News
Stars shine at 2026 Equissage Pulse Para Winter Championships
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:45
The Equissage Pulse Para Winter Championships (19 – 22 February 2026) once again showcased the very best of para dressage talent, bringing riders together at Arena UK in Lincolnshire for a celebration of dedication, partnership and top-quality winter competition. 
Photo: Erin Orford and LJT Nutbush | ATG Photography
Gold Championships
After forming a partnership in 2025, Erin Orford and the Lady Joseph Trust’s LJT Nutbush put in a convincing performance at Arena UK to start their season in title-winning style. Judged by Moria Richardson, Joyce Head and Cherry Elvin, Erin rode an accomplished Grade III Grand Prix B Gold test to top the class with 73.611%. The double European medallist, world medallist and UKCC Level 2 coach took to Facebook, full of praise for her promising partner: “I love this horse! A great weekend at Arena UK for the Para Winter Championships. Gus was his usual amazing self, and I am just doing my best to catch up with him! Getting the highest scores on both days with over 75% on Friday to win the qualifier and over 73% on Sunday to be Grade 3 National Champions! So nice to see everything we worked on over the winter coming together whilst knowing there's still things that can be better. A huge thank you to his owners Carl Hester, Roly Luard, Lady Joseph Trust, Henrietta Cheetham and Anne Barrott for giving me this opportunity. Thanks to Sophie Wells for all her training, support and sacrificing her day off on Sunday, BJR Equine for grooming Friday and Ryan Trafford for Sunday while Mum and Dad were stuck at home supporting via live scores. Thanks also to the home team & sponsors for making it possible.”
Fellow team medallist Georgia Wilson was also in top form throughout the week, securing the Grade II Gold title after earning a brilliant 70.111% in the Grand Prix B test with Faside Got The Love. Georgia and the elegant black 10-year-old have been competing together since 2022, and look a fantastic partnership inside the white boards.
Elan Williams took up the reins of Jan Cummings’ Rhonderful Dorrells and secured her very first Gold title, with 70.625% in the Grade I Grand Prix B. ‘Ronnie’ is a multi-talented gelding and also took to the arena with his owner Jan for placings in the Grade III Gold classes too. North Wales-based Elan has been competing in para dressage since the age of eight, and has now stepped up onto horses with two irons in the fire for 2026 – Ronnie and Alice Begg’s former ride Nalique, known to her friends as ‘Nellie’. A delighted Elan reflected on her experience on Facebook: “What a great weekend at the Equissage Pulse Winter Champs! Ronnie and I won the Grade I Gold National Championship — my first time taking the title at this level, which makes it extra special. We scored 70%+ each day (even with a dropped rein in the middle of one test ), and I couldn’t be prouder of this incredible horse. He really is a super star. A huge thank you and congratulations to his owner, Jan Cummings who also rode him this weekend — it’s so special to share his success together. And thank you to Lindsey McDonald for warming him up each day and helping set us up for great rides. Thank you to my amazing coach Sara Jones-Williams for the constant support and guidance, John Norcross for helping us set her up in the warm up for me (all the way from Doha!) and to my parents Ceris Williams for always being there through every high and low. And finally, it was so lovely to see and catch up with friends.”
Laura Scott took home a brace of Equissage Championship wins, claiming both the Grade IV Gold and Grade IV Freestyle Gold titles with her own CEI Summer Days (Summertime Blues x Hotline). Their opening title score was a stellar 69.685%, followed with 69.125% in the Freestyle judged by Cherry Elvin and Joyce Head. Former jockey Laura was one of the standout performers on the British para dressage scene in 2025, winning the Grade IV title at the LeMieux National Championships, as well as earning a clean-sweep of wins at her first CPEDI3* in Wellington.
Alice Begg is yet another rider to carry fine form from last season into 2026. On board her own charming KWPN mare Kiolita, Alice earned the top spot in the Grade V Gold Championship with 67.805%, before going on to earn the Freestyle Gold victory too, this time with a strong 79.313%. Not to be left out, Kiolita’s stable mate Noraly (Secret x Everdale) also took the second spot in the Grade V Freestyle Gold with 70.188%.
Silver Championships
Para Academy rider Alisha Robbins reaped the rewards of winter training with two Silver victories on board her wonderful dancing partner Fransham Fella. The combination began their campaign with 67.708% and title number one in the Grade I Intermediate A Silver Championships, before following this success up with a Freestyle title too, on a score of 69.084%. The pair also enjoyed great experience in the Grade I Gold Championship, placing behind Elan Williams for second with 66.528%.
Loretta Joynson brought her two rides Ojengel CVH and Tresais Lancelot to Arena UK and returned home to Carmarthenshire with two titles and two runner-up placings to boot. With her own Bel Amour-sired gelding Ojengel CVH she topped the Grade V Intermediate A Silver class with 67.262%, whilst also claiming the Grade V Introductory Bronze spoils with a fantastic mark of 71.154%.
Lacey O’Hara was another rider to do the double at her level and section, securing the Grade II Intermediate A and Freestyle Silver titles with the wonderful 19-year-old Blue Diamond. Whilst in the Grade III Championship, Isabella Benfield and Lamborghini III (Gunner GS x Andretti) were Silver section stars with 68.492%.
Keeley Squires and Landis High Society earned a Silver title of their own in the Grade IV section, scoring 60.93%. Whilst, in the Freestyle classes, Laura Tennant and Legato II were Grade III champions, alongside Mark Colvin and Ballylinan Patches who claimed the Grade V music title.
Bronze Championships
The Irish Sports Horse Chilly Breeze was truly the Bronze horse to remember at Arena UK, taking home titles with both Lisa and Mark Griffin in the saddle. Lisa Griffin earned 64.842% in front of Linda Pearce, John Robinson and Moria Richardson to claim the Grade IV Introductory Bronze Equissage title, before Mark took to the saddle to claim the Grade III class with 60.167%.
Naomi Smith and Rolo Polo were winners in the Grade II Introductory Bronze class, whilst Richard Neumann and the aptly-named Artist S put in a beautiful performance to music to win the Grade V Freestyle Bronze Championship – their total score was 68.750%, with some lovely marks in the artistic collectives.
Congratulations to all the riders who took part — it was fantastic to see such great performances across the board. A huge thank you to Arena UK for delivering such a brilliantly organised show, and to our title sponsors, Equissage Pulse, for their valued support.
We’re also incredibly grateful to the judges, stewards, scorers and all the volunteers behind the scenes whose hard work and dedication ensured a smooth and enjoyable event for everyone involved.
Results
Equissage Pulse Bronze Para Winter Championships
Grade II Introductory Bronze
1. Naomi Smith and Rolo Polo, 53.651%
Grade III Introductory Bronze
1. Mark Anthony Griffin and Chilly Breeze, 60.167%
Grade IV Introductory Bronze
1. Lisa Griffin and Chilly Breeze, 64.842%
Grade V Introductory Bronze
1. Loretta Joynson and Ojengel CVH, 71.154%
2. Loretta Joynson and Tresais Lancelot, 69.038%
3. Linda DeMatteo and Beant Lan, 67.244%
Equissage Pulse Bronze Freestyle Championships
Grade V Freestyle Bronze
1. Richard Neumann and Artist S, 68.750%
Equissage Pulse Silver Para Winter Championships
Grade I Intermediate A Silver
1. Alisha Robbins and Fransham Fella, 67.708%
Grade II Intermediate A Silver
1. Lacey O’Hara and Blue Diamond, 66.053%
Grade III Intermediate A Silver
1. Isabella Benfield and Lamborghini, 68.492%
2. Alexandra Stewart and Beau VIII, 68.333%
3. Laura Tennant and Legato II, 67.937%
Grade IV Intermediate A Silver
1. Keeley Squires and Landis High Society, 60.933%
Grade V Intermediate A Silver
1. Loretta Joynson and Ojengel CVH, 67.262%
2. Loretta Joynson and Tresais Lancelot, 65.595%
3. Helen Geddes and Johnny Boo Roos, 65.297%
Equissage Pulse Silver Freestyle Championships
Grade I Freestyle Silver
1. Alisha Robbins and Fransham Fella, 69.084%
Grade II Freestyle Silver
1. Lacey O’Hara and Blue Diamond, 66.834%
Grade III Freestyle Silver
1. Laura Tennant and Legato II, 65.834%
Grade V Freestyle Silver
1. Mark Colvin and Ballylinan Patches, 62.250%
Equissage Pulse Gold Para Winter Championships
Grade I Grand Prix B Gold
1. Elan Williams and Rhonderful Dorrells, 70.625%
2. Alisha Robbins and Fransham Fella, 66.528%
Grade II Grand Prix B Gold
1. Georgia Wilson and Faside Got The Love, 70.111%
2. Lee Pearson and Edith Van De Helle, 69.667%
3. Sarah Suddaby and Hit Song, 68.889%
Grade III Grand Prix B Gold
1. Erin Orford and LJT Nutbush, 73.611%
2. Vicky Earnshaw and Midline Rioja, 66%
3. Janet Cummings and Rhonderful Dorrells, 63.722%
Grade IV Grand Prix B Gold
1. Laura Scott and CEI Summer Days, 69.685%
2. Heather Bennett and Dolores van Cartier CF, 67.252%
3. Sara Bates and Solo Hit 2, 65.987%
Grade V Grand Prix B Gold
1. Alice Begg and Kiolita, 67.807%
2. Flossie England and Sankro, 65.746%
3. Liz McBurney and Bangalore C, 65.333%
Equissage Pulse Gold Freestyle Championships
Grade III Freestyle Gold
1. Vicky Earnshaw and Prince Pepe, 67.167%
2. Janet Cummings and Rhonderful Dorrells, 65.167%
Grade IV Freestyle Gold
1. Laura Scott and CEI Summer Days, 69.125%
2. Sara Bates and Solo Hit 2, 68.063%
Grade V Freestyle Gold
1. Alice Begg and Kiolita, 70.313%
2. Alice Begg and Noraly, 70.188%
3. Flossie England and Sankro, 67.563%
