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A double crown, a rough diamond and a polo-loving ‘dude’: worthy trio delights on day two of Winter Dressage Championships

Bethany Stone Bethany Stone

    • British dressage champion Sadie Smith enjoyed her second prizegiving at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships (15–19 April) after she and Peter Belshaw’s Times Rococo topped the podium in the Prestige novice gold at Addington.

    “I’m chuffed to bits,” Sadie told H&H. “She went even better than yesterday, that bit bolder and with a bit more push.”

    This was the duo’s second sash of the 2026 winters, as Sadie and Coco won the Baileys Horse Feeds novice freestyle gold yesterday (15 April) with 76.95%

    “I thought she might be a bit tired, but she had a good rest and came out ready to go,” said Sadie.

    “Coco” delivered a consistent test marred only by a little tension in the walk.

    “The relaxation is coming,” said Sadie of the five-year-old. “The walk definitely improved from yesterday. I couldn’t have asked any more of her. She’s such a beautiful horse with a lovely attitude.”

    Dannie Morgan and the seven-year-old Zalando followed Sadie on 72.96%. Dannie and the son of Blu Hors Zack were victorious in the novice gold winter regional at Wellington earlier in the year, where Sadie and Times Rococo slotted in behind them.

    Jezz Palmer claimed third place with Martin Price’s six-year-old Birmingham son, Blackjack Anmore, on 71.4%.

    Woman on a chestnut horse who wears a navy rug and rosette. The rider wears a winners sash. They are trotting in an indoor arena.

    Megan Armor and Dare to Trust win the Petplan Winter Area Festival Championships elementary bronze. Credit: Kevin Sparrow

    Petplan Winter Area Festival Championships: “He was quite feral when we got him”

    It was a close-run thing in the elementary bronze at the Petplan Winter Area Festival Championships; the three top scores separated by just over half a percent.

    Megan Armor and her own 10-year-old Dare To Trust clinched first with 70.73%.

    This was Megan’s first area festival final at a winter dressage championships. She came on a wild card, and said she “never expected” to win her first rug today.

    “Bungle” came to Megan, an instructor at Parwood Equestrian, from the RSPCA as part of the British Horse Society’s Second Chance scheme.

    “He was quite feral when we got him five years ago, and came from a barn with many, many other horses,” she said. “We gained his trust, and my boss helped me back him.

    “We do dressage and a bit of eventing, and he just loves his job. I’m so proud of him.”

    Gemma Jones and her own 10-year-old mare Temple Omega slotted in just behind Megan with 70.57%. Lottie Walsh and her own Ramiro B gelding Meridianway Pluto B came third with 70.21%.

    LucyAnna Westaway and AHI O Malley in their lap of honour on winning the Petplan Intermediate I Bronze Area Festival Championship. Credit: Kevin Sparrow

    Petplan Winter Area Festival Championships: “I was beaming from ear to ear”

    LucyAnna Westaway delivered an astoundingly consistent test on her own 15-year-old gelding AHI O Malley.

    Bar one 5, her scores remained between 6.5 and 7.5 to earn 68.03% and land her at the top of the podium in the inter I bronze at the Winter Area Festival Championships.

    “I had no idea where we would come, but I’m thrilled,” LucyAnna, a freelance instructor, told H&H. “As soon as we moved off from that first canter-halt-trot, I knew it was going to be a good one.

    “I was beaming from ear to ear throughout.”

    Lucy has a small team of owners who she rides for, and owns “Malley” with Jonathan Smith and Frances Davis, who gifted LucyAnna a third of the Martin son.

    She credits long hacks in the Surrey Hills for getting Malley fit and beautifully muscled.

    “He’s a dude, and his Jazz and Spanish lines make him so much fun. He’s a cheeky chap who loves his food, and turns his head to the side and smiles for a Polo.”

    Hannah MacMillan and her own Brookeborough Lad came second with 67.16%, followed by Linda Faulks and her own Knocknacree Bentley with 65.15%.

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