News
Vale View Premier League: Oppenheimer secures Grand Prix honours
- Written By: British Dressage
- Published: Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:42
A quality field came forward for the Vale View Premier League (19–21 June 2025), with a Grand Prix win for Alice Oppenheimer and multiple victories for Michael Eilberg, amongst a host of top scorers and exciting combinations across the levels.
Friday’s LeMieux Grand Prix provided an event highlight, with last year’s runner-up Alice Oppenheimer (pictured above) leading the field aboard Headmore Bella Ruby (by Belissimo M) on a super score of 70.145%, awarded by judges Mark Ruddock (B), David Trott (C) and Steph Cooper (H).
“Princess Bella was a superstar,” said the Hampshire-based rider, “the exciting thing is there’s so much more still to polish up, so to be breaking that [70%] barrier at Premier Leagues with more to come is a really special feeling.” She also thanked Becky Moody for her support in the warm-up, saying, “it makes a huge difference having someone in your ear, helping with the finer details.”
With five wins in total and ten scores over 70%, Michael Eilberg dominated the Small Tour and Advanced Medium classes. He opened with a victorious 73.114% aboard Geri Eilberg’s EDH Malakai in the Bret Willson Advanced Medium, before going on to complete a clean sweep of the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges classes with three different horses. Nichola Hannam’s MSJ Encore led the way on Thursday with a score of 75.147%, followed by a win for De La Hoyde in Friday’s class, before Geri Eilberg’s EDH Saubermond secured the Prix St Georges hat-trick on the Saturday. MSJ Encore also returned on Saturday to claim a second win, this time in the Intermediate I with 74.069%.
“The horses were outstanding,” said Michael, posting to social media. “This show once again gave me the feeling of just how much I love to feel my horses happy and on top form.”
Amy Woodhead and Darren Hicks both enjoyed a double victory at Vale View, alongside a string of top three placings. Darren led Thursday’s TopSpec Medium with Lenika on 74.084% before returning to top the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I with Kinnear (70.833%). Meanwhile, Amy guided Sarah Wood’s Mount St John Furstin Fugger to first place in Friday’s Intermediate I on 70.490% and also delivered a standout test in Friday’s Advanced Medium with the seven-year-old MSJ Viva Dannebrog, scoring 75.556% – a personal best and the highest score of the show.
Thursday’s Stübben Intermediate II class showcased some rising Big Tour talents, with the win belonging to Gloucestershire’s Spencer Wilton, who piloted Samantha Britton’s Woodcroft Django Mon Ami (Dante Weltino x Royal Diamond) to an impressive 70.931%, having only moved up to the level at the end of May. The combination finished ahead of Amy Woodhead and VV Lioness, with Emma Jablonski and Higgens Van De Uilenhoek completing the top three.
Congratulations to all the competitors, especially those earning tickets to the LeMieux National Championships in September. Thanks also go to the team at Vale View, judges, writers, stewards and volunteers for making it such a successful show.
Results - top three
Thursday 19 June 2025
Intermediate I
1. Darren Hicks and Kinnear, 70.833%
2. Bryony Goodwin and Krack DE, 70.245%
3. Alex Chick and Giovanni BM, 70.000%
Stübben Intermediate II
1. Spencer Wilton and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami, 70.931%
2. Amy Woodhead and VV Lioness, 67.549%
3. Emma Jablonski and Higgens Van De Uilenhoek, 66.961%
TopSpec Medium
1. Darren Hicks and Lenika, 74.084%
2. Holly Woodhead and MSJ Bachelor, 73.833%
3. Holly Woodhead and MSJ Swing Musik, 71.334%
Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium
1. Michael Eilberg and EDH Malakai, 73.114%
2. Bryony Goodwin and Dion II, 72.851%
3. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Donnebrog, 72.412%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore, 75.147%
2. Darren Hicks and Quintino 43, 71.373%
3. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 70.833%
Friday 20 June 2025
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Amy Woodhead and Mount St John Furstin Fugger, 70.490%
2. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 70.441%
3. Alex Chick and Giovanni BM, 70.245%
BD International Young Horse 5YO Preliminary Test
1. Lissy Fell and Parker IV, 75.000%
2. Jackie Siu and D’Oro, 70.800%
BD International Young Horse 6YO Preliminary Test
1. Robert Gilsenan and Donner Fee RL, 65.000%
BD International Young Horse 7YO Preliminary Test
1. Kirsten Mayne and Habano GR, 67.093%
LeMieux Grand Prix
1. Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Bella Ruby, 70.145%
2. Jessica Dunn and Dan it’s Carston, 67.029%
3. Mark Mills and Tailormade Revention, 65.217%
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Michael Eilberg and de la Hoyde, 73.775%
2. Michael Eilberg and EDH Nanouk, 73.578%
3. Fiona Brennan and Gestion, 71.274%
Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium
1. Amy Woodhead and MSJ Viva Donnebrog, 75.556%
2. Holly Bates and Hillgrounds Feinline, 72.500%
3. Davey Harvey and Benefit, 71.065%
Saturday 21 June 2025
Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges
1. Michael Eilberg and EDH Saubermond, 71.470%
2. Sara-Jane Lanning and Choice I, 69.363%
3. Fiona Brennan and Viva Las Vegas, 68.529%
High Cross Horseboxes Grand Prix Special
1. Kimberley Siddorn and Dutch Class, 66.667%
2. Bobby Hayler and Iconic II, 64.965%
3. Steph Croxford and Mr Jurist, 64.468%
Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I
1. Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore, 74.069%
2. Fiona Brennan and Gestion, 70.588%
3. Sara-Jane Lanning and Choice I, 69.755%
Bret Willson Dressage International Advanced Medium
1. Fiona Brennan and Leroy, 71.579%
2. Michael Eilberg and EDH Franklin Rose, 70.000%
3. Nanette Spence and CHS Fonteyn, 65.329%
Children on Horses Individual Test
1. Annabella Howe and Champignon Sauvage, 70.797%
2. Rocky Leahy and Newton Freddie Flintoff, 69.783%
3. Bethany Flowers and Puzzle I, 67.672%
Young Riders Individual Test
1. Megan Field and Bright Time, 66.520%
2. Megan Field and Dargun, 66.275%
3. Madison Eagle and Royalty II, 64.853%
Ponies Individual Test
1. Ella Fraser and Brouwershavens’s Viceroy, 68.649%
2. Georgie Morgan and Brouwershaven’s Jasper, 68.018%
3. Sophia Longworth and Don De Luxe, 67.748%
Juniors Individual Test
1. Hannah De Wit and Christianson, 68.775%
2. Flora Hayes and Woodcroft Jamais Noubliez, 68.676%
3. Lily Cawley and Damon’s Dan Farrington, 68.676%
Sunday 22 June 2025
Juniors Team Test
1. Fleur Pocock and Woodlander Rhythm n' Blues, 68.990%
2. Hannah De Wit and Christianson, 67.424%
3. Lennon Healey and Destination II, 66.823%
Ponies Team Test
1. Sophia Longworth and Don De Luxe, 68.190%
2. Ella Fraser and Brouwershavens’s Viceroy, 67.524%
3. Georgie Morgan and Brouwershaven’s Jasper, 66.476%
Children on Horses Team Test
1. India Adams and Reitland’s Don Totilas, 69.700%
2. Rocky Leahy and Newton Freddie Flintoff, 69.425%
3. Annabella Howe and Champignon Sauvage, 66.400%
Young Riders Team Test
1. Madison Eagle and Royalty II, 66.716%
2. Megan Field and Bright Time, 64.853%
3. Megan Field and Dargun, 64.363%
Stübben Intermediate II
1. Becky Moody and Jack Diamond, 71.912%
Medium Freestyle
1. Natalie Widdowson and Nelson Van De Gathe, 66.945%
Advanced Medium Freestyle
1. Charlotte Drakeley and Florisco, 70.111%
Prix St Georges Freestyle
1. Pippa El Derby and Romario EG, 71.083%
2. Sue Carson and SCS Lumiere KH, 69.708%
3. Jessica Parr and Juvat FCS, 67.958%
Intermediate I Freestyle
1. Sara-Jane Lanning and Choice I, 73.042%
