And just like that we’ve crowned our winners of the LeMieux Grassroots Championships 2025! It’s been a wonderful two days of sport for our Grassroots competitors.
The BE100 Championship was won by Katie Lawrence and Cheyenne Balloon on a score of 25.9 penalties. In second place after dressage they added nothing in either of the jumping phases to finish on their dressage score. Cheyenne Balloon, a 14-year-old mare owned by Katie, recorded a win earlier this season in Horseheath as well as a 4th place more recently in Ascot Under Wychwood.
Speaking after her win an emotional Katy spoke about the hard work that goes into it, “My mare is a really quirky character but when it all comes together it’s really special.” Katy also received the Keep Kicking On trophy which was presented by Jonny & Lucis Hustler, for the most successful rider over 40 years of age in the class.
Hot on their heels in second place were Maisie Morgan and Bright Rinco who also finished on their dressage score of 26.1. They also came into the competition in fantastic form with three top 3 placings out of their five runs this season and got into the competition through a wildcard. “I’m really chuffed, he couldn’t have gone any better.”
Corrieview Merlin Magic and Jane Rogers completed the podium in third place. They led the dressage on a score of 22.9 but a fence down in the show jumping dropped them down to eventual third place.
“I finished second in 2023 but Corrieview Merlin Magic has been here every year since 2017,” commented Jane after her placing. “He’s a homebred so that makes it that extra bit special.”
The Event Horse Owners Association and Lycetts Insurance jointly awarded a prize to Jane for being the highest place EHOA member.
The BE90 Championship saw Emily Proud and HSF Lobo Royale climb to the top of the leaderboard after faultless jumping rounds. The nine-year-old gelding has never been out of the top 6 in his five British Eventing runs, finishing on his dressage score each time. Emily described him as “not the easiest” having bought him as a three-year-old and broken him herself but commented about how “you dream about this moment building up to this event and it’s all very surreal but I’m just really lucky to have a beautiful and talented horse to do it with!”
Taking second place was Charlotte Cordy-Redden and Cadilac Jack who finished just 0.6 penalties behind the winner. They posted a dressage score of 29.0 and managed to finish on it to take the runner up spot. Charlotte also was the winner of the Keep Kicking On trophy which is presented to the most successful rider over 40 years of age. Breathing down their necks in third place was Susan Bill and her Unnamed mare by J’Taime Flamenco.
Joanne Monkman was the winner of the Event Horse Owners Association and Lycetts Insurance award in the BE90 Championship on her horse G Damascus.
Speaking at the press conference, title sponsor Robert LeMieux, spoke about how important sponsoring competitions like this is, “The first time I came here was in ‘84 and it’s so lovely to be able to give back to competitions like this. This is so special to me as this represents the real lifeline of the sport – the grassroots is where the sport is.”
Well done to all the competitors who took part and we look forward to seeing you again next