LeMieux National Dressage Championships 2018 Preview

There’s only two days to go before the event we’ve all been waiting for – the LeMieux National Championships 2018 (20 – 23 September). With four days of outstanding dressage on offer, this great national gathering of British dressage is a dream show for enthusiasts and followers of the sport.

The centrally located Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire will welcome the country’s leading riders alongside a host of talented amateurs. Combined, they’ll provide us with high calibre dressage competition at all levels, from Prelim right through to the crowning of the LeMieux National Champion at the ultimate level of Grand Prix.

Charlotte Dujardin, fresh from the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Tryon, North Carolina (USA), will be playing a huge role with no less than 11 competition starts with seven of her lovely young horses. Charlotte has always supported the Nationals and both Valegro and Mount St John Freestyle cut their teeth at this show. With this unequalled number of competition starts, there’ll be plenty of opportunity to see her ride.

Defending her LeMieux National Champion title, Hayley Watson-Greaves returns with Rubins Nite in the Grand Prix which starts at 11.56 on Saturday. This class promises to be an exciting affair with several combinations likely to give Hayley a run for her money. Challengers for the title include Laura Tomlinson, Lara Butler, Gareth Hughes and the fast developing combination of Sonnar Murray-Brown and Erlentanz.

Others to watch are the in-form duo of Louise Bell and Into The Blue, Vicky Thompson-Winfield and the charismatic Mango Jacaro, Matt Frost and AMD Don Rosso II and a pair who’ve certainly raised their game this year - Bobby Hayler with Aldborough Rubenhall.

One to watch at the lower yet highly competitive levels is Michael Eilberg who will be presenting three young horses from the Mount St John Stud. This breeding operation is really making waves in the world of dressage and these young horses display the quality that has become synonymous with the Mount St John brand. MSJ Furstin Diaz is entered for the Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold, and Atterupgaards 02 and Mount St John Valencia in both the TopSpec Medium Gold and the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold.

The Shearwater Young Dressage Horse Finals are always a feast for the eyes with the top young horses in Great Britain going head-to head for the titles. All finalists will compete on Saturday performing their age-specific tests, then the top four from each age group will go through to Sunday’s final where Eva Möller, who returns as ride judge, will assess them for future potential. The quality on the start list is very high. The line-up includes Becky Moody and four-year-old James Bond who took top honours when qualifying at Hartpury, Kerry Mackin and five-year-old Izonik who was hot-on-the-heels of the winner in the four-year-olds last year, and Charlotte Dujardin with the six-year-old Hawtins San Floriana who also contests the TopSpec Medim Gold.

On Saturday and Sunday, international Grand Prix rider Anna Ross, will be presenting the LeMieux Master Class in the main arena - at 15:57 on Saturday and 15:56 on Sunday. And we invite you to join us in celebrating the success of our Under 25 and Senior teams this year. The ‘salute to the medallists’ parade takes place 16:27 on Saturday.

New for 2018, and on both weekend days, there’ll be a display by the world famous Atkinson Action Horses. For 20 years they’ve amazed and stunned crowds all over the globe and brought memorable scenes on both the large and small screen including Poldark and Victoria. Renowned for their daring and supreme horsemanship, we look forward to welcoming them at the Nationals for the first time!

Super Saturday
Saturday’s packed programme has been further boosted by Brightwells bringing their first dressage foal auction to Stoneleigh. Held in the main LeMieux arena in the evening, the Elite Foals Sale, in partnership with the Anglo European Studbook (AES), will feature a first-rate selection of dressage foals with outstanding proven bloodline. For the full catalogue click here.

Don’t forget there’s a huge range of trade stands for that much needed retail therapy plus a good selection of food outlets to enjoy during your day out.

On arrival at the showground, get your show-essential Programme (available on the gate, at the Secretary’s Office, at the BD stand and from the roving programme sellers) for exclusive interviews, all the essential reading on the competitors as well as the all-important schedule. For the full Nationals experience, why not purchase a Radio Nationals headset? These pre-tuned headsets (available from the Secretary’s Office and the BD stand), give you detailed commentary on the classes and help keep you up to date with what’s happening and where, ensuring you don’t miss a thing.

And, if you can’t make it to the Nationals, you can keep up-to-speed with all the goings-on, scores, results and more by visiting www.britishdressage.co.uk, www.bdchampionships.com, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.

If you haven’t yet got your tickets for the Nationals, don’t worry! Although advance ticket sales are now closed, tickets are available on each day of the Championships at the gate. Click here to visit the Championships website for detailed information on the event, ticket prices and schedules.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thursday 20/09/2018
7:50 BackinAction Preliminary Silver Championship
7:50 Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver Championship
10:25 Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver Championship
12:05 Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold Championship
14:35 Cavalor Intermediate II Gold Championship

Friday 21/09/2018
7:50 Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold Championship
7:50 Equissage Pulse Para Dressage Gold Championship - Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, Grade IV, Grade V
10:10 Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver Championship
13:15 Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold Championship
14:10 TopSpec Medium Silver Championship

Saturday 22/09/2018
7:50 Assessment & Pre-Judging Shearwater 4yo Young Horse
7:50 TopSpec Medium Gold Championship
9:12 Assessment & Pre-Judging Shearwater 5yo Young Horse
10:32 Assessment & Pre-Judging Shearwater 6yo Young Horse
11:48 LeMieux Grand Prix Gold Championship
14:59 Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Freestyle Gold Championship

Sunday 23/09/2018
7:50 Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold Championship
7:50 Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold Championship
11:55 Final of the Shearwater 4yo Young Horse
13:40 Final of the Shearwater 5yo Young Horse
14:25 Final of the Shearwater 6yo Young Horse
15:20 Horse Health Grand Prix Freestyle Gold Championship