Youngest dressage champion (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Youngest dressage champion

LAURA Bechtolsheimer, 20, of Ampney St Peter, near Cirencester, daughter of world famous dressage guru Dr Bechtolsheimer, became the youngest ever National Dressage Champion on Sunday.

Riding her father's 17.2hh gelding, Douglas Dorsey, and competing against 350 other riders including previous national champions and Olympic dressage riders, she won both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music.

"I'm really quite amazed. I was secretly hoping it would all come together here and I'm thrilled to have won," said Laura after the event. "I'm definitely aiming to ride in the London Olympic Games in 2,012, but if things keep going this well, I'll be aiming for Beijing in the meantime."

Laura is about to start her second year at Bristol University where she is studying philosophy and politics. She attends lectures in the morning and drives back from Bristol to ride Douglas in the afternoon.