Bechtolsheimer honoured at Olympia 2009
last updated on December 21, 2009 09:37
The phenomenal achievements of Laura Bechtolsheimer’s 2009 were recognised at The London International Horse Show, Olympia when she received the Raymond Brooks-Ward Memorial Trophy on Wednesday 15th December. The award is presented each year to the rider aged 25 or under who has shown the greatest potential for future success during the current season in dressage, eventing or jumping.
Laura commented: “Receiving this award tops off an amazing season. Olympia is my favourite show of the year and to come home with this and a PB score on Andretti is very special. It means an awful lot.”
No-one would dispute it’s been quite a year for the 24 year old British dressage rider from Ampney St Peter in Gloucestershire. Just four months ago in Windsor Laura won team silver and an individual bronze medal at the Alltech FEI European Dressage Championships 2009, the best British performance at a European Championship for 16 years.
She also set new heights by becoming the first ever British dressage rider to score over 80% and holds the British International Grand Prix record in all three classes – the Grand Prix, the Grand Prix Special and the Grand prix Freestyle. Their success this year leaves them standing 6th in the FEI World rankings, an outstanding achievement with the promise of much more to come.
Previous riders to have received the award since it began in 1992 include Pippa Funnell, Zara Phillips, Tina Cook and last year’s winner Para Equestrian Dressage rider Sophie Christiansen.
Pictured above - Laura receives the award from the Brooks-Ward brothers, accompanied by last year's winner, Paralympian Sophie Christiansen. Photo courtesy of Kit Houghton
