The CSI05* 1.45m competition at The AGRIA Royal International Horse Show 2025 in Hickstead featured a top-class field of riders, but it was Great Britain’s Millie Allen who made the crowd erupt with her lightning-fast victory.
Together with Quick Diamant HR, an eight-year-old BWP mare, she produced a faultless round and recorded an impressive time of 56.77 seconds. That way, there was still Belgian blood on the top step of the podium — even if there was no Belgian rider in the saddle.
Quick Diamant HR, the horse that carried Millie Allen to victory, is a Belgian Warmblood bred and produced by none other than Ruben Houben. This mare, a daughter of Diamant de Semilly out of a Quidam de Revel dam line, was carefully developed by Houben and placed with the British rider through Karel Cox Horses BV. The partnership has already proven to be a winning formula.
James Smith, riding Juno Rose 23 (by Erdento), also finished clear in 57.05 seconds, securing second place. Third place went to fellow Brit Mark Edwards aboard the stallion Flying Tinker II (by Tinkers Tale), whose time of 57.22 seconds completed the British sweep of the top three. Experienced German rider Marcus Ehning guided Baloubets Rose Dree Boeken (by Baloubet du Rouet) to a precise fourth place (58.77 s), while compatriot Rene Dittmer rounded out the top five with Echo vh Gerendal Z, stopping the clock at 59.79 seconds.
