Teenager Raphaela scores first Hickstead victory
Wednesday 22 July 2026
Raphaela Dawson’s hunt for a Hickstead title ended with a rewarding victory in The Oakley Coachbuilders BS Winter Grade JC Championship.
She jumped the sole clear from first-to-go in an eight-rider jump off, partnering eight-year-old Belgian gelding Woody Van Duyversputten, who she has owned since he was just three.
Fifteen-year-old Raphaela, who is based near Reading, has qualified multiple times for the Agria Royal International Horse Show but this was her first victory in Hickstead’s International Arena.
“It was difficult being first-to-go because there were lots of fast people after me, but the track proved tougher for them than I thought it would be,” Raphaela said.
Raphaela and Woody Van Duyversputten have had a great summer so far, representing Britain on the winning Pony Nations Cup team in Hagen.
“He’s fairly comfortable jumping round this height but he’s not been on grass since Hickstead last year, so we weren’t sure how it would go. But we knew he loved it last time,” Raphaela said.
“I’ve produced him from his very first BS show all the way through, so it’s very special to win having done everything with him.”
Tickets for the Agria Royal International Horse Show (22-26 July) are on sale now, and all the action from the show will be livestreamed via the host streaming partner ClipMyHorse.TV
Image: Boots and Hooves Photography
