Gareth Hughes made a striking return to the NAF Five Star Winter dressage Championships by winning the Magic Prix St Georges gold with Morricone III, a talented 10-year-old stallion. Scoring 75.51%, Hughes praised Morricone’s balance and mistake-free performance, expressing optimism about their future progression to grand prix level. Hughes, who has been regrouping for a couple of years, now has a strong string of promising horses, including Mowgli-Olympia MC and Lufada MVL, marking a resurgence in his competitive career after nearly 20 years away from the Winter dressage Championships.

In other highlights, Sophie Lee-Amies won the Equi-Trek elementary silver on River Rise Ooo LaLa with 72.68%, celebrating their growth as a partnership over two years and crediting her mentor Sadie Smith for support. Meanwhile, Freya Baldwin and Hoghton Maverick, new to PSG, claimed the Winter Petplan Area Festival Championships with 68.48%, aiming for grand prix despite still being relatively inexperienced. These results showcase emerging talent and strong partnerships across the dressage spectrum at the championships.