New dressage spectacular to go ahead

A NATIONAL grand prix dressage champion will be crowned this year as British Dressage (BD) reveals plans for a Christmas celebration following the cancellation of Olympia.

The LeMieux grand prix national championships at Hartpury College will take place from 21 to 22 December, to be run behind closed doors and staged with the help of Carl Hester.

The champion is usually decided at the BD national championships in September, which were cancelled owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

Qualification criteria to define the riders who will take part are being finalised by BD’s senior selection panel, headed by international teams director Judy Harvey. The class will feature 25 to 30 combinations, with the top 15 going forward to the freestyle. And it will be livestreamed for free on Horse & Country, with highlights available on demand for subscribers.

BD chief executive Jason Brautigam said that to get this competition back in the calendar is a “great boost for everyone”.

“Just in time for Christmas, too,” he added.

“Having the top combinations in the country go head to head doesn’t happen very often due to the international calendar, so all being well we’re in for a spectacular couple of days and a real treat to end the year.”