Summer Regionals 25: Bury Farm

Buckinghamshire’s Bury Farm hosted the third BD Summer Regional last week (22 - 24 July 2025), with some returning champions coming back for more success, alongside some exciting newcomers adding their names to the LeMieux Nationals start list.  

Danish Olympian Anders Dahl brought a rising star to Bury Farm in his own nine-year-old Ellely’s Focus and earned the top spot in the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold; the duo scored 72.750% in front of Sara-Jane Lanning, Fiona Wilson and Claire Ballantyne. The Danish-bred bay gelding is by leading sire Franklin and out of a Quaterback mare, and made his debut at Prix St Georges level in March this year, before campaigning lightly throughout the season including an appearance at Wellington Riding Premier League.  

Speaking about his eight-year-old, Anders said: "I bought him in Denmark two years ago as a very green and undeveloped horse. The original plan was to keep him for a few years and then sell him, but I’ve since decided to keep him through to Grand Prix and see where we end up. He has a very good age for the next Olympics.

"Overall, I was really pleased with how he stayed calm and focused throughout the test. He gave me a really nice feeling—full of energy. It all felt very secure, though there were still some small moments of imbalance from inexperience; there are still lots of areas where he will improve. There’s definitely much more to come from him. My plan is to ride him in the PSG at the Nationals and then focus on Inter II and Grand Prix. I hope he’ll be ready for Inter II later this year and for GP in the spring, but I will take my time with him as I think he will be really exciting in the future."

Jezz Palmer and Dannie Morgan continue to collect LeMieux National tickets with their talented rides, whilst Imogen Swann also repeated former success at a second Regional Championship. Jezz secured the top spots in both The Centre Line Prelim Gold, topping another competitive class with a score of 75.930% on Martin Price’s Black Jack Anmore; before going on to claim the BETTALIFE Novice Gold with his FEI WBSFH World Breeding Championships graduate Premier Anmore (First Date x Governor). In the HorseQuest Elementary Gold Dannie Morgan was victorious with the expressive gelding Empathic, owned by Elizabeth Frampton-Hobbs, riding to a top score of 72.170%.  

Imogen Swann earned another pair of Regional titles, leading the way in the BETTALIFE Novice Silver (Upgrade Jame WS) and HorseQuest Elementary Silver (SJL Liberty); the LeMieux National Championships certainly looks an exciting, busy week for this up-and-coming 25-year-old rider.  

Another young rider to watch, Violet Hawkins, took the top placing in the TopSpec Medium Silver with her FEI pony partner DZL Royal Sunrise. Violet, who’s coached by Louise Bell, rode to a super 67.640%. Speaking on social media, the elated rider commented: “Paddy for the second year in a row is Medium Silver Champion at Regionals! Every year Paddy proves a little pony can stand out in a class full of big horses and qualify for Nationals, and this summer was no different. This Nationals will be Paddy and mine’s seventh Championships together, and I hope we can go and deliver our best test. I’m so lucky Paddy is so talented and amazing and does so much for me.” 

In the TopSpec Medium Gold contest, Jayne Turney earned first place with Lindsey Roberts’ British-bred mare Vienna WD, their winning score was 69.860%. 

Another former World Breeding Championships starter to earn a top spot was the handsome gelding Valentinio, who was on super form throughout the show for rider Jody Haswell. The pair claimed a win in the Bret Willson Advanced Medium Gold class, on 70.140%, before placing second to Anders in the Prix St Georges with 70.050%. 

Silver rider Gemma Zaremba also notched up multiple placings. With her own 16-year-old Rubiquil-sired gelding Ernes, Gemma took The Centre Line Prelim Silver title with 70.930% as well as third place in the BETTALIFE Novice Silver, on another super 70.480%.  

Congratulations to all riders who earned tickets to the LeMieux National Championships, as well as everyone who took part. Thanks go to the team at Bury Farm for three top days of Regional Championship competition.   

Results  

The Centre Line Prelim Silver  
1. Gemma Zaremba and Ernes, 70.930% 
2. Rosie Coulson and MM Midnight Caviar, 69.730% 
3. Duncan Morgan and Neptunus-Utopia, 69.670% 

The Centre Line Prelim Gold  
1. Jezz Palmer and Black Jack Anmore, 75.930% 
2. William Roberts and Dubai Dubai, 73.330% 
3. Hannah Luesley and Horizons Majesty, 73.130% 

BETTALIFE Novice Silver  
1. Imogen Swann and Upgrade Jame WS, 72.040% 
2. Annabella Howe and Champignon Sauvage, 70.970% 
3. Gemma Zaremba and Ernes, 70.480% 

BETTALIFE Novice Gold  
1. Jezz Palmer and Premier, 72.690% 
2. Lucinda Elliott and Namasté, 71.240% 
3. William Roberts and Reventador, 71.180% 

HorseQuest Elementary Silver  
1. Imogen Swann and SJL Liberty, 70.810% 
2. Lauren Burrows and Beaux Lyon, 69.650% 
3. Darren Crowe and Abracadabra II, 68.940% 

HorseQuest Elementary Gold  
1. Dannie Morgan and Empathic, 72.170% 
2. Gracie Catling and Furst Frank, 69.750% 
3. Jayne Turney and Maxwell TN, 69.750% 

TopSpec Medium Silver  
1. Violet Hawkins and DZL Royal Sunrise, 67.640% 
2. Stephanie Graves and Donna Danita, 66.300% 
3. Georgia Brooke and Champions Duet, 65.690% 

TopSpec Medium Gold  
1. Jayne Turney and Vienna WD, 69.860% 
2. Gracie Catling and Fraithwens Wytske fan ter Lune, 69.540% 
3. Jayne Turney and In Time, 67.590% 

Bret Willson International Advanced Medium Silver  
1. Tabitha Leicester and Eires Rock, 66.670% 
2. Henriette Windsor Phillips and Rianne, 65.970% 
3. Barbara Sommerau and S-Thetik, 65.560% 

Bret Willson International Advanced Medium Gold  
1. Jody Haswell and Valentinio, 70.140% 
2. Holly Bates and Hillgrounds Feinline, 69.440% 
3. Liz Diegutis and Total Ecstacy, 67.180% 

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Silver  
1. Ella Banham and Impulz De B, 67.940% 
2. Chris Hammond and Jersey Boy, 67.010% 
3. Jacqueline Frost and Ironi, 66.470% 

Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold  
1. Anders Dahl and Ellely’s Focus, 72.750% 
2. Jody Haswell and Valentinio, 70.050% 
3. Jayne Turney and Penhaligon Freigeist, 69.710% 

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Silver  
1. Claire Ballantyne and Dvorak, 65.930% 
2. Beau Williams and Ipurus, 65.780% 
3. Chris Hammond and Jersey Boy, 65.590% 

Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold 
1. Daniel Sheriff and Fred Astaire WD, 69.660% 
2. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 69.610% 
3. Jezz Palmer and Ketcher B, 69.510% 

FULL RESULTS