Tag Archives: Laura Bechtolsheimer

Dujardin Makes It Double Olympic Dressage Gold for Britain with Freestyle Victory

(L to R) - Silver medallist Adelinde Cornelissen (NED), gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin (GBR), and bronze medallist Laura Bechtolsheimer (GBR). Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

London (GBR), 9 August 2012 – Great Britain’s new shining star, Charlotte Dujardin, brought the crowd to their feet and the London 2012 equestrian events to the perfect conclusion when securing the individual Olympic Dressage title as winner of the Grand Prix Freestyle this afternoon at Greenwich Park.

Last of the 18 to line out today, the 26-year-old rider scored a magnificent 90.089 to pin The Netherlands’ Adelinde Cornelissen and Parzival into silver medal position, while the host nation had even more to celebrate when Laura Bechtolsheimer and Mistral Hojris claimed the bronze.

On Monday, Dujardin was part of the team that claimed Britain’s first-ever dressage medals in the history of the Games, and golden ones at that. The sport is in an exciting period of change and suddenly, it seems from almost out of nowhere, the British are right on top of the game.

As the FEI Eventing Chairman, Giuseppe della Chiesa, said this afternoon, somewhat tongue-in-cheek, “Two golds for Germany in eventing, and two golds for Britain in dressage – the world has turned upside down!”

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Olympic Gold Again for Great Britain as Dujardin Leads the Dressage Team to Glory

Great Britain's Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester and Laura Bechtolsheimer won dressage team gold today at Greenwich Park. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

London (GBR), 7 August 2012 – You could hardly have scripted it better as Great Britain’s Dressage riders scooped Olympic team gold today. Yesterday the equestrian venue at Greenwich Park resounded to the wild roars of the home crowd as their jumpers topped the team podium for the first time in 60 years. Today it was the turn of Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer and Charlotte Dujardin to bring spectators to their feet in celebration of the first-ever British Dressage medals in the history of the Games – and, even better, they were also golden ones.

They began the day with a narrow lead over Germany, whose fantastic record includes team gold at the previous seven Olympic and, once in front, the London 2012 host nation riders just wouldn’t let go. And the star of the show was 26-year-old Dujardin who burst onto the Dressage scene just 18 months ago and who sealed today’s result with another fabulous ride on the 10-year-old Valegro.

Germany had to settle for silver while The Netherlands took bronze.

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British Riders Take the Lead as Dressage Gets Underway at Greenwich Park

Carl Hester and Uthopia took the early lead for Great Britain in the Dressage Grand Prix at the Olympic equestrian venue at Greenwich Park today. (Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton)

London (GBR), 2 August 2012 – Britain’s Carl Hester and Laura Bechtolsheimer got the host nation off to a great start when claiming the top two places in the Grand Prix on the opening day of Dressage at the London 2012 Olympic Games in Greenwich Park today.

But Bechtolsheimer wasn’t content with her score of 76.839 with Mistral Hojris which leaves her just under one percentage point behind her team-mate as the second tranche of riders take on the Grand Prix challenge tomorrow. “I’m pretty gutted for my team that the score didn’t reflect what we thought it would be,” said the 27-year-old British rider who took three silver medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky (USA) two years ago with the same horse. “It is by far the lowest percentage that I’ve had in a few years. I hope it is just because the marks are lower here,” she said.

And she may have every reason to be concerned, because the mighty Germans, whose dominance of this sport at Olympic level includes 12 team and seven individual titles, sent out only one of their team members today. That was Dorothee Schneider who steered her lovely young mare, Diva Royal, through a calm and tension-free test to post a score of 76.77 for third place at this halfway stage of the Grand Prix competition.

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Bechtolsheimer Leads British Whitewash at Olympia

Laura Bechtolsheimer steered Mistral Hojris to victory as British riders dominated the fourth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage series. Photo: FEI/Kit Houghton.

Olympia (GBR), 14 December 2011 – Laura Bechtolsheimer led the cavalry-charge, as British riders sensationally claimed the top four places in the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage 2011/2012 qualifier at Olympia in London, Great Britain tonight.  Riding Mistral Hojris, the horse with which she claimed three silver medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky, USA last year, the 26 year old rider scored 83.975 to pip fellow-countrywoman Charlotte Dujardin and Valegro, while 2011 European silver medallist, Carl Hester, slotted into third with Uthopia.  And, rounding up the host-nation whitewash, Richard Davison steered Hiscox Artemis into fourth.

“I’m thrilled,” said Bechtolsheimer. “We won the Grand Prix here last year, but we have never won the Freestyle, and this is such a special show – the home crowd are great.  It means everything to have won this competition!” she added.

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FEI and Reem Acra Give Christmas Treat to Children from Inner City London Horse Charity

Laura Bechtolsheimer (centre) and Shetland pony foal Minty with members of the Ebony Horse Club from Brixton during the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage qualifier, with Lisa Wells (far right), Reem Acra, Director of Special Events and Sponsorships (Photo: Phil Mingo/FEI)

London, 15 December 2010 – A group of children from one of London’s most disadvantaged boroughs got an early Christmas treat today (Wednesday 15 December), when they were invited by Hollywood fashion designer, Reem Acra, and the governing body for horse sport, the FEI, to attend one of the sport’s premier events in London.

The London International Horse Show at Olympia, venue for the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage, is one of the most glamorous events on the FEI calendar and is attended by members of the British Royal family and other high profile celebrities.

Today, children from the Ebony Horse Club charity got a chance to experience some of that glamour – from one of the best seats in the house.

International fashion designer Reem Acra, new sponsor of the FEI World Cup Dressage, invited the children to experience the magic of world-class Dressage whilst enjoying dinner in the sponsor’s hospitality suite.

The group also met one of the UK’s leading Dressage riders Laura Bechtolsheimer, who recently won three silver medals at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

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