Equestrian: British ride to European dressage title

Great Britain's dressage riders were yesterday crowned European team champions for the first time.

And the quartet of Carl Hester, Laura Bechtolsheimer, Charlotte Dujardin and Emile Faurie did it in emphatic fashion.

Their total score of 238.678 left dressage heavyweights Germany and Holland floundering as Britain showcased their London 2012 gold medal credentials in the final major dressage championship before next year's Olympics.

Britain were team runners-up at the 2009 Europeans in Windsor and in last year's World Equestrian Games, but this time took gold after some outstanding individual performances.

Hester posted a new personal best score of 82.568 per cent on Uthopia, while Great Britain debutant Dujardin also recorded a career-high figure, scoring 78.830 per cent with Valegro.

Bechtolsheimer scored 77.280 per cent with Mistral Hojris and, although Faurie's score with Elmegardens Marquis could be discounted, he was also above 70 per cent and inside the top 20.

There is now the prospect of more British success in the weekend's individual events - the grand prix special tomorrow, followed by Sunday's showpiece freestyle finale.