Our Christmas present to you: a LeMieux National Champion

2020 has been tough for us all. We’ve faced a number of challenges and we’ve missed out on so many of our favourite dressage events. So, it’s with a great sense of excitement, British Dressage can unveil plans for a Christmas celebration which we hope will end this difficult year on a high note for us all. We’ve worked to rescue a number of our championship fixtures and, with a little help from our Honorary Patron Carl Hester, can now add the LeMieux Grand Prix National Championship to the calendar on 21 & 22 December.

Hosted at Hartpury, in accordance with our COVID protocols, the two day championship will feature the LeMieux Grand Prix on Monday, where 25 to 30 of our best combinations will go head to head.  The top 15 will then go forward to the Horse Health Grand Prix Freestyle on Tuesday.  The horse and rider with the highest combined score will be crowned the 2020 LeMieux National Champions. Qualification criteria to define the riders who will take part is currently being finalised by our Senior Selection Panel, headed up by International Teams Director Judy Harvey.

Robert Lemieux didn’t hesitate in pledging his support to the rescheduled Championship class; "This will hopefully be a great way to end a terrible year – and being able to crown a true British National Champion will be a unique experience. LeMieux is delighted to sponsor these two days of top class competition and continue our support of British Dressage.”

To thank BD members for their loyal support this year, full live stream coverage will be available for free to air for everyone on Horse & Country.  You won’t miss a minute of the action and we’re working on exciting plans to make the coverage extra special with some Christmas sparkle. H&C+ subscribers will have the added benefit of being able to watch the coverage on demand at any time.

Jason Brautigam, British Dressage CEO said: “To get the LeMieux Grand Prix National Championship back in the calendar is great boost for everyone – and just in time for Christmas too. The loss of all of our top events this year, from Windsor, Bolesworth, Hartpury and Hickstead, to the Olympics, Nationals, HOYS and Olympia, has been a real blow to everyone in our sport,  whether riders, owners, coaches, officials or spectators, but we hope this will go some way to making up for it.”

“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 to the year.  Thank you to Robert Lemieux, Horse & Country and Hartpury for helping us to make this happen and give our members a unique Christmas gift to reward their support through 2020.”

Follow BD’s social media channels throughout December for the build up to the LeMieux Grand Prix National Championships and details on how to access the live coverage.