The 2023 BSPS winter championships took place at Arena UK (29 April – 1 May) and competition was fierce, as combinations vied for Royal International (RIHS) tickets, prestigious novice titles and two overall supreme crowns.
Marking the start of the summer show season, the 2023 BSPS winter championships crowned winners who are sure to be at the fore for the rest of the showing term.
Check out these select combinations who impressed the judges…
Owen Parker is crowned winter Heritage restricted champion with his Welsh section A gelding.
3. Dunmere Astra Nova
BSPS Winter Champs. 31/01. 05 23
No. 526 see Trish story
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
The six-year-old Dartmoor and Frankie Summers, eight, win the tiny tots first ridden class before they score an open first ridden ticket to the RIHS.
4. Carnsdale New Story
BSPS Winter Champs. 31/01. 05 23
Winter Novice Intermediate Champs.
Champ. No. 313 Carnsdale New Story
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
Despite being just a four-year-old, Sabrina Ross’s intermediate wins both novice and restricted section titles en route to the novice supreme, piloted throughout by Ellis Taverner-Burns.
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5. Stanley Grange Crescendo
BSPS Winter Champs. 31/01. 05 23
Winter Novice Show Pony Champs.
Champ. No. 489 Stanley Grange Crescendo
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
Margaret Miller’s 138cm winner is crowned novice show pony champion with Chloe Salley.
6. Thistledown Lord of Glencoe
BSPS Winter Champs. 31/01. 05 23
Winter Heritage NoviceMini Champs.
Champ. No.296 Thistledown Lord of Glencoe
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
Lara-Rae Jones, eight, lifts the mini novice Heritage championship with Jade Gardner’s Welsh section A.
Samantha Taylor enjoys her lap of honour riding her novice 133cm working hunter winner and section champion.
9. Costa Joe The Boss
BSPS Winter Champs. 31/01. 05 23
Winter Heritage Novice WHP nChamps.
Champ. No. 575 Costa Joe The Boss
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
After jumping to the 133cm novice Heritage class, Aimee Devane trots to victory in the section championship with Rachel Cooper’s Welsh section C stallion.
Sarah Parker is on board Sarah Weston’s Welsh section D stallion and adds the Heritage novice accolade to her impressive 2023 BSPS winter championships tally.
11. TGF Lucy
BSPS Winter Champs. 31/01. 05 23
No. 385 See Trish story
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
Alice Cowie, 19, secures Gold Cup glory riding her own uber-consistent mare.
Amelia Baxter books a RIHS pass in Pretty Polly ranks on her family’s home-produced Dartmoor gelding.
14. Hightopps Black Magic
BSPS Winter Champs. 31/01. 05 23
RIHS Mini Champs
Champ. No. 247 Hightopps Black Magic
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
The five-year-old show pony lead rein contender scores the restricted mini title for owner Naomi Bradwell, rider Scarlett Smith and handler Adam Forster.
Izzy Walker has Helen Davies’s 128cm show pony right on song to triumph in his RIHS qualifier and in the section championship.
21. Thistledown Magpie
BSPS Winter Champs. 31/01. 05 23
Winter Heritage Novice Mini Champs.
No 380
(Image credit: Trevor Meeks)
Charlotte Knight, six, wins the novice Heritage lead rein class and also books a ticket to the RIHS in Pretty Polly ranks with her mother Jamie Clarke’s Welsh section A.
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Former H&H showing editor and deputy features editor
Born and raised in the Lake District, Alex has grown up on the showing scene. She has qualified and competed ponies at the Royal International, Horse of the Year Show and Olympia and has first-hand knowledge of the current issues in the showing world as well as the horses, ponies and riders who compete in the sport. Alex joined H&H in January 2018 as showing editor, cementing its place as the leading equestrian publication for both showing reports and current showing news in the UK. She moved on in October 2024 to pursue other opportunities, but continues to write for us on a freelance basis.
