Carl Hester and Liebling II at the Deluxe National Dressage Championships
Carl Hester and Liebling II at the Deluxe National Dressage Championships The Dressage Deluxe National Dressage Championships, Warwickshire, 17-20 Sept promised and delivered the best of British dressage at the finale of the summer season. Following swiftly on the heels of unprecedented success at the European Championships-a team silver and individual bronze-the National Championships saw its own share of records set with high flying team member Carl Hester clinching his sixth National Championship and 51st national title. The Grand Prix Freestyle saw a hotly contested battle with five riders going 70% or better. Hester once again snatched the top spot for 74.65% to his Tom Jones medley. A delighted Carl commented;
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"This has been the best year I've had for twenty years," said Carl. "Windsor took me back to the thrill of riding on my first team and now, to win more than 50 national titles is amazing. It also makes me realise how many horses I've ridden over the years!" joked Carl.
"I had good artistic marks at Windsor so I was confident that my programme could be good enough to win today but the technicality had to be right too", explained Carl. "We did have a mistake in the two time changes so I was then careful not to over ride in trying to put the score up. From then on though, the rest of the test was technically really good."
Last year's champs Maria Eilberg and Two Sox were forced to settle for second with a PB of 73.90% and it was a well deserved third for Nicola Jourdain and St. Swithens who scored 72.05%.
The combined scores from the Grand Prix and the Freestyle saw Carl Hester lift the Dressage Deluxe National Dressage Championship for a record sixth time.
Grand Prix
1st Carl Hester with Donald McTaggart's Liebling II, 71.36%
2nd Maria Eilberg with Ferdi Eilberg's Two Sox, 69.49%
3rd Steph Croxford with her own Mr President, 67.40%
Grand Prix Freestyle
1st Carl Hester with Donald McTaggart's Liebling II, 74.65%
2nd Maria Eilberg with Ferdi Eilberg's Two Sox, 73.90%
3rd Nicola Jourdain with Sandra Jordain's St Swithens, 72.05%
Dressage Deluxe National Dressage Champion 2009: Carl Hester and Liebling II(combined score from Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle)
Added on: 21/09/09.
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