Carl Hester wins his ninth National Champion title

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Dressage megastar Carl Hester has been crowned the LeMieux National Champion for the ninth time.

His win with Wanadoo in the Horse Health Grand Prix Freestyle Gold saw him claim the biggest prize at the  LeMieux National Dressage Championships, held at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire.

His score of 79.78% in the Freestyle and his win in Saturday’s Grand Prix made him the clear champion, ahead of last year’s winner Charlotte Dujardin and Barolo (77.20%).

“Yesterday Wanadoo was a little bit rusty, because I’d been in Rio for three weeks I thought he’d lacked a show as I hadn’t been able to fit any in,” said Carl. “To be just shy of 80% on Wanadoo is a great, great achievement for me, him, his owner Coral and the team at home, who’ll be very excited with how he went today.”

Carl and Wanadoo have been a partnership for just over a year. “He’s the cutest horse on the yard. He always neighs at me in the morning when I walk around – and he’s the only one, I might add! I’m not Dr Doolittle but he always screams at me, and of course that endears him to me, we have a very lovely relationship,” Carl added.

Charlotte might have had to settle for runner-up in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle, but she absolutely dominated at the National Dressage Championships this year, winning a total of six titles over four days.

“After the announcement of Valegro’s retirement, people think that’s it for me but I’m very lucky to have fantastic owners behind me and these talented young horses to compete,” said Charlotte.

For all the Championship reports from British Dressage, click here.

Horse & Country has exclusive highlights from the LeMieux National Dressage Championships on Horse & Country TV later this month, including coverage of the individual tests.

Viewers can watch highlights on Sunday 25 September on Sky Channel 253 or H&C Play at 9pm. Customers with a subscription to H&C Play can also watch every test online via their laptops, tablets or mobile devices from Tuesday 20 September.