The National Dressage Championship 1998 cont...

When Emile Faurie began his test on El Lute, the music failed and he had to be asked to start again, which seemed highly unfortunate... Even once the problem with the PA was overcome, his entrance was one of the quietest - yet it made more impact and his one handed riding of El Lute in passage added to this dramatic beginning. His choice and use of music was really excellent and his movements didn't appear to suffer in accuracy either. It was to this observer the most elegant, aethestically pleasing performance of the whole evening (but then I am not a qualified dressage judge!). Into the lead he went with a score of 69.68%... and there were only 2 other contenders left to go...
As always, Lizzie Lorriston-Clarke was the epitome of elegance with her lovely flowing test on the nearly black horse, Catherstone Dazzler. Despite her very good use of her music, however, she couldn't quite match Emile's score and so everything depended on the last to go which just happened to be Carl Hester on Legal Democrat. Carl had had almost non-stop success throughout the Championships, so here was a man at the very top of his form. Fate, which had caused Emile Faurie to have to restart his programme proved even-handed with the chief protagonists because the gremlins made another unwelcome appearance in theaudio equipment and it was back to the beginning for Carl too...		Carl Hester and Legal Democrat winner of the Grand Prix Kur (seen here earlier in the season)
Tension (for the spectators that is) was mounting by the minute and that brings us to the point where the hush of anticipation was total. The castanets started up - in full volume - and Carl's programme, full of Spanish and Latin American sounds with wonderful dance rhythms commenced. It was lovely, stylish and flowing and it goes without saying, well and acurately ridden... We waited with baited breath... As the individual judge's scores were read out it became obvious that Carl was the victor - the only rider to top 70% with a total score of 70.03%! It was a great climax and anyone who thinks dressage to be dull simply should have been there. This was an occasion where artistry combined with competitiveness to produce a blend of entertainment and excitement in perfect balance. Oh, and by the way, if you are under the impression that dressage horses never move beyond a sedate canter, you would have been surprised to see the aftermath of the awards ceremony. Having duly received his trophy, Carl set off around the perimeter of all three arenas at full gallop, followed by the rest of the prize winners at similar high speed and so enthusiastic did some of them become that one  lap' became two or more... and let's just say that their aids for halt became rather moreobvious than usual! It was a terrific finale to a simply wonderful evening. If you weren't there that was a pity, but there's always next year...

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