National Dressage Championships: IceBlue Valentino wins Intermediate I

Nick Lawson and IceBlue Valentino at the National British Dressage championships — (Image credit: Kevin Sparrow)

Riding only his fifth test at this level, Nick Lawson netted the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Silver Championship riding the magnificent black gelding IceBlue Valentino (Apollo) on day three of the Lemieux National Dressage Championships.

19-year-old Harlem gelding Apollo, who is out of Rimea, is a new ride for Nick this season.

“This is only my fifth inter I and I’ve only had the ride on Apollo since the start of the summer,” confirmed Nick. “He was originally bought by Jenny Price and Gloria Long for my partner, Mark Walters, to ride and he’s trained him all the way up. This year they decided to give me some outings on him to get some experience at this level. I’m so grateful and it’s paid off. We’ve had great fun today.”

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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.

‘He was really with me today’: inter I newbie Nick Lawson lands silver title riding ‘introverted’ gelding

Apollo’s test score of 67.763% was enough to just pip Emma Jablonski and Higgens Van De Uilenhoek into second on 67.579%.

“He was really with me today,” Nick added. “He took me around the test which is something he doesn’t always offer. I came out with a smile on my face as he did most of the work in there.

“He’s a really straightforward horse and is very easy to work with. He’s a bit of an introvert actually; he goes into himself at times.”

Nick and Mark are based in Shropshire and run the training and livery yard Corvedale Equestrian.

“We’ve recently started breeding, too, so it’s an exciting time,” said Nick. “It’s been a few years since I won one so I was ready for this day; it’s been amazing.”

Third was Georgina Howard riding Lovely Illusion (67.079%).

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