Phoebe Peters and McMary take two Tolbert top spots

Dutch-based Phoebe Peters led the way for Brits taking part in Tolbert CDI (9 – 12 April 2026), achieving two promising young horse victories with the five-year-old McMary. 

Former British youth European Champion Phoebe Peters returned to the international podium after a ten-year hiatus, securing two from two in the FEI young horse classes for five-year-olds on board the exciting Dutch-owned McMary (Mclaren x Ampere). The pair have been highly successful in Dutch national shows, winning the Subli Cup young horse competition for five-year-olds at Jumping Amsterdam earlier this year, as well as securing four-year-old titles in 2025 at the Pavo Cup and VSN Trophy finals. Owned by Reesink Horses and Kiki Courtelis, the bay mare is sired by Mclaren and out of an Ampere mare. 

In the opening FEI Five-Year-Old Preliminary round, the combination were rewarded an impressive 85.600% by Kurt Christensen (DEN), Barbara Ardu (ITA) and Jean-Michel Roudier (FRA). Amongst their marks on the first day of competition were a 9.5 for trot, 8.7 for canter and an exciting 9 for perspective. In the FEI Five-Year-Old Final test, it was another place on the top step of the podium, this time scoring 82.800%.  

Based at Reesink Horses in the Netherlands, Phoebe reflected on her success with the bright young mare: "I didn't have any expectations going into the show - we know how amazing Mary is but it's such a big step going from national to international tests for the five-year-olds. She's still relatively green with the test movements, so I was super happy with how she went and also with how well she handled her first stay away show with this atmosphere. I was so happy with the judges comments and marks, there's also plenty for us to go away and work on ready for goals later in the season too. She's a really wonderful, talented mare and I'm so lucky to be on this journey with her."

The journey back to international competition has been a long road for the 26-year-old, who explained what it meant to represent Great Britain again: "It's been ten years since I last represented GB - that was the Junior Europeans in 2016. Between now and then I represented Holland at the World Young Horse Championships but it's so nice to be riding for Britain again. It's been a lot of hard work, ups and downs, being back has really given me the bug for international competition again. There's nothing more special than representing your country and it makes all the hard work worthwhile."

In the U25 classes, Harrison Ashton rode the handsome Davalerian to three great results; culminating in a third place finish in the U25 Grand Prix Freestyle. Their week began with 67.549% for fifth in the Intermediate II, before going on to earn 65.812% in the 16-25 Grand Prix. On Sunday, the duo really shone in their music performance, finding their tune for a superb 70.642% and a spot on the podium.  

Both Darren Hicks and Sarah Higgins represented Great Britain in the 3* Grand Prix classes, where no fewer than 34 combinations started in the opening round. Darren and the 12-year-old Tramonta Tiger Feet (Grey Flanell x Hotline) earned the top placing at Big Tour level, completing their week with a fantastic Grand Prix Freestyle ride which earned them eighth place and 69.275% in front of Maria Colliander (E – FIN), Susan Hoevenaars (H – AUS), Patricia Wolters (C – NED), Marlena Gruca Rucinska (M – POL) and Frederico Pinteus (B – POR).  

Results - top three and British riders 

5YO Preliminary  
1. Phoebe Peters and McMary, 85.600% (GBR)  
2. Jos Hogendoorn and Raleigh, 79.600% (NED) 
3. Moises Jovar Azuar and Rivivi Litchy US, 74.800% (ESP)  

5YO Final 
1. Phoebe Peters and McMary, 82.800% (GBR)  
2., Moises Jover Azuar and Rivivi Litchy US, 79.400% (ESP)  
3., Karine Pylypenko and Sir Platinum, 79.200% (UKR)  

U25 Intermediate II 
1. Frederikke Gram Jacobsen and Ryvangs Zafina, 70.098% (DEN)  
2. Anna Schölermann and Vitally PCH, 69.313% (GER) 
3. Lea Andreassen Torabi and Jivago de Massa, 68.676% (DEN)  
=5. Harrison Ashton and Davalerian, 67.549% (GBR)  

U25 16-25 Grand Prix  
1. Frederikke Gram Jacobsen and Ryvangs Zafina, 68.889% (DEN)  
2. Maja Hermansson and Diva Pilekaer, 68.334% (SWE)  
3. Anna Schölermann and Vitally PCH, 67.607% (GER)  
7. Harrison Ashton and Davalerian, 65.812% (GBR) 

U25 Grand Prix Freestyle 
1. Frederikke Gram Jacobsen and Ryvangs Zafina, 73.117% (DEN)  
2. Lea Andreassen Torabi and Jivago de Massa, 70.733% (DEN)  
3. Harrison Ashton and Davalerian, 70.642% (GBR)  

3* Grand Prix  
1. Therese Nilshagen and Navarro, 72.935% (SWE)  
2. Karoline Rohmann and Jakas Don Louvre, 70.282% (DEN)  
3. Juliane Brunkhorst and DSP Diamante Negro, 68.913% (GER)  
24. Darren Hicks and Tramontana Tiger Feet, 63.782% (GBR)  
30. Sarah Higgins and Samuel, 61.587% (GBR)  

3* Grand Prix Freestyle 
1. Juan Antonio Jimenez-Cobo and Quartar, 73.430% (ESP)  
2. Diederik van Silfhout and Dante US, 73.230% (NED)  
3. Beata Söderberg and Talento 4, 72.615% (SWE)  
8. Darren Hicks and Tramontana Tiger Feet, 69.275% (GBR)  

FULL RESULTS

Photo: Digishots