Higgins and Eilberg Dominate Small Tour Classes at 2025 British Dressage Championships

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2025 British Dressage Championships

Sarah Higgins dominated the small tour level championship classes at the 2025 British Dressage Championships at Somerford Park on 11 - 14 September 2025. Aboard Geniaal she won the Prix St Georges, PSG Freestyle, the Intermediaire I and was named PSG Supreme Champion. Michael Eilberg won the Inter I Kur title and Intermediaire Supreme Championship.

British Dressage assigns champion's title for each class, instead of drafting overall winners with scores over several rounds added up. Only at Grand Prix level they will name an overall champion in addition to class winners.

At Prix St. Georges level a "supreme champion" is named for the combined results of the Prix St Georges and a "Prix St Georges Kur to Music"

Prix St Georges: Sarah Higgins and Geniaal, 73.294%

Sarah Higgins earned the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges victory for the second year in a row, topping a competitive rendition with Sarah Rao’s KWPN gelding Geniaal (by Vivaldi x Biotop).

“It felt like one of the best tests I have ever done with him,” said a delighted Sarah after her lap of honour, “there was a little moment at the end of our extended walk where he felt a little bit tense and tight but other than that he was a total pleasure to ride.”

“I knew I had to do a really good test today, it was a big class, really high standard and so many amazing riders. I came out thinking I don’t think I could do much better and hoped it was good enough, but with Mike going right at the end it was a nervous wait!”

Sarah overcame precarious presentation to deliver the goods in the arena, stating: “Yesterday I had the worst ride I have ever had on him, probably because I was a little bit nervous so I was having a stressed ride and he really picks up on that as he is quite a nervous horse. But to ride he feels a rare combination of power and softness, when he is right like he was today it feels super easy.”

Having returned to the show as a double winner in 2024, Sarah commented on whether or not she felt the pressure of doing the job again: “I definitely felt the pressure, just the same as last year he is predominantly Sarah Rao's ride, who is in China at the moment preparing some horses for the National Games, so I have only ridden him three times since I rode him at Hartpury. I just didn’t want to mess this up so there was absolutely a bit more pressure, but when I got in there he felt so lovely, all I could do was ride the very best test I can.”

“I think most of us are quite hard on ourselves, it is something you have to try and get over really, both my coaches Richard Davison and Hannah Moody are really good at that and fill me with confidence as they have a positive outlook on things.”

As a local lady, Sarah earns something of a ‘home win’ in the North & West region and commented: “It is great for me that it is so close, but it is such an amazing venue to have the National Championships, and the main arena is an amazing arena, especially for the freestyles on the weekend. It is a really nice place to be with a supportive atmosphere with my fellow competitors.”

The duo now head for Friday’s Freestyle: “I am not a very good freestyle rider, Amy Woodhead is staying with me and last year I forgot my music and had to borrow hers. So I messaged her last night and asked if the music I used last year if I could borrow again. That is a big weakness of mine and something I need to work on, maybe that can be a winter project.”

Second place in the Prix St Georges went to Michael Eilberg on the 10-year old Oldenburg bred MSJ Encore (by Escolar x Caprimond) with 71.647%, while Becky Moody and her 8-year old KWPN mare Magic Dream (by Governor x Swarovski) were third with 70.735%

Prix St Georges Kur to Music: Higgins Rules

Somerford’s leading rider so far, Sarah Higgins, returned to the top step of the podium in the afternoon’s Prix St Georges Freestyle competition with an impressive 76.750%. In front of Jane Critchley, Jane Peberdy, Sascha Schulz, Andrea Smith and Clare Deithrick, Sarah rode to a technical score of 74.500% and an awesome artistic mark of 79%.

"He was just amazing,” the Cheshire-based rider commented, “freestyles aren’t my favourite thing and I probably need to practice them some more, but he’s a total privilege to ride. I’m incredibly lucky and very very grateful to his owner Sarah Rao for allowing me to compete him.”

Sarah’s dual win at this level also saw her claim the Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Supreme Champion title.

Reflecting on her outstanding consistency in achieving the Supreme title, Sarah said: "I just think this year the standard of the Small Tour classes all season has been so high. There are so many talented horses and riders. I know he’s an exceptional horse but still everything has to go right on the day; to do that over three tests over the last couple of days has been magical. It’s nice there’s so many good combinations because you know that if you make a mistake you don’t win a sash... and I like winning sashes!”

Prix St Georges Winter Champions Matt Frost and 10-year old KWPN bred Kerouac (by Sezuan x Sorento) earned the runner up spot in today’s Freestyle, with a super 72.875%. Whilst Davy Harvey and his own Hercules (y Foundation x Royal Diamond) earned 72.450% to take third.

Intermediaire : Trifecta for Higgins

Sarah Higgins and Sarah Rao's Geniaal were once again standout winners at Somerford, achieving an impressive 74.265,% in the Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold.

Michael Eilberg and MSJ Encore produced a superb test for second place with 71.206%, whilst Jessica Mcconkey and Wilson Stensvang completed a strong top three with 69.971%.

Intermediaire I Kur to Music: Eilberg and MSJ Encore Win

Eilberg broke his seconditis at Somerford, returning to the top step of the podium with former seven-year-old championship MSJ Encore. Now 10-years-old, the gelding came into his own excelling to a fantastic music programme which earned 74.400%.

“We’ve been bridesmaids this week, finishing second twice – Sarah did us a favour today and didn’t start! But he pulled out a really good test, we managed to nail a test with no mistakes. The music really suits him, he’s really on the beat and he’s an impressive horse – he really stands out.”

Speaking about ‘Eric’, who was bred at Mount St John, Michael continued: “He came to us as a foal and we’ve produced him from the beginning. I’ve had some good friends who bought into him when he was five-years-old – Nicky and John Hannam – they own him now and they’ve kept him with me. We’ve had some great succes recently, he’s moved into Small Tour really well – he won the CDI at Hartpury and he’s had some quite amazing scores. He’s a really classy sort with a lot of potential, it’s lovely to have the ride on him.”

“I was trying to remember all the titles,” said Michael reflecting on his successful record at the National Championships, “most of them came at Stoneleigh, I actually haven’t had a win here since the seven-year-olds a few years back. I’ve always had a bit of seconditis here at Somerford, so it’s nice to break that barrier!”

Matt Frost and Kerouac stepping to the second spot today after a lovely performance earned 72.350%; Jessica McConkey and Wilson Stensvang completed an accomplished top three, with 70.900%.

Eiberg's combined result in the Inter I and Kur made him the Intermediaire I supreme champion.

Complete scores: Prix St Georges - Prix St Georges Kur to Music - PSG Supreme champion - Intermediaire I - Intermediaire I Kur to Music - Inter I Supreme Champion