Female riders once again dominated the scoreboards on day two of the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships at Hartpury Arena (15-19 April). No man has yet taken a national title in 2015.
A partnership nine years in the making made Beth Barnett’s victory in the Petplan Equine prix st georges Area Festival championship all the more special.
Beth has owned 10-year-old Sheepcote Delight, a 16hh British-bred bay gelding by Dr Doolittle, since he was 18 months old. They scored 71.01% – the only combination to break the 70% barrier.
“We’ve grown and learnt a lot together,” said 24-year-old Beth. “It’s really nice when it’s all your own hard work.”
Deborah Doyles’ hard work also paid off when she and Dandy III beat the competition in the Petplan Equine elementary restricted Area Festival championship with 70.34%.
Seven-year-old ‘Dandy’ events and has been on a winning streak, having also won his last four novices.
“He loves jumping too and usually leads in the dressage,” she said of the 16.2hh Dutch gelding by Wup.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
NAF Five Star Arena
In the indoor NAF Five Star Arena Lisa Megginson claimed the first title, the Albion medium restricted winter championship.
She rode her own German gelding, Breit Crusader, a nine-year-old by Breitling W who took first place by just 0.09% to claim her first national title with 67.84%.
“It hasn’t sunk in yet,” beamed the East Yorkshire-based rider, who bought the “cheeky” horse as a foal.
Seven-year-old DHI Cleverboy lived up to his name, topping the Equitop Myoplast elementary open winter championship for Nathalie Kayal.
The Dutch gelding, who is is by Sandreo and out of a Dutch jumping mare by Kettall, scored 73.02%.
Cleverboy jinked in the prize-giving, nearly unseating the Hertfordshire-based rider.
“He doesn’t like flowers!” she said of the 17hh bay who had not been out since the regionals.
Sadie Smith stormed to victory in the final class of the day, the Baileys Horse Feeds novice open freestyle championship with an exquisite test on River Rise Escarla.
The six-year-old is a British bred-mare by Lord Leatherdale, who is owned by her breeder Sarah Tyler-Evans. Sadie was also placed on her other ride, Serrano.
Lucy Megginson – Briet Crusader
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Nathalie Kayal – DHI Cleverboy
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Beth Barnett – Sheepcote Delight
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Sadie Smith – River Rise Escarla
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
Deborah Doyle – Dandy III
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
For a full report on all the action, don’t miss the 11-page special report next Thursday, 23 April
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.
