A bumper crowd for Thorseby’s Eventing Spring Carnival saw podiums overflowing with British equestrian talent, with winners crowned throughout the weekend across FEI divisions.
Gemma Stevens Captures Lycetts Grantham Cup CCI4*-S
Gemma Stevens and Cooley Park Muze. Photo by Tim Wilkinson/BEDE Events.
Gemma Stevens turns a day of mixed fortunes around to claim her first Lycetts Grantham Cup victory aboard the Rex Syndicates Cooley Park Muze.
“A very mixed day but Cooley Park Muze was the last to go of my 4 [horses] and he gave me the most wonderful ride,” commented Stevens, who last year took the second spot on the podium in both feature CCI4*-S sections. The duo were one of four combinations to score below the 30 mark in the dressage, and went on to produce two faultless jumping rounds, adding just 0.8-time faults from the cross-country.
“He’s only a young horse,” she said. “He did Blenheim 4* last year and then has come out here. It was a really tough course today. It caused a fair number of mistakes, including me on my first three horses but Cooley Park Muze, he’s a classy class boy and he’s very exciting for the future.”
Stevens was one of many competitors to lavish praise on the BEDE Events team for how they’ve developed their Spring international fixture over the past five years.
“The event itself is clearly now incredibly popular, it has grown so much in stature and its now got that real feel like it used to have at Belton with a proper country fair and loads of people to come and watch. It’s nice that it’s become as good as that (Belton) if not better. The way the course comes round here past us, it’s fun for everyone and you get to see it.”
Now in its fifth year, the Eventing Spring Carnival has gone from strength-to-strength with growing numbers of spectators year on year, all eager to get a glimpse of the stars of eventing up close.
Putting his “pedal to the metal” paid off for Will Rawlin and Badminton bound Ballycoog Breaker Boy as they claimed third place and the Polly Phillips Memorial Trophy. “I thought this is a strong track and they’ve upped their game, and they’ve built a very good track and good preparation for us riders that have got horses going to Badminton and I thought the ground is good why not give it a go, get stuck in and have a crack.”
“I thought right let’s put the pedal to the metal and he just cruised, I’ve never been so fast in my life probably and I surprised myself actually how fast we did!” Rawlin commented. “But I didn’t do much checking which I usually do, I usually micromanage every little stride and I just got in a good rhythm and he was with me all the way, absolutely chuffed.”
Tom Jackson and United 36 Victorious in BEDE Events CCI4*-S
A hugely successful weekend for Tom Jackson resulted in a win in the first CCI4*-S section aboard Michael Stenning’s United 36, as the only combination to complete on their dressage score. Initially sitting in fourth after the first phase, their turn of foot across the country sealed victory in a competition where cross-country time proved hugely influential.
Jackson was no stranger to the podium, taking second on the Grantham Cup section with Helen Scott’s Hawk Eye. “I’m really thrilled with all 5 horses that we’ve had here,” commented the British team rider who is soon to be heading stateside to contest the Defender Kentucky CCI5* with Plot Twist B. “They’ve all gone really well and jumped brilliantly today. A couple of younger ones that have had educational rounds and then a few older ones that are going on hopefully to 5*’s in a few weeks that also had good rounds.”
Max Warburton and Coburg took second, putting his previous “curse” behind him, and finding a new love for the venue. “Thrilled with him”, commented Warburton. “Coburg is a big big horse and perhaps Thoresby is quite a fast-paced twisty track, doesn’t necessarily suit him, he’s probably a bit more of a Bramham horse where it’s a bit more in their face but he was super. He was quick with his legs, and he stuck his head down and galloped as fast as he could, so we were very pleased.”
A delighted Izzy Cook completed the podium line up with her mother’s and Jim Chromiak’s Cymoon “F” Z. Having only stepped up to the 4* level in 2025, chasing the time wasn’t part of the plan but a quick horse helped her climb the leaderboard.
“I had an amazing ride cross-= country today. I didn’t even set out to be chasing the time but he’s such a good, quick, cross-country horse and he really locks on, and he made it feel easy even though it’s not easy but I couldn’t be happier. He’s a tricky horse on the flat so it’s really rewarding to get a good result at this level and in a strong field as well so I’m really happy.”
On a track that caused it’s own amount of issues, at various points around the course, Cook was beaming with positivity.
“I walked it (the course) and it was very inviting, well built, it was there in front of you but it had to be jumped you had to set up positively and mean that you’re going and you had to be on your lines, there wasn’t a huge amount of wiggle room so you had to just ride positively and trust that what you had walked was correct.”
Local Rider Lizzie Baugh Takes Rathbones CCI3*-S on Easter Sunday
Lizzie Baugh and Priorspark Royal Riff Raff. Photo by Tim Wilkinson/BEDE Events.
In the final day of competition it was the Rathbones CCI3*-S that provided the star attraction for Easter Sunday, a class filled with a truly international field and world class competitors.
A new partnership paid dividends for local rider Lizzie Baugh rose through the ranks to win the Easter Sunday Rathbones CCI3*-S aboard Anne Staley’s Priorspark Royal Riff-Raff.
Based just 10-miles from the event, Lizzie has been no stranger to Thoresby Park, and certainly no stranger to the podium. Producing two faultless jumping rounds, the pair rose to the top by the
slimmest of margins.
Speaking of her victory, Baugh commented: “Raffie (Priorspark Royal Riff-Raff) is a new ride for me. I’ve only had him a couple of months and this is my third event with him, so really, really pleased with how he’s gone. He’s been improving in all three phases, and this weekend it’s just all come together with him, and I’m absolutely delighted.”
With eight horses competing across the three days, Baugh has certainly built herself an impressive team around her, a team whose combined efforts earned her the title of Succeed Leading Rider and
a £500 bonus prize for her efforts.
The CCI3* section attracted over one hundred entries, including a raft of Olympians and world number ranked rider Harry Meade with five of his spring five-star targeted rides. With a course once again designed by Stuart Buntine it provided a fair test for both horse and rider. “I walked the cross-country track on Friday and I was like ‘oh, this is a little bit bigger than what I was
expecting’ but actually it rode brilliantly and I think that all of the tracks, they’ve all been a good test, and a fair test and they’ve all ridden really well,” Meade said.
In a close affair Ireland’s Sian Coleman and Kilroe Frolic held on for second, completing on her dressage score of 32.6, just 0.1 of a penalty behind the winner. Coleman was one of several riders to make the trip over from Ireland, targeting the good ground and atmospheric venue that the Eventing Spring Carnival has to offer.
Elite amateur rider Max Gordon, riding his and his parents’, Shades of Sligo II rounded out the podium placings, completing on 32.7. The 9-year-old has been taken through the grades by Gordon
and will look to spend the 2026 season consolidating their three-star form before re-targeting the four-star level at Blenheim Palace later in the season. “We’ve had him for a few years now; he’s been coming up the grades with me. I was really happy with him. Really good double clear, he show jumped beautifully. I think he’s really come on this year. He’s come out stronger, confident and he felt like he was having a really good time today so I’m really happy with him.”
Like many riders Gordon was quick to compliment the event team on the exceptional ground conditions and overall event feel. “The ground is fantastic. I really liked the course. It’s a little bit different this year, it was nice to have it moved around and I think it asks enough questions – it is testing but that’s what we come for at three- and four-stars. The course rode well and it rewarded a forward ride which is always nice, and I’m really pleased with it.”
Reigning Junior European Champ takes Arena Saddles CCI2*-S
Setting the standard from an early point and leading from start to finish was Junior European Champion Ella Howard, riding her father, Edward Howard’s, Marchwood. The established partnership produced a 27.5 dressage, and from there on only added a further 0.8-time penalties across the country.
The 15-year-old Rousseau sired gelding is now in his third season with Suffolk based Howard. In his illustrious career the striking chestnut has supported numerous riders in their early careers including Susie Berry, Chuffy Clarke and Daisy Bathe.
Speaking of the win, 18-year-old Ella Howard commented: “Last year I was lucky enough to win the Junior Europeans with Marchwood, so this year there’s definitely been a bit more, I guess, expectations and light pressure. So, it’s really nice to come here and have a really lovely event, with great ground and a really good course. He felt really confident, really happy, and really enjoyed it. It was a brilliant course to ride around.”
Slotting into second place, Bella Innes Ker and the Roxburghe Eventing and Barratt Eventing owned Mountgable Independent completed on their 29.9 dressage score, improving their
two-phase placing by one. Completing the podium line us was Dani Stewart-Richardson and MBF Touch Your Toes, owned by E and S Woolley. The pair originally sat 1.2 penalties behind Howard and
Marchwood, however 2-time penalties on the cross-country dropped them to an eventual third.
Speaking of the result Steward-Richardson commented: “I’ve had a really good ride on MBF Touch Your Toes, we’re really happy because his owners have come back over from Ireland which is brilliant. He’s come back to me after going to a couple of riders, and it’s like putting on an old pair of slippers- he just went really well. He’s a performer, when he gets to a show he tries a bit harder for you, he’s that type. I’m delighted, it was a great course, brilliant ground, great event.”
Eventing Spring Carnival at Thoresby Park (GBR): [Website] [Scores] [Live Stream Replays]
