There’s only two more sleeps until the dressage event we’ve all been waiting for – the LeMieux National Championships 2019 (12 – 15 September). For four action packed days of outstanding competition, 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, which’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.
Following standout performances at the FEI European Championships in Rotterdam last month. Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester, Gareth Hughes, plus FEI Para Dressage European Championships medallists Sophie Wells, Mari Durward-Akhurst and Georgia Wilson will all be heading to Stoneleigh.
Dujardin is a LeMieux National Championships regular. She loves to support the show and it gives her an unmissable opportunity to expose her up-and-coming horses to the big arena. This year is no exception with her having a total of four rides. There’s Mount St John Valencia in the Fairfax Saddles PSG Gold (Thursday) and the Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I Gold (Friday), Gio in the Cavalor Inter II Gold (Thursday) and Hawtins San Floriana in the Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold (Sunday), so visitors on any of these days can get to enjoy seeing her ride.
Hughes, who returned home from the FEI European Championships in Rotterdam as the highest-placed Brit, has Sintano Van Hof Olympia in Thursday’s Fairfax Saddles PSG, KK Dominant in the Cavalor Inter II Gold the same day and he goes Sunday in the super-hot Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold. Gareth also hosts the popular weekend LeMieux Masterclass on Saturday at 15:57 and Sunday at 15:56. Expect top training tips and insights from one of the sport’s most popular characters.
Three of the fab four who won team silver at the FEI Para Dressage Europeans in Rotterdam will be competing. Mari Durward-Akhurst with younger ride Lebensfreude, and Grade II Freestyle European Champion Georgia Wilson with Midnight contest the Equissage Pulse Para Gold Championships, whilst Sophie Wells and C Fatal Attraction go head to head with the able-bodied riders in the Fairfax Saddles PSG Gold and the Saracen Horse Feeds Inter I. Mari, Georgia and Sophie will be joined on Saturday by fourth team member Nicky Greenhill as we raise a glass to their medal success in our ‘salute to the medallists’ parade at 16:27 in the LeMieux Arena.
The Shearwater Young Dressage Horse Finals are always interesting, 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, before the top four from each age group go through to Sunday’s final where Philipp Hess joins us a ride judge to assess their future potential. Philip, son of FEI 4* Judge Christoph Hess, is a young professional rider who has gained much respect and acclaim as a test rider at the Bundeschampionate as well as at the German stallion performance tests and this year’s Pavo Cup Finals in Ermelo, the Netherlands.
Super Saturday
Following a successful debut year, the Anglo European Studbook is delighted to return to Stoneleigh in partnership with Brightwells on Saturday with another superb selection of 20 handpicked foals from world class bloodlines. Viewing stables will be open throughout the day where interested buyers can meet the foals and their breeders, and the auction starts at approximately 19:00 in the LeMieux Arena. For the full catalogue click here.
The British Equestrian Vaulting squad that headed to the FEI Vaulting World Championships in Ermelo, the Netherlands in July takes centre stage at 17:41 on Saturday, then Sunday at 17:20 it’s the turn of some of Vaulting’s rising stars. It’s been an exciting year for British Equestrian Vaulting as the relatively new team all performed beyond expectations at the championships, despite being together for a matter of months. Prepare to amazed by these awe-inspiring displays of artistry, athleticism and horsemanship.
Don’t forget there’s 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 essential programme (available at 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. Alternatively, listeners can tune in on their mobile phone.
If you can’t make it to the Nationals, you can keep up-to-speed with the scores, results and more by visiting www.britishdressage.co.uk, www.bdchampionships.com, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
And 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 12/09/2019
7:50 BackinAction Preliminary Silver
7:50 Equine Construction Advanced Medium Silver
10:25 Childéric Saddles Elementary Silver
12:05 Fairfax Saddles Prix St Georges Gold
14:35 Cavalor Intermediate II Gold
Friday 13/09/2019
7:50 Dodson & Horrell Novice Gold
7:50 Equissage Pulse Para Dressage Gold – Grade I, Grade II, Grade III, Grade IV, Grade V
10:10 Dodson & Horrell Novice Silver
13:15 Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Gold
14:10 TopSpec Medium Silver
Saturday 14/09/2019
7:50 Assessment & Pre-Judging Shearwater 4yo Young Horse
7:50 TopSpec Medium Gold
9:05 Assessment & Pre-Judging Shearwater 5yo Young Horse
10:25 Assessment & Pre-Judging Shearwater 6yo Young Horse
11:40 LeMieux Grand Prix Gold
14:59 Saracen Horse Feeds Intermediate I Freestyle Gold
Sunday 15/09/2019
7:50 Equine Construction Advanced Medium Gold
7:50 Childéric Saddles Elementary Gold
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
LeMieux National Championships 2019 Preview
