As the fifth and final day of the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships drew to a close, four more champions took their place with the week’s 26 previously crowned winners. Two-time champs and H&C exclusive blogger Jo Barry and Vivaldi V scored a hat trick with their win in the Albion Medium Open Championship on 72.07%.

Jo and Vilvadi V were previously vicotorious in Thursday’s Equissage Elementary Open Freestyle and in Saturday’s Bucas medium Music Freestyle with 77.57% and 73.70% respectively.

Other Sunday winners were Matt Frost and AMD Usual Suspect (pictured) on 72.11% in the NupaFeed Advanced Medium Freestyle, Christine Cockerton and Fiji Reef on 69.29% in the South Essex Insurance Brokers Elementary Restricted Championships, and in the Petplan Equine Preliminary Area Festival it was Claire Rollitt and Woodstock II who took the title on 70.91%.

Amateur dressage rider Christine Cockerton from Bardfield, Essex headed a field of 20 national finalists to win the South Essex Insurance Brokers Elementary Restricted Winter Championship. Riding her own Fiji Reef, an eight-year-old German-bred gelding, she was awarded with a score of 69.29% to take the class.

“It’s feels brilliant to win,” said Cockerton “It all went right today, he was fantastic in the test - I really didn’t expect to do so well!”

Cockerton, who bought Florestan sired Fiji Reef as a two-year-old and has backed and educated him herself said: “We’re both developing now. He’s more in front of the leg and when he goes well, he really comes up with the goods.”

Partnered by AMD Usual Suspect, a nine-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Jazz out of a Don Schufro mare, Matt Frost won the Nupafeed Advanced Medium Music Freestyle Championship. Their test, choreographed to dramatic and powerful music impressed to score 72.11%.

“I was thrilled to win today - I am so happy with him,” said a delighted Frost. “Winning is a relief too. I have such a good team around and I want to do well for them.”

A technical glitch at the start of the test did not put them off their stride: “There was a problem with my music CD - it started skipping and went blank on the third movement so we had to start again using a spare we had at hand,” explained Frost, “I was really pleased as he kept his head - he was super.”

Jo Barry rounded off her winter championship in style, producing another assured performance with the striking black Vivaldi V to lift her third title of the week, the Albion Medium Open Championship. The pair maintained their perfect strike rate to head a 27 strong class and win with 72.07%.

“I can’t quite believe it” said a delighted Barry, “This week has been an absolute dream and to take a third one is amazing! We were a bit wobbly warming up today and then Carl [Hester] appeared and just his presence seemed to help. He’s been a huge support.”

Barry was quick to praise the gelding she part owns with Lady Hope; “Vivaldi has been wonderful and given his all each time out; he just rises to the occasion. He has a super temperament and his consistency is such a strong point. Everything just felt right today.”

Ifracombe based amateur dressage rider Claire Rollitt scooped a national title at the Petplan Equine Area Festival Championships. Held alongside the NAF Five Star Winter Dressage Championships at Hartpury Arena, Gloucestershire, these championships showcase some of the best competitive dressage in the UK.

Riding her own horse, Woodstock II, a seven-year-old Dutch-bred gelding by Optimist, Claire Rollitt from Ilfracombe in Devon sealed victory in the Petplan Equine Preliminary Area Festival Championship with a score of 70.91%.

“I was thrilled to hear my score for the second test!” said an ecstatic Rollitt. “In the first round he was a little tense as he’s never been asked to perform a test in an arena with another dressage competition running alongside. Our second test was much better and I knew we couldn’t have done any more.”