Winter Regional Championships: Wellington Riding

Wellington Riding’s Winter Regional (21 – 23 Feburyar 2026) was a who’s who of the Hampshire dressage scene, as some of the nation’s top performers headed to the premier venue for a shot at the titles and NAF Five Star Winter Championships tickets.  

Photo: Sadie Smith and River Rise Pizzazz | Charlotte Bury Photography

Ever the consistent performer, Sadie Smith returned to the top step of the Winter Regional podium at Wellington, securing the two highest scores of the show and mopping up plenty of placings throughout the fixture. With Sarah Tyler Evans’ talented six-year-old River Rise Pizzazz, Sadie achieved an impressive 76.987% in Saturday’s PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold, earning the top placing in front of Mark Philpott, Janet Surr and Linda Waller. Sadie followed up her day one win with a second music title, this time in the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold with Peter Belshaw’s Ibiza-sired five-year-old Times Rococo dancing to another strong score of 76.111%. Whilst River Rise Pizzazz (Valverde x Lord Leatherdale) picked up a second title of the show in the Equi-Trek Elementary Gold on 72.424%. Alongside her wins, Sadie also rode to a further runner up placing with Times Rococo in the Prestige Novice Gold, as well as two second place finishes with Laetitia Van Der Wyck’s Furstin Vera (Furstenball x Dancier) at Advanced Medium level. Speaking on social media, Sadie said, “So pleased with my young horses at Wellington Regionals. Both have such exciting futures ahead of them and I’m so grateful to their owners and breeders Sarah Tyler Evans and Peter Belshaw for their ongoing support. Thank you to my star girls at home who have worked hard this week with extremely early starts to get everyone ready.” 

Dannie Morgan is another local rider rarely away from the placings and this show proved to be another success with three wins and four qualification tickets. First to take the limelight was Kristina Rausing’s Belinski, first produced by Henry Boswell and then moving to Dannie on Henry’s move to Norway. The tall black gelding by Bon Coeur looked a picture with his new partner and earned 73.611% to collect the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold title. On board Freya VII, Dannie rode a high-quality performance for 75.278% win in the SPILLERS Medium Freestyle Gold, before also taking second place in the HorseLight Medium Gold with Kristina’s Fidertanz-sired mare. Finally, Rose McMillan’s seven-year-old Zalado (Zack x Dylano) would make it title number three on horse number three, as Dannie presented his new ride at their first regionals together – the future looks bright.  

Charlotte Dujardin returned to the Winter Regional stage with her rising talent Secret Agent (Secret x De Niro), the pair pipped Dannie to the post in the HorseLight Medium Gold after a well-presented test was rewarded 75.787% by Linda Waller, Debbie Wardle and James Rooney.  

Gracie Catling and Julia Catling’s 18-year-old Qwinton were a force to be reckoned with in the Small Tour classes. The combination oozed confidence and quality to win the Magic Prix St Georges Gold with 70.980%, ahead of second placed combination Lucinda Elliot and Mona Lisa WVN on 70%; before earning the Superflex Intermediate Gold title on the final day at Wellington with another strong score of 71.323%.  

The Magic Prix St Georges Silver class belonged to former Junior team medallists Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente (Apache x Don Schufro), who’ve stepped up a level in style and delivered a lovely 67.304% ride on the day. Whilst Jacqueline Frost and Ironi were the combination to come out on top in the Superflex Intermediate I Silver, winning the class with 66.373%.  

In the Silver classes Jo Wicks started the show in style with a high-scoring victory in the first class of the week – earning the Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle title with her own eight-year-old gelding Noblesse Oblige notching up 74.908%. Kathy Staples was another high scoring winner, riding to success on 72.228% in the Equi-Trek Elementary Silver with Le Blanc Ter Selle – a Belgian-bred gelding by Guardian S.  

Lynn Wickes did the double at Advanced Medium level with Furstino, following success earlier in the year at Onley Grounds Winter Regionals, where they also claimed two Medium wins. Their pair produced two polished performances for 69.028% in the Black Couuntry Saddles Advanced Medium and 69.889% in the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver. Owned by Hampshire-based Lynn, Furstino is a nine-year-old gelding by Blue Hors Farrell and out of a Dimaggio mare.  

Anders Dahl also earned a victory at Advanced Medium level, showing the Danish-bred Dinnesholms Fighter – also sired by Blue Hors Farrell – in just his seventh start in the UK. The pair impressed Mark Philpott, Heather Ashley and Janet Surr for a winning mark of 71.289%.  

Congratulations to all competitors who took part and those successful in securing their spot at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships in April. Thanks go to the team at Wellington Riding for hosting a super Winter Regional event.   

Results  

Saturday 21 February 

Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Silver 
1. Jo Wicks and Noblesse Oblige, 74.908% 
2. Laura Fowler and Veronica Bunny, 70.556% 
3. Stacey Kinnear and Francis Morpheus, 70.556% 

PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Silver 
1. Maria Pook and Flashlight, 72.565% 
2. Ellen Glover and Morricone’s Love MFS, 71.411% 
3. Alison Heywood and Thomas K, 70% 

PDS Saddles Elementary Freestyle Gold 
1. Sadie Smith and River Rise Pizzazz, 76.987% 
2. Mandy Day and Popeye Vogelzang 72.308% 
3. Gracie Catling and Jeldau fan Fraithwen, 71.346% 

Equi-Trek Elementary Silver 
1. Kathy Staples and Le Blanc Ter Selles, 72.778% 
2. Ellen Glover and Morricone’s Love MFS, 71.465% 
3. Kathy Staples and Odaylia VD Watermolen, 70.707% 

HorseHage Preliminary Gold 
1. Rowan Collins and Melody HC, 74% 
2. Nikki Barker and Dansak, 72.467% 
3. Hayley Pile and River Rise Picasso, 72% 

Sunday 22 February 

Baileys Horse Feeds Novice Freestyle Gold 
1. Sadie Smith and Times Rococo, 76.111% 
2. Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore So Sapphire, 73.982% 
3. Jezz Palmer and Black Jack Anmore, 71.574% 

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Gold 
1. Dannie Morgan and Belinski, 73.611% 
2. Sadie Smith and Furstin Vera, 71.056% 
3. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 70.167% 

Mollichaff Preliminary Silver 
1. Alice Perry and Thora, 72.933% 
2. Issy George and Prince X, 70.333% 
3. Anna Lawon and Fleur D’Amour, 70.133% 

Equi-Trek Elementary Gold 
1. Sadie Smith and River Rise Pizzazz, 72.424% 
2. Sara Jane Lanning and Darcy Bea Good, 71.414% 
3. Jane Morris and Half Moon Belize, 68.182% 

Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Silver 
1. Lynn Wickes and Furstino, 69.028% 
2. Elizabeth Richards and Diamantino, 68.519% 
3. Elizabeth Hibbard and Soleil Rouge, 66.713% 

Prestige Novice Silver 
1. Denise Fryer and Paperclip, 72.850% 
2. Amy Ward and MS Broadway M, 71.505% 
3. Sam Brown and San Fransisco WD, 70.699% 

Monday 23 February  

HorseLight Medium Gold 
1. Charlotte Dujardin and Secret Agent, 75.787% 
2. Dannie Morgan and Freya VII, 72.500% 
3. Kate Cowell and Not Impressed, 71.342% 

SPILLERS Medium Freestyle Gold 
1. Dannie Morgan and Freya VII, 75.278% 
2. Jessica Davies and Nemo II, 73.111% 
3. Williams Roberts and Reventador, 72.333% 

Prestige Novice Gold 
1. Dannie Morgan and Zalando, 73.763% 
2. Sadie Smith and Times Rococo, 72.688% 
3. Rowan Collins and Melody HC, 71.774% 

NAF Prix St Georges Silver 
1. Demi Howard-Cartwright and Newton Astro Nascente, 67.304% 
2. Charlotte Smithwhite and Luciano, 66.274% 
3. Cerys Broom and Red Devil, 65.735% 

NAF Prix St Georges Gold 
1. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 70.980% 
2. Lucinda Elliott and Mona Lisa WVN, 70% 
3. Jessica Wade and Maclaren II, 69.019% 

Tuesday 24 February  

SPILLERS Medium Freestyle Silver 
1. Mandy Keen and Jackpot IV, 71.889% 
2. Katie Hale and Nonstop Desperado AS, 71.667% 
3. Sophie Lee-Amies and River Rise Ooo La La, 69.889% 

Nupafeed Advanced Medium Freestyle Silver 
1. Lynn Wickes and Furstino, 69.889% 
2. Christina Wiederkehr and Poynstown AER J, 67.778% 
3. Tamsin Addison and Jaguar XI, 67.778% 

HorseLight Medium Silver 
1. Natasha Gibbons and Penhaligon Soleilette Aimee, 71.343% 
2. Katie Hale and Nonstop Desperado AS, 69.167% 
3. Kate Purchase and Nethercote, 69.120% 

Superflex Intermediate I Silver 
1. Jacqueline Frost and Ironi, 66.373% 
2. Jo Fenton and Kashan Maheer Ibn Montroze, 64.559% 
3. Owen Davies and Churchtown Holly Boy, 62.451% 

Superflex Intermediate I Gold 
1. Gracie Catling and Qwinton, 71.323% 
2. Sara Jane Lanning and Choice 1, 69.510% 
3. Katie Richards and Dixie Rose, 68.774% 

Black Country Saddles Advanced Medium Gold 
1. Anders Dahl and Dinnesholms Fighter, 71.389% 
2. Sadie Smith and Furstin Vera, 70.555% 
3. Sadie Smith and Times Oddjob, 70.232%