie has a very special relationship with her gelding, and spoke about what he means to her after their journey together: “I brought him back from nothing after four years of no work, because he had laminitis and lots of issues. So to bring him up to this level and to win is so special and we know him so well and it’s taken a long time to really get inside his head and get the best with him.” 

Next up for the pair is a ride around the Superflex Freestyle tomorrow. Will it be third time lucky for the duo? “I don’t know! If he comes off even hotter tomorrow then maybe not! I’m just so delighted with how he’s performed so far this week that anything he does tomorrow is a bonus.” 

“I’ve got very special team around me who keep it all together,” Gracie concluded, reflecting on a busy week between home and the Winters, “my Mum is just amazing she’s in the background doing everything and it’s been really  busy but so rewarding.”  

Claire Abel and GF Sezuki held the lead for a good stint, their score of 70.294% would see them place as eventual runners up. Third place was claimed by Sarah Wilkinson and Horacia (Jazz x Sandro Hit) on 68.775%.  

Petplan Advanced Medium Silver 

Winner: Alice Begg and Kiolita, 69.386% 

Alice Begg brought home her second win of the week in the Petplan Advanced Medium Silver Area Festival Championship, this time with the 11-year-old mare Kiolita. In front of Rebecca Trower (E), Sue Petty (C) and Jane Critchley (M), Alice rode to 69.386% to top the 33-strong class.  

 

“It’s unbelievable,” Alice said on what it’s like to win not one but two titles, “I came here with no expecataions was so happy on Wednesday when I went home after wining the medium I really wasn’t expecting it today but I’m just so happy.” 

Having only worked with her lovely mare 18-months, Alice admitted it’s been a road of patience and sensitivity to get to this point. “She’s been very sharp, lively and can find things quite overwhelming. We’re finally coming out the other side and now she enjoys it all. Once we’d done our first halt, she took a breath and went with me and it was beautiful. I really enjoyed it. Today meant a lot because she worked with me.”  

Alice hopes to keep training her mare through the levels: “I’d love to do Prix St Georges and hopefully Inter I next time. I think the harder the work gets, because she’s very sharp and clever, her brain will be even better. Fingers crossed for more sashes!”  

With wins here and at the Para Winter Championships, 2026 is shaping up into quite the season for the Greater London-based rider. “We’ve done lots of competing this year and I think it’s really helped the horses. I’ve been doing this for 12 years, weirdly, before Christmas I just had this feeling that 2026 would be my year and it seems to be going well so far! I haven’t changed anything, but it seems to be working so I’m not going to change anything. The horses have come out completely different this year, hopefully it’ll keep getting better and better.” 

“I don’t think I can describe the week, I’m speechless, it’s not sunk in yet,” Alice concluded.  

It was a close contest for the remaining podium spots, with Fiona Wallbank and her own Bordeaux-sired gelding Woodlander Booker T placing second with 67.982%, followed by India John and her perennial 25-year-old veteran Grayswood Orlando on a score of 67.281%. 

Petplan Novice Silver 

Winner: Claire Tucker and MCS Fiorella, 70.889% 

First titles have been a theme this week, and Devon-based Claire Tucker earned a championship sash of her own in the Petplan Novice Silver, winning the class in convincing fashion with 70.889%.  

“I’m just elated,” Claire said after her prize giving with MCS Fiorella (For Romance x His Highness), “it makes all the hard work and early mornings worth it.” 

Speaking about her test in the Petplan arena, she continued: “She’s young and she’s not done very much, so to go in and deal with everything what super. She came in and felt happy and confident and relaxed. I couldn’t be any happier with her. Even if she hadn’t come anywhere today I’d still be over the moon with her.” 

“She goes out with her donkey in the day,” Claire explained about the beautiful chestnut seven-year-old, “she’s a girl, she’s got an opinion but she’s a diamond to work with. I hack her out and jump her, she’s brilliant and very easy to do. She’s been like it since she was born.” 

Claire bred her Petplan champion too, as she explained: “Her mum had a lot of boys and I don’t keep them, so when she had a girl, I was like... she’s staying!” Fiorella has also had a foal herself as a five-year-old, before beginning her competition journey last year.  

“I breed one or two a year, dressage horses and eventers – we try to breed quality, trainable horses. I’ve got two older boys too. It’s a lot of work but I I love what I do, living in the middle of nowhere in Devon.” 

With just a handful of marks between the top four, a spot in the prize giving was well earned. Anastasia Meadows and MGH April placed as runners up on 70.389%, whilst Alice Reid and Iggy Pop II finished just a whisker behind on 70.167%. 

Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver 

Winner: Amy Ward and MS Broadway M, 75.185% 

MS Broadway M and his owner rider Amy Ward experienced their first major BD success together last year and were back for more in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver, making the title their own with an incredible 75.185%.  

Rewarded by Tim Pearson (H), Claire Ballantyne (C) and Andrew Bennie (B), this score sets the standard in the Silver classes, as the highest mark of the show so far.  

“It’s my first season doing Freestyles, after winning Prelim at the Nationals, it was a great opportunity to step up to Novice and bring in the music element too. It’s a completely different format! I’m familiar with watching it but doing it yourself is a totally different feeling, I love that you can play to your strengths as a partnership.” 

Amy admitted to feeling the pressure in bringing her Prelim and KBIS five-year-old champion to another major event, but she handled it with class and poise. “I love it,” Amy said about taking part in the sport, “I love the training, it’s all about how can we improve the fundaments as much as we can whilst moving through the levels. I felt the pressure here a little, but I tried to use to take it to the next level.” The rider is inspired by a personal motto of ‘level up’ which is embroidered into her jacket, “it can’t be your day every day, but you’ve got to get out of bed wanting it to be your day. We just try and put our best hoof forward!” 

“The mediums still need more balance and work, but when they’re good they’re amazing – the power he has is incredible. He has a really good walk too, we used this at the beginning of his test to create drama.” 

“The theme was epic,” Amy said about her “Tom Hunt designed the music and Jezz [Palmer] helped with the floorplan. He’s a horse horse with a lot of stage presence in the arena, so everything was about playing up to that and letting him show off everything he’s got. There were a few moments I’d have like to have kept it back a little, but we went with the energy! He loved it clearly!” 

“Everything is such a community and team effort,” Amy concluded on the championship experience, “I’m lucky to be part of Anmore Dressage and training with Jezz too.  I love the venue and atmosphere here, it’s so exciting to be part of this again.” 

In a class of outstanding standard – where no fewer than seven former Area Festival or National champions joined the starting lineup. Stacey Kinnear and Francis Morpheus (Franklin x Edward) were reserve champions with a wonderful 72.500%, whilst Jo Wicks and her own eight-year-old Noblesse Oblige earned 71.204% to complete the final podium of the day.  

FULL RESULTS

Photos: Kevin Sparrow / Camille Peters