The best of the best made their way to Stoneleigh Park for the Dressage Deluxe British Dressage National Championships this week and it couldn’t be clearer that the standard of dressage in this country is reaching thrilling new heights.

Laura does it again

The incredible Laura Bechtolsheimer retained her title of National Champion, winning the Dressage Deluxe Grand Prix Championship on 70.94% on Saturday, and then the Dressage Deluxe Grand Prix Freestyle to Music Championship on Sunday, scoring 76.80%. She produced an impeccable test and seemed to be riding the majority of it one-handed as she showed off her supreme control and Andretti H’s submission.

Eilberg family on winning form

The Eilberg family continued their dominance of the National Championships, with Michael in second with Marakov on 75.25% and sister Maria in third with Two Sox on 73.45%. Michael admitted to us in his interview afterwards that he can’t even remember how many classes he’s won this week. It was a sad day for Maria as it was the incredible Two Sox’s last time in his favourite arena. She wanted to retire the Ehrentusch-sired gelding from competition in style before his 18^th birthday.

Other action

As well as the Grand Prix, Sunday played host to the Stretch and Flex Elementary Open Championship and the Martin Collins Advanced Medium Open Championship. The former was won by Daniel Greenwood and GF Deville on 70.81%. The competition was nail-bitingly close, with just 0.37% separating the top three. Daniel produced a superb test to nip in front of Lucy Farrer and Fuerst Ferdinand, who’d been leading the class almost from the start, at the very last minute.

Isobel Wessels and Chagall took top honours in the Advanced Medium on 73.84%. This multitasking lady had to shoot off right after the prize giving to go and judge the Dressage Deluxe Grand Prix Freestyle Championship. Right behind her was dual-sportswoman Ruth Edge on the fiery chestnut, Zero. Ruth had two horses in this class, as well as riding Shadowfax in the Winergy Prix St George Championship on Thursday, in which they came third on 69.16%.

Final results

Stretch & Flex Elementary Open Championship:

1^st – Daniel Greenwood & GF Deville (70.81%)

2^nd – Lucy Farrer & Fuerst Ferdinand (70.56%)

3^rd – Sam Rahmatalla & Super Blue (70.44%)

Martin Collins Advanced Medium Open Championship

1^st – Isobel Wessels & Chagall (73.84%)

2^nd – Ruth Edge & Zero (72.74%)

3^rd – Anne Marie Perry & Feine Dame (72.53%)

Dressage Deluxe Grand Prix Freestyle Championship

1^st – Laura Bechtolsheimer & Andretti H (76.80%)

2^nd – Michael Eilberg & Marakov (75.25%)

3^rd – Maria Eilberg & Two Sox (73.45%).