Dannie Morgan turned the third rider to win three titles on the NAF 5 Star Winter Dressage Championship (15–19 April), taking the Nupafeed superior medium freestyle gold with Kristina Rausing’s Belinski on 72.33% – becoming a member of Sadie Smith and Gracie Catling on three titles apiece on the shut of the week.
The three-way tie is a rarity. “The final couple of instances, it’s been Sadie and me on the prime. However now you’ve bought Gracie up there too – and she or he’s solely 22,” Dannie stated.
Dannie’s successful freestyle was set to a compilation of Think about Dragons tracks — Believer for the trot, No matter It Takes and Thunder – put collectively by Tony Hobden at Equidance. “It’s fairly enjoyable and fashionable, which I’ve not likely had earlier than. I actually loved that.”
The ground plan itself was a last-minute rework. “I used to be making an attempt to work out a sample final evening that may showcase the modifications in a greater approach,” Dannie stated. “I hadn’t run via it earlier than – I simply thought I’d have a go. I’ve executed various freestyles now, so I’m in a position to adapt fairly simply.”
Belinski, beforehand ridden by Henry Boswell earlier than the latter’s transfer overseas, is a more recent trip for Dannie.
“It’s taken some time to get to know him,” he stated. “He undoubtedly has a variety of highlights, however he’s fairly a delicate soul. We’re nonetheless fairly inexperienced with issues like our modifications – however he’s so proficient.
Dannie had a beneficiant phrase for his joint title-holders too, notably for Gracie, who was additionally second on this class with Gaynor Morris’ Friesian mare Fraithwens Wytske Fan Ter Lune. “Gracie’s mare is such a celebrity, and so is she – she’s an excellent expertise for the long run.”
Bethany Edginton and Nelson HD win the Spillers medium freestyle silver on the Winter Dressage Championships. Credit score: Kevin Sparrow
Winter Dressage Championships: “I believed we had been going to get pipped”
Bethany Edginton and Nelson HD received the Spillers medium freestyle silver, scoring 73.06% – the week’s first title for Bethany, having been runner-up twice earlier, together with together with her Irish cob Lakeview Buddy within the elementary freestyle.
Moving into early, Bethany had a protracted wait to see if the rating would maintain. “I believed we had been going to get pipped – we had been within the lead for ages,” she stated. “I used to be considering, ‘The final one’s going to return in, and we’re going to have one other second.’ However once we bought to the final two, I believed, ‘At the least we’re going to be within the presentation’.”
Her successful freestyle was set to music from Pirates of the Caribbean, chosen for Nelson’s character.
“It’s dramatic sufficient for him with out being overpowering – simply the correct quantity of dramatic,” Bethany stated. “Equidance did my music, and it was spot on. I managed to hit it in every single place. I really like his music – it actually fits him.”
Bethany warmed up with Jezz Palmer of Anmore Dressage. “It’s so good to have somebody there to truly be saying, ‘No, come on, you are able to do it,’” she stated. “It was an enormous assist.
“He’s just a little bit difficult generally – he thinks he is aware of finest, and the vast majority of the time, he in all probability does,” She laughed. “It’s a bit just like the blind main the blind some days. However when he’s on it, he’s unstoppable”
Bethany’s two rides this week – Nelson, a standard dressage kind, and Lakeview Buddy, her hogged Irish cob – are, she stated, “chalk and cheese”. They must be educated fully in a different way. “It’s displaying that what I’m doing is correct with each of them. It’s paying off – it’s working.”
Jessica Allen and Hendrewen Desserts Girl win the Winter Space Competition Championships. Credit score: Kevin Sparrow
Winter Space Competition Championships: One other lengthy wait rewarded
Jessica Allen and her Welsh cob Hendrewen Desserts Girl received the prelim silver within the Petplan Winter Space Competition Championship lessons, scoring 71.03% – after one other lengthy wait to see if the rating would maintain.
“That was brutal,” Jessica stated. “I couldn’t look. I used to be having plenty of messages from family and friends who clearly had been scrolling via the outcomes, however I needed to simply depart it and wait till the final second, after which verify.”
The wait was properly value it. “I believe that was in all probability the most effective we’ve ever ridden that take a look at,” Jessica stated of her 12-year-old mare.
“She tried exceptionally exhausting. She was with me the entire week – at the moment she simply took the chance to shine.” The pair additionally completed sixth within the novice class on Friday; there have been greater than 30 mixtures in every of the lessons she contested.
Hendrewen Desserts Girl, a Welsh part D, was purchased as a pandemic mission. “I had a break from horses whereas I used to be consolidating my profession,” Jessica stated. “I bought married, after which Covid hit. Working hours went up, however I nonetheless thought it’d be a good suggestion for my evenings and weekends to be spent with a horse once more!”
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Dannie Morgan claimed all three podium spots within the 2025 novice gold championship.
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow
Gracie Catling and Qwinton win the Superflex inter I freestyle gold on the Winter Dressage Championships.
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow
Sadie Smith wins the Black Nation Saddles superior medium gold on Occasions Oddjob on the Winter Dressage Championships.
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow
Gareth Hughes and Morricone III win the Magic prix st georges gold on the NAF 5 Star Winter Dressage Championships.
Credit score: Kevin Sparrow
Sophie Wells and Ontario LC received the Equi-Trek elementary gold on the NAF 5 Star Winter Dressage Championships.
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Credit score: Future
H&H dressage and sport horse editor, and sports activities supervisor
Oscar joined Horse & Hound in October 2023 and is the journal’s dressage editor and sports activities supervisor, overseeing protection of equestrian sport. After learning equine science at Myerscough Faculty, he spent 4 years working for main dressage rider Emile Faurie, competing on the 2015 Nationwide Dressage Championships and travelling with the yard to CDIs together with Aachen and Saumur. He holds a grasp’s diploma in Literature from York St John College (2021).
