British paralympian Sophie Wells rode her Ontario LC to victory in the Equi-Trek elementary gold at the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships, scoring 72.48% on April 17. The seven-year-old gelding also earned silver in the Spillers medium freestyle gold the previous day. Several other riders claimed top spots in various classes at Addington Equestrian.
Sophie Wells, a British paralympian, guided her own seven-year-old Vitalis son Ontario LC—known as “Rio”—to a comfortable win in the Equi-Trek elementary gold with 72.48%. “I thought he had a bit more impulsion than yesterday,” Wells said, reflecting on their second-place finish of 75.95% in the Spillers medium freestyle gold. “He’s changing and getting stronger all the time, and he was super today.” The pair, together for 18 months after Amy Woodhead sourced the horse from the Netherlands, took the win in stride during the prize-giving. Wells hopes Rio will compete at the LA 2028 Paralympics and plans a patient development approach this year. Dannie Morgan secured the Spillers medium freestyle gold aboard Karen and Christina Rousin’s seven-year-old Freya VII, scoring 77.61% for the mare’s first national title despite a rider error. “I’m just obsessed with this mare,” Morgan said. “She’s an angel, and everyone loves her.” In the Horselight medium silver, Natasha Gibbons and her eight-year-old Penhaligon Soleilette Aimee topped the class with 73.57%. “It’s like she read the textbook of dressage; she knows everything,” Gibbons remarked. Ella Green won the Petplan Winter Area Festival novice bronze on Majestic Artist with 71.33%, praising the horse’s relaxation. Lynn Wickes edged out the Black Country Saddles advanced medium silver on Furstino (71.48%), while Irma Sutton took the Petplan elementary silver on Sazzaro Ballante (72.45%). Bethany Edginton placed second in the PDS Saddles elementary freestyle silver on Lakeview Buddy (72.18%) the day prior.