Katie Magee produced the coolest head of the week to steer Treworra to the Hartpury University and College British Open title on a superb 29.7, finishing on her dressage mark after a neat clear in the showjumping and a bold, speedy cross-country round inside the time.
Speaking at the prize giving ceremony, Katie reflected on her season’s planning:
“I planned to run him only twice between Badminton and Burghley and chose Aston-le-Walls and Hartpury because of the surfaces and the care they take with the ground. I think it was a really good track with plenty of fair questions. He felt like he had enough to do but he jumped beautifully.”
Her sentiment about the ground preparation was echoed by Pippa Funnell — competing in the 3* — who also praised the venue for their attention to the going, noting that she had planned her calendar to incorporate this event.
Early dressage leader Tim Price and the evergreen Vitali looked poised to claim back-to-back success on 23.3, with a clear round in the showjumping, but 7.6 time penalties across country nudged them into second on 30.9. David Doel and Galileo Nieuwmoed filled third place with 32.7, while Austin O’Connor and the eye-catching grey Colorado Blue matched the fault-free jumping template to take fourth on 35.2.
Samantha Lissington and Lord Seekonig had been lying second heading into the final phase, but 8 time penalties dropped them to fifth place (37.3). Max Warburton (Deerpairc Revelry) had a rail down and added 4.4 time penalties, finishing sixth on 39.7. Zara Tindall and the experienced Class Affair kept all the poles standing in the showjumping, adding 6.4 time penalties across country for seventh (41.4). The top ten was rounded out by Jesse Campbell (Cooley Lafitte, 43.7), Alice Casburn (Topspin, 45.3), and Fiona Kashel (Creevagh Silver De Haar, 46.1).
The course rode well, but there was late drama for the Prices: Jonelle Price and Chilli’s Midnight Star incurred 40 jumping penalties and added 35.6 time faults, while Tim Price’s Happy Boy never looked to be travelling and the pair were eliminated on the cross-country.
NAF Metazone CCI2*L
It was an immaculate week for Bubby Upton and Sancerre De Tiji, who clinched victory in the CCI2*L at the NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials with a wire-to-wire performance that left no room for doubt.
The pair opened with a beautifully produced 25.8 dressage test to take the lead on day one and never relinquished their advantage. A copybook clear across country inside the optimum time on Saturday kept the pressure firmly on the chasing pack. In Sunday’s showjumping phase, Upton delivered yet again — producing a composed, accurate round that ensured the scoreboard remained untouched.
Hot on her heels was Amy Harris with Iwan, who matched Upton’s double-clear jumping performance to finish on her dressage mark of 28.4. Harris’ gelding impressed throughout the week with his rhythm and rideability, earning her a well-deserved runner-up spot.
Third place went to Kitty King aboard Kilcoltrim Cooley, another combination to post a faultless jumping record over the three days. Their dressage score of 29.6 was good enough to secure a podium finish in a fiercely contested field.
Fourth was claimed by Heidi Coy on Tisrara Timothy (31.8), while Lily Bradstock and Derisko completed the top five on 33.4 — both adding nothing to their first-phase scores.
The showjumping track proved fair but influential, with a scattering of rails shaking up the lower placings. Notable among those to slip down the order was Ben Way (Ipnose Du Riol), who picked up four penalties to finish 11th, and Sarah Bullimore (Nakota), also with a single rail, ending the week in 13th.
The standard of riding across the 2* was high, with more than half the field producing clear rounds on the final day. In the end, it was Upton’s poise under pressure — matched with the scope and focus of Sancerre De Tiji — that delivered a masterclass in consistency.
Retraining of Racehorses Open Novice Championship
Michael Jackson and Bhodi waltzed to the top of the leaderboard, delivering a faultless display across all three phases to finish on their dressage score of 27.5.
Their composed, accurate test on the opening day put them in a strong position, and a smooth, rhythmical cross-country round inside the optimum time, followed by a clear showjumping round, sealed the win in style.
Emily Ware and Dream Big lived up to their name to secure second place on 33.3. A dressage mark of 30.5 and a confident clear in the showjumping helped them to stay ahead of the rest of the field, even with a few cross-country time penalties.
Oliver Townend had to settle for third with Brookfield Carnivan. The pair’s dressage of 27.5 kept them on equal terms with the eventual winner, but they added 8 faults in the showjumping phase. A quick cross-country round ensured the combination remained in third place, with only Townend and Jackson making the time.
Fourth went to Rachel Cawley with King Louis III (36.5), while Ireland’s Oscar Fitzgerald and former Piggy March ride, Our Old Fella, rounded out the top five on 44 after adding only cross-country time faults to their dressage score.
Fairfax Saddles Novice Restricted Championship (Corinthian Cup)
In a commanding performance, Boleybawn Arctic, partnered by Emily Kemp, captured the Fairfax Saddles British Novice Restricted Championship with a final score of 30.4. The duo delivered a polished dressage test and went on to navigate clear showjumping and cross-country rounds inside the time, sealing the win.
Hot on their heels, Ella Lucas and My Good Morning claimed second place with a tight final mark of 30.6. Their 29.8 dressage was just marred by 0.8 time penalties — the slender margin between first and second.
In third, Elle Slack rode Els Dakota to a well-deserved spot on the podium with a tidy 32.5. Her week was highlighted by a stellar dressage of 26.1 and a clear showjumping round, adding only 6.4 cross-country time penalties.
NAF Superflex CCI3*L
China’s Alex Hua Tian piloted Manjushri to a composed and commanding victory in the NAF Superflex CCI3*L at the NAF Five Star International Hartpury Horse Trials, finishing on 28.9 after a week of fault-free jumping and shrewd time management.
A dressage score of 26.9 put him in pole position from the outset. Two cross-country time penalties were the only addition to his tally before a clear in the final showjumping phase sealed the win in style.
Hot on his heels, Tim Price and Gloire De Marchenval finished just 0.5 penalties adrift on 29.4. Their cross-country trip was smooth and accurate, incurring only 1.2 time penalties, with the horse producing a neat clear on the final day to keep the pressure on Hua Tian until the last fence.
Third place went to Pippa Funnell aboard Billy Wonder, who produced one of the fastest cross-country rounds of the day, picking up just 0.8 time penalties to finish on 30.1 after an impressive dressage of 29.3.
Heidi Coy and Inquisitor slotted into fourth (31.7) with a foot-perfect jumping record, while Jonelle Price and Faerie Good Golly claimed fifth (35.2) after 1.6 time penalties across country.
The top ten featured another Funnell ride — Billy Walk On (6th, 35.4 with 4 showjumping penalties) — and international representation from Michael Winter of Canada, who steered Belgrave Irena to ninth on 36.3.
Jump1 British Intermediate Championship
Katie Magee capped a memorable week by adding the Jump1 British Intermediate Championship to her Hartpury haul aboard Cushlas Indigo. The pair set the standard early, delivering an elegant and accurate dressage test to take the lead before jumping two immaculate clear rounds — inside the time across country — to hold off strong challenges from an experienced field.
Lizzie Baugh and Piltdown Concorde took the runner-up spot on 29.5, also finishing on their dressage score after two confident clear rounds. Louise Bradley and Ardeo Mandela rounded out the podium in third (29.6), adding only 3.6 time penalties across country to an impressive first-phase mark.
Fourth place went to Jack Pinkney with Carpo Vivendi (33.5), while NAF Magic CCI4*S victor Ros Canter piloted Armscote Explorer into fifth (35.6) after picking up eight penalties in the final showjumping phase.
The cross-country track rewarded bold, forward riding, with tight time allowances proving costly for several combinations. Phoebe Locke (Renkum Jitterbug) finished sixth (37.2) and Tom Bird (Claddagh Ohio Sebastian) seventh (38.3), while Barnie Brotherton and DHI King Nelson completed the top eight on 40.3.
