Charlie Dawson and TGF Africa Secure NAF Five Star Silver League Final Ticket at Northcote Stud

The NAF Five Star Silver League Semi Final at Northcote Stud attracted 43 rider combinations, all aiming to secure qualification for the prestigious Horse of the Year Show Final this October. 

Designed by Shaun Sands, the course proved a demanding test throughout the competition, with just nine combinations producing two faultless rounds to progress to the all-important jump-off. 

It was Charlie Dawson who emerged victorious aboard Vanessa Townsend's TGF Africa, delivering the fastest clear round of the jump-off to stop the clock in an impressive 41.78 seconds and secure their place in the NAF Five Star Silver League Final. 

Lucy Hassall claimed second place after producing another stylish clear aboard One For Lucy, finishing in 42.51 seconds, while Christina Kenyon completed the podium with Calypsos Rampant Million, also jumping clear in a time of 45.51 seconds. 

With qualification now secured, Charlie Dawson and TGF Africa will turn their attention to the NAF Five Star Silver League Final at the Horse of the Year Show in October, where they will line up against the country's leading Silver League combinations in pursuit of the coveted title. 

“So, Africa is eight now and renowned for his looks, he’s so unusually marked and he’s got quite a lot of attitude! He goes a certain way, that’s how he likes to go and that’s it and likes to buck and bronc. I’ve ridden him since he was four, so from the beginning, Vanessa Townsend [who owns him] also had his mum and had a lot of success in the Amateurs at 90cm & 1.00m so when he came up for sale she couldn’t say no. He’s a real character, everyone loves to watch him, he’s quirky and a bit crazy!  

I have never jumped in the silver league semi finals before as I’ve only just dropped down, my other horse had an injury last year so I didn’t jump the bigger classes. Africa was already in the silver league, so we jumped two qualifiers and was second in both. On the day it was a nice course, quite quick and it actually got quite big, it’s the biggest track we have jumped together, it was a bit of a surprise!  

Its Africa’s first time at HOYS, he did qualify for the Foxhunter Final last year but we didn’t take him as we thought it would be too big for him, so it’s great to get another chance to go. He’s quite a big horse, so it will be tight for him at HOYS so we will get some practice indoors but I’m sure he will by flying around bucking and broncing. We will probably do a couple od stay aways, you can’t do too much with him or he gets over excited and explodes and your like, oh well try again tomorrow! We don’t put too much pressure on, there’s no rush with him.” 

NAF Five Star Silver League Semi Final  

Northcote Stud, Sunday 26 July 2026 

1st  – Charlie Dawson & TGF Africa – 0/0/0 41.78  
2nd  – Lucy Hassall & One For Lucy – 0/0/0 42.51  
3rd  – Christina Kenyon & Calypsos Rampant Million – 0/0/0 45.51  

4th – Sarah Winterbottom & Eddy Merckx M2S – 0/0/0 46.65 

NB: Qualifications will be updated pending official grading of results.   

Image Majestic Photography