Sadie Smith is the 2025 British Grand Prix Champion, Moody Inter II Champion

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2025 British Dressage Championships

Sadie Smith became the winner of the Grand Prix Championships held at the 2025 British Dressage Championships at Somerford Park on 12 - 14 September 2025. Becky Moody won the Inter II title.

The Grand Prix classes included a separate Intermediaire II championship and then a big tour one, consisting of the Grand Prix and Freestyle. Each test had its own champion, but an overall result was drafted from those two test and Smith won the supreme championship. None of the British international team pairs from 2024 or 2025 competed at the Nationals.

Intermediaire II: Becky Moody and Jack Diamond, 72.118%

Becky Moody earned her twelfth National title on day one at the 2025 Championships, with the handsome 11-year old KWPN gelding Jack Diamond (by Electron x Diamond Hit) owned by Jo Cooper, producing a superb winning performance in the Intermediate II.

“I am super pleased with him actually,” Becky said about her title winner on day one, “he is 11-years-old and an incredibly talented horse, we have had him since he was three. He is huge moving and it has taken a long time to get him to find his strength to do this kind of work, he is really good example of how each horse is an individual, that needs to take their path.”

“There is so much more to get with him, when I’m training he’s probably the horse with a piaffe closest to a ten that I have ever had. The piaffe-passage was alright in the test but nothing like he can do. He is just really exciting because there is so much more to come. So we will go away now and chip away and hopefully be ready for big tour next year, I’m excited for the future.”

The Nationals week is always a busy one for Becky as she spoke about her time at the show: “We have got nine horses from the yard and lots of clients here, but I have got seven that I am riding, Anna has two, but we are both riding the four-year-old. So we have got a very busy week, today was actually our quietest day and everyone is knackered! So I am not quite sure how we are going to make it through, but we will because we have got an amazing team.”

Having come straight off the back of the Senior European Championships, Becky’s top team have been key to her preparation: “It has been an unusual preparation because obviously I was just away with Bomb at the Europeans for over a week, so that wasn’t ideal. But we make it work, I have a really good team around me, which is important in a situation like that. There is a lot of lists and a lot of planning, the logistics of getting horses back and forth is again a massive team effort.”

“It is great,” she concluded, reflected on the experience at the Nationals, “it is always such a lovely show here at Somerford, with amazing facilities and it still wins the competition for the best showers, for the horses and the people I think! It is lovely to bring some of the young horses out and let them experience this kind of atmosphere. I think it is going to be a steep learning curve for some of them who have never seen anything like this before. I am really excited to be here.”

Spencer Wilton and Woodcroft Django Mon Ami (by Dante Weltino x Royal Diamond) finished in second with 71.441% and Matt Frost with Helga (by Chagall D&R x Welt Hit II) were closely behind in third scoring 71.147%.

Grand Prix: Sadie Smith

Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina continued their atmospheric rise through the BD levels, taking the British Grand Prix title on day three of the Nationals.

Smith and Swanmore Dantina continued their wave of good form in 2025 with a win on their debut attempt at the LeMieux Grand Prix Gold, having progressed from taking the Stuebben Intermediate II title in 2024. In front of an experience panel of Sandy Phillips, Nick Burton, Stephen Clarke, Leanne Wall and Eva-Maria Vint-Warmington, the duo achieved a class-topping score of 71.957%.

Grand Prix title for Smith on Swanmore Dantina

“I was really pleased she was a lot more confident,” Sadie said reflecting on ‘Dia’s’ way of going, “the extended trots were lovely, the half passes were nice. The rein back felt a little bit on the hand, we have to work on that but I was pleased. We've been working on the passage and the piaffe was probably a little bit underpowered today compared to what I have had, as it hard not to make her to hot because it can cause tension.”

“This is a dream for me to win the Grand Prix at the National Championshps, it is the highest level I have won a National title at. I am so lucky to have the ride, she always gives me her best.”

“It means a lot to me,” Sadie continued, reflecting on the journey with her outstanding mare, “I brought her when she was three and she was quite ordinary at the start. She was a bit straight-legged and fat! So when I tried to ride her because my legs are quite short and she is deep in the girth she used to get upset with my leg, so my friend use to ride her.”

“I think because of her brain and her work effort, every level she has taken she tries her best and I don’t have to work very hard because she is so relaxed and so easy.”

“We have started at Novice and worked our way through,” Sadie continued, summarising a dream achievement, “this is a real career highlight to me to have won the Grand Prix at the Nationals. I always dreamt as a kid that one day to get to Grand Prix, so I am really happy.”

Reflecting on what it takes to make a busy week a success, she said: “I am really luck as I have two really good girls that work for me, Sophie who is riding today and is second in the Novice Silver and Maddie. Where I am based with Sarah Tyler-Evans they do the livery of my horses and the general care, so I am lucky I can just concentrate on the training and riding. We all do it together as one team and they are here today working their a**** off as I have six horses competing!”

“I have got great owners Peter Belshaw and Sue Garrard, I only have a small amount of owners and some really nice horses. I am really lucky to go back to Carl’s, he has helped me a lot and I kept pestering him to help me today so he did. I have a really good support team, including my vet and farrier as well.”

Tomorrow Sadie returns to have a shot at the Kudos Freestyle title, where she rides to a programme created by Tony Hobden.

Gareth Hughes and the Swedish owned Lusitano Lufada MVL notched up a great score of 69.413% to place as runners up, whilst Alexander Harrison and Kickback earned 68.957% completing the top three.

Grand Prix Kur to Music: Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina, 77.050%

Not even a storm could stop Sadie Smith and Swanmore Dantina from shining bright, as they delivered a stand-out performance in the Kudos Grand Prix Freestyle, becoming LeMieux National Champions. With no mistakes and countless highlights, the pair earned 77.050% to finish four percent ahead of the field.

The way of going is without doubt an example of what riders at all levels should aim for. Even in the midst of billowing gales and stormy weather side effects, Sadie presented ‘Dia’ with harmony and lightness, it’s clear that from young horse classes to Grand Prix, their journey has been one of friendship and teamwork.

“It’s a bit surreal to be honest,” Sadie said after being presented with the National Champion trophy, “It’s something I’ve always dreamed of – even as a kid I’ve dreamed of riding here but to be National Champion is a real career highlight for me. To be on there with some of the names who’ve won this title is amazing. I’ve had Dia since the start and we’ve done everything together through the levels; it’s extra special that she’s my horse and we’ve done it together, she’s like my best friend.”

“That’s what makes her such a good horse – her temperament. She’s got a heart of gold, she always tries and she never lets me down. Even if we have mistakes, it’s generally my fault! That’s the first time I’ve managed to do the Freestyle with no mistakes, so that was the aim. I was so pleased; today it was nice because she was relaxed but I had more power. I couldn’t have asked any more – especially with the weather – the seating was whipping away when I was warming up! But she’ll keep going and fight to the end for you.”

Reflecting on the journey and the training that’s brought the pair to this level, Sadie analysed: “She had three nice paces when she was four but because of her brain she really learnt to move in the trot. I’ve been able to develop the trot, she found it easy to find suspension, and she’s always been very balanced and straight. She doesn’t have a massive canter or trot, but she can present the movements in a really correct way; she’s always been very adjustable. Over time she’s learnt the expression. I always go for correct, nice riding. We still need to get the piaffe and passage stronger, but it’ll come. It just shows that you don’t need a massive moving young horse to get to the top.”

“This show has a big atmosphere and this year the horses are a year older, they’ve done a bit more and all bar one have finished in the top three in their sections,” Sadie concluded reflecting on an immense show. “Every day I work so hard to get them better, it’s so rewarded to come here and see your work pay off when they go well. I’ve got a great string of horses, lovely owners and my girls (Sophie Lee Amies and Maddy Biddle) have worked so hard. They’re flat out getting the horses ready, getting to the warm up, feeding, haying and it’s all those things that go on behind the scenes that’s so important to allow me to do my job well. It’s almost more important than the riding in some ways! Without them I wouldn’t have been able to do what I’ve done these past three days.”

Those who braved the weather and stayed to enjoy an exciting class were treated to an Iberian showcase for the top spots. Richard White and Lynda Cameron’s Heroi de Seixo scored 73.875% to place as Kudos Freestyle runners up; whilst Gareth Hughes and Lufada MVL closed the show with a lovely performance, set to Classic Briolinca’s former freestyle music, earning 73.875% - an equal score to Richard with just a fraction less on the artistic points.

2025 British Grand Prix Championships - Overall Result

1) Sadie Smith, – Swanmore Dantina 149.007
2) Gareth Hughes, – Lufada mvl 143.288
3) Lewis Carrier, – Diego V 141.439
4) Kimberley Siddorn, – Dutch class 138.443
5) Alice Oppenheimer, – Headmore Bella Ruby 138.345
6) Richard White, – Heroi Do Seixo 138.179
7) Darren Hicks, – Tramontana Tiger Feet 137.437
8) Alexander Harrison, – Kickback 135.382
9) Anne-Marie Cowan, – Woodcroft Royal Charter 131.634
10) Richard Davison, – Intero 68.152
11) Nathalie Wahlund, – Cerano Gold 66.478
12) Mark Mills, – Tailormade Revention 65.304
13) Angus Corrie-Deane, – Jack Johnson 63.891
14) Anne-Marie Bork Eppers, – Zeilinger Firfod 63.218
15) Samantha Thurman-Pickett, – Gerardo 61.283
16) Thomas Bobis, – Moliere de Massa 61.000
17) Bobby Hayler, – Iconic II 59.739
Becky Moody, – James Bond II DNS

Complete scores: Intermediaire II - Grand Prix - Grand Prix Kur to Music