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last updated on September 15, 2006 00:00

The champagne was flowing for today’s eight newly-crowned champions of the 2006 Blue Waters National Dressage Championships at Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire, which runs until Sunday.

KBIS Disabled Dressage Championships

There are four winners in this category. The riders are graded according to their level of disability with Grade I being the most severe. All these riders will be competing in Belgium at the end of the month to try to qualify for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. Their only other chance to qualify is at the 2007 World Para Championships at Hartpury, Glos.

Grade I: Lee Pearson and Blue Circle Boy, 74.44%
Grade II: Nicola Tustain and Prinz Heinrich, 76.06%
Grade III: Simon Laurens and Ocean Diamond, 76.13%
Grade IV: Michelle Crunckhorn and No Limit 5, 72.04%

Click here to find out all about the above riders.

Dodson & Horrell Novice Open Championships

Sarah Payne has high hopes for Sheepgate Ushipower, with whom she headed the novice open with 70.12%. She rates the five-year-old 17hh bay Dutch-bred gelding by Haarlem as the most talented horse she has ever ridden.

“I have my sights set on grand prix with him,” said Sarah, who owns him together with her husband Mark and father Bruce Grant of Sheepgate Equestrian Centre, Lincs. Sarah, who was on the British pony team in 1990 and 1991, now trains with Emile Faurie.

Shearwater Supreme Championships

Carl Hester’s ambition to win 40 national titles before he turns 40 next year is still possible even if he doesn’t count his victory in this class with his own four-year-old Valegro. He took his tally of national titles to 39 when he won the prix st georges yesterday, but decided to count this win as only half for the moment as he has another ride to come.

Carl bought the now 16.3hh gelding by Negro at a stallion licensing show in Holland as a 2½-year-old. As a three-year-old, Carl thought Valegro wouldn’t grow big enough for him and nearly sold him twice. Carl did sell him to Henriette Andersen, but only for five days and then bought him back. After that, he took him to Holland to be sold when he was on his way to an international show with Escapado.

“On the way home from the show, I stopped off and had another look at him and thought ‘what am I doing, I love this horse’. I told the dealer he was no longer for sale,” said Carl.

Saracen Horse Feeds Advanced Medium Championships

Former national champion Nicky Barrett headed the advanced medium with the eight-year-old 16.1hh stallion Faberge 50 with an impressive score of 72% despite making an error of course, which cost her 1.5%.

Nicky, who had a break from competing as she had a baby last year, was national champion in 2002 and has won 14 national titles.

"Faberge is the only horse I compete at the moment. He is the best horse I have ever had and I've had quite a few. He is so supple and loose and has a temperament to die for," said Nicky.

Quatro Intermediaire I Championships

Senior selector, judge and trainer Judy Harvey rode Richard Heley’s Fizcerraldo to win her first national title with 70.15% in the intermediaire I. She has had the German-bred eight-year-old 17.1hh gelding by Feuerbrand in her yard since a three-year-old.

"I have been waiting a long time for this. I have ridden at the nationals for 25 or 26 consecutive years now," said Judy.

For full results and audio interviews with all the champions, click www.bdchampionships.co.uk.