Carolyn Richards scored the best dressage mark of the day – 18 – to head a BE100 section at Bicton Arena's new BE event.

Riding Morenzo, a 15.1hh bay gelding by Lorenzo, Carolyn led from the start and won section A by more than 12 points. "This was only my second ever BE event so I was really pleased with how he went," said Carolyn, of Hayle, Cornwall. "I've had him for three years and I bought him in Cornwall from the Gethins' yard in Redruth.

"I don't get time to ride very much because I'm at university," added Carolyn, who is studying in Cheltenham to be a primary school teacher. "I thought the cross-country course had some nice varied fences and the event was really spacious and well laid out." Carolyn, who credited her dressage trainer Anne Luke for her success, also thanked her mother Felicity for keeping Morenzo in work while she's away.

Marie Ewen took an equine break from maternity duties to land her first win in the BE100Open section at the East Devon venue.

Producing a dressage score of 26.5 riding her own Winnie Bago, Marie held on to her lead after gaining a double clear inside the time. "I've been eventing for quite a few years now, but this is my first affiliated win," said Marie, who has just started riding again after having a baby eight months ago.

"I also had a skiing accident and ripped the ligaments in my knee so I wasn't able to ride," added Marie, who has owned Winnie Bago, a 10-year-old Latvian Warmblood, for three years. "She's actually meant to be a Russian carthorse! She's got lovely paces and is always clear in the showjumping, but she would never have the speed to go beyond novice. She goes hunting with my mother every year and is such a trier. She's so honest and consistent."

Marie is now due to go back to her full-time job as a science teacher at Okehampton College.

Fiona Rawle rode Danda Richardson's Shovern Touchdown to a convincing win in BE100 section C2. The combination added nothing to their dressage mark to finish on 27.5.

"He's a coloured six-year-old who has started competing this year," said Fiona, 19, of Tiverton, who has been given the ride on the Phanten-sired gelding as she works full-time for Liz Mitchell at Blue Moon Eventing. "He's on the yard to bring on, but he's now done a few events and this was his first win."

Talking about the course, Fiona said: "The cross-country was brilliant and they have done a really good job with the new event. It was quite a spooky course and caused some riders a few problems, but he was really bold and really straight."

Janine Jansen took BE100 section B on her dressage mark of 28, riding Watson III. This combination has had a successful first season with other BE100 wins at Winkleigh and West Buckland. Janine also finished third in the BE100Plus section with M'Lady Furiosa. This section was won by Clare Wilson and Mellway Rose, an eight-year-old mare by De Beer.

A 16-year-old mare, who was originally bought as a mother's hack, won BE90 section E with rider Zoe Boyles. Scoring a 29.5 dressage mark, Zoe rode Megan VI to her first BE win of the season, having registered with BE earlier this year. "We have had her for six years and she was bought as a hack for my mum," said Zoe, of South Molton, North Devon. "I've just recently picked her up and found out she can jump so we decided to event her. This was our second affiliated event and she loved the course at Bicton – she just flew round," said Zoe of the 15.1hh dark bay mare.

Juliette Hoskin and Tredazzle won BE90 section F on a score of 35. The Catherston Dazzler-sired gelding also won at West Buckland earlier in the month.

Juliette bred Tredazzle out of a mare she rode to advanced level. "He's a big 17hh horse so it's taken a little while for him to grow up," said Juliette of the six-year-old grey gelding. "He's hunted a lot through the winter and I've spent quite a bit of time on his dressage and showjumping." said Juliette, who works full-time for Barclays Bank.

Lucy Stevens rode Nicky Fisher's Marshalls Riverdance to a 25.5 win on BE90 section G. The 14-year-old mare is on loan for the season as Lucy's main horse is currently sidelined. "She's done four events so far and I've only had her for three months," said the 24-year-old, of Tavistock, who has recently qualified as a dentist. "She had never evented before so I'm really pleased with her. She's very low mileage and she's a real trier. I think she's quite competitive herself!"

Organiser Jon Inglis said the new venue had proved a great success and there was a possibility the event would run next year in the spring. "We had 250 entries and everyone was very happy that the course rode well. It was fantastic that we had a lot of rain leading up to the event because some venues have had withdrawals due to the ground being rock hard. We aerated the entire course and had perfect going. We are hoping to run again next year and to add a novice course as well."