Wellington CDI: British youth show harmony in Hampshire

Wellington Riding’s CDI (6 – 9 June 2025) provided a fantastic opportunity for our current and future youth stars to put their best hoof forward in front of international judges, with some top performances inside the white boards by Britain’s next generation of team talents. 

Wellington’s CDI was a fitting finish for Staffordshire-based Young Rider Isobel Lickley (pictured above), who rode her final domestic CDI as a U21 rider in Hampshire, marking the occasion with a win in Sunday’s Young Rider Individual test. Riding her father Robert Lickley’s 10-year-old mare Katniss (Galaxie x Charmeur), Izzy scored 70.392% to top the leaderboard after placing third in the Team test the day before on 69.510%.

In a sentimental post, the 20-year-old rider said, “so proud of Katniss this weekend! I can’t quite believe that was my last British CDI at youth. What an amazing nine years it has been. I started my first CDI back in ponies with a win in the freestyle day with Gigolo and to finish with a win is just a dream!”

The consistent pairing of India Durman-Mills and Verity Saul’s Jazz-sired gelding Escade led the Young Rider Team test on 70.588% and finished second in the Individual with 69.804%, whilst Teghan Cantrell-Bennett and Christine Cantrell’s Woodlander Donna Summer rounded out the podium on both days with two super scores of 69.902% and 69.069%.

Across the Junior division, Isla Sully and Vagabond de Massa (Reito x Xaquiro) were in excellent form, completing a clean sweep across the Team and Individual tests with two stellar scores of 72.424% and 70.343%.

The junior rider was delighted with her dancing partner and, posting on social media, she said, “so proud of my little monkey this weekend: a 72% and a 70% to get a double win at the final selection show. V feels on fire at the moment, I’m forever grateful for him.”

Aberdeenshire’s Abigail Gray and Fenella Quinn’s Empire B also impressed with 71.465% for second in the Team test, whilst BD Wales rider Madi May Haerr took the runner up position in the Junior Individual on 68.873%.

In the Children on Horses classes, it was Derbyshire’s Rose Punchard and Samantha Bloor’s Sorento-sired gelding Elason to set the tone in Saturday’s  Team test with a winning score of 72.650%, followed closely by the Gibraltar-based British rider Stella McComb and her Hanoverian stallion Dos Alamos on 72.025%, and Oriana McNamara with Lafite in third on 71.100%.

In the Individual test, Oriana and Rose switched places on the podium, with Oriana taking the top spot on 72.857%, whilst Rose took third on a strong 71.065%. 14-year-old Melissa Hargreaves and her own Lagerfeld W (Daily Diamond x Albaran) joined the pair on the podium, claiming second with a score of 72.185%, completing a successful show for a plethora of promising Brits in this age category.

The Pony Team test was won by Queenie Moule and Amden Supreme Golden Dancer (Dating AT x Scampi DRP), who led the way with 69.286%; whilst Leicestershire’s Sophia Longworth earned a first international win in the Pony Individual test, earning 69.639% on board Elizabeth Hart’s gelding Don de Luxe. Ella Fraser and Martha Jones each took home a third-place podium finish with their ponies.

Results – top three 

CDICh Children on Horses Team Test
1.    Rose Punchard and Elason, 72.650% (GBR)
2.    Stella McComb and Dos Alamos, 72.025% (GBR)
3.    Oriana McNamara and Lafite, 71.100% (GBR)
CDICh Children on Horses Individual Test
1.    Oriana McNamara and Lafite, 72.857% (GBR)
2.    Melissa Hargreaves and Lagerfeld W, 72.185% (GBR)
3.    Rose Punchard and Elason, 71.065% (GBR)
CDIP Pony Team Test
1.    Queenie Moule and Amden Supreme Golden Dancer, 69.286% (GBR)
2.    Sophia Longworth and Don de Luxe, 67.571% (GBR)
3.    Ella Fraser and Brouwershaven’s Viceroy, 67.000% (GBR)
CDIP Pony Individual Test
1.    Sophia Longworth and Don de Luxe, 69.639% (GBR)
2.    Queenie Moule and Amden Supreme Golden Dancer, 69.369% (GBR)
3.    Martha Jones and Cognac IX, 69.189% (GBR)
CDIJ Junior Team Test
1.    Isla Sully and Vagabond de Massa, 72.424% (GBR)
2.    Abigail Gray and Empire B, 71.465% (GBR)
3.    Myles Graham and Nibeley Black Pearl, 68.485% (GBR)
CDIJ Junior Individual Test
1.    Isla Sully and Vagabond de Massa, 70.343% (GBR)
2.    Madi May Haerr and Floran, 68.873% (GBR)
3.    Ella Glennon and Skovsbogaards Lord Franklin, 67.010% (GBR)
CDIY Young Riders Team Test
1.    India Durman-Mills and Escade, 70.588% (GBR)
2.    Teghan Cantrell-Bennett and Woodlander Donna Summer, 69.902% (GBR)
3.    Isobel Lickley and Katniss, 69.510% (GBR)
CDIY Young Riders Individual Test
1.    Isobel Lickley and Katniss, 70.392% (GBR)
2.    India Durman-Mills and Escade, 69.804% (GBR)
3.    Teghan Cantrell-Bennett and Woodlander Donna Summer, 69.069% (GBR)

FULL RESULTS

Photo © Kevin Sparrow