Victory for Emily Ward and Wild Star HF in the Winter Grand Prix at Kelsall Hill Winter Classic
Tuesday 04 November 2025
 c. KT Equine Photography.jpg "Victory for Emily Ward and Wild Star HF in the Winter Grand Prix at Kelsall Hill Winter Classic")
Emily Ward landed the feature Winter Grand Prix with Wild Star HF to finish Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre’s Winter Classic in Cheshire on a high.
Fresh from an international win at HOYS and having finished second in the Winter Grand Prix at Aintree Equestrian Centre, the pair started their week in good form with second place in the 1.40m Grand Prix Qualifier before taking on the challenge of the Grand Prix.
Forty competitors faced course designer Rafael Suarez’s 1.40m/1.45m Grand Prix track, which saw poles fall throughout the course, as five advanced into the jump off. With only two combinations jumping double clear, Emily just found the edge with the scopey nine-year-old gelding Wild Star HF, jointly owned by Nick Ward and Angela Hunt, the pair easing ahead with 1.10 seconds to spare.
“It was a really good class, a great course and a competitive field with good horses and riders in the jump off, even though only five I think made it through,” said Emily
“I was first to go in the jump-off, so I just had to go for it. I didn’t think I had done enough and had left a little bit of room which showed when Jake [Saywell] beat my time but had one down. Luckily, we did enough on the day. We always have a nice time at Kelsall Hill, it is a local show to us and such an amazing venue.
“Wild Star is on fantastic form and is really excelling himself. He’s such an amazing horse, we bred him ourselves so have known him from the very beginning. He is a character but tries so hard and there is not much he can’t get over. His owner, Angela [Hunt], was there to watch him and so was my dad, Nick [Ward], so it was really special to have them there and a nice day for Team Haddon Farms.”
Nigel Coupe slotted into second place with Peter Grayson’s Air Queen II, whilst Jake Saywell rode into third aboard his own Kabaya Lady.
Winter Grand Prix
Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre
1st- Emily Ward & Wild Star HF – 0/0 35.96
2nd – Nigel Coupe & Air Queen II – 0/0 37.06
3rd – Jake Saywell & Kabaya Lady – 0/4 35.79
NB Results pending final grading
On day two of Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre’s Winter Classic show, Canadian rider Kara Chad, who is currently spending time competing in the UK and Europe, claimed an impressive win in the Winter Grade C Championship Qualifier.
From a field of 38 starters, only three combinations advanced to the final round, with two producing double-clear performances. Kara produced two flawless rounds, riding her own Udo VI, to take the top spot in 40.97 seconds after a tightly contested jump-off.
Hannah Sims and SFS Valentine finished second, posting a time of 43.97 seconds but incurring nine faults in the jump-off, while Thomas Dovkants and Bonmahon Instar took third, finishing in 39.31 seconds with four faults.
Winter Grade C Championship Qualifier
Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre
1st – Kara Chad & Udo VI – 0/0 40.97
2nd – Hannah Sims & SFS Valentine – 0/9 43.97
3rd - Thomas Dovkants & Bonmahon Instar – 0/4 39.31
NB Results pending final grading
Forty-eight starters came forward for the second U25 British Championship qualifying class to contend for a place in the final at the 2025 London International Horse Show in December.
The challenging track saw thirteen combinations return for the jump-off, but it was Cheshire-based Red Morgan who emerged victorious with Didy Morgan’s Golia in a time of 34.03 seconds. Angel Tough, winner of this class at Aintree Equestrian Centre in October, took home second place with Emerson Tough’s Nicole IV, just 0.50 seconds off the winning pace, whilst Lauren Roach slotted Kerry Grimster’s Louisiana-S into third place, 0.14 seconds further in arrears.
U25 National Championship Qualifier
Kelsall Hill Equestrian Centre
1st – Red Morgan & Golia - 0/0 34.03
2nd - Angel Tough & Nicole IV – 0/0 34.54
3rd – Lauren Roach & Louisiana-S – 0/0 34.68
NB Results pending final grading
Image: KT Equine Photography
