Laura Bechtolsheimer wins PSI dressage award

British rider Laura Bechtolsheimer has been awarded the Performance Sales International (PSI) Dressage Award 2010.

The 25 year-old from Gloucestershire received a crystal trophy in recognition of her successful 2010 season at the PSI awards ceremony in Ankum, Germany, by Frank Kempermann, chairman of the FEI dressage committee.

The prizegiving preceded the PSI horse auction on 11 December.

Laura is third in the world individual dressage rankings (behind Edward Gal and Adelinde Cornelissen) and number one in Britain.

And this year the young rider and her horse Mistral Hojris (known as Alf), won three silver medals at the 2010 World Equestrian Games (WEG).

It was the first time a British rider has won a dressage medal at the worlds since 1978, when Jennie Loriston-Clarke won bronze on Dutch Courage.

Receiving her award, Laura said: “It’s a great honour to receive this award; it’s been a fantastic year for me.”

After thanking her parents and trainer Klaus Balkehol, Laura went on to address the room in German and give credit to her team.

Also winning PSI gongs were 90-year-old Grand Dame of Dressage Rosemarie Springer, Otto Becker, the trainer of the German showjumping team, which won gold at WEG and Kai Diekmann, chief editor of German newspaper Bild.

Laura and Alf are currently competing at the Olympia horse show. They led last night’s grand prix by more then 4%, having set a new personal best and British record with 82.936%.

The freestyle is tonight (Wednesday 15 December).

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