Hester beats Dujardin to win FEI World Cup Dressage in London

Carl Hester pipped his super-star protege, fellow-Olympian and world no. 1 rider Charlotte Dujardin for victory in the sixth leg of the Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage Western European League at Olympia.

Riding Nip Tuck, the 11-year-old gelding with which he helped clinch team silver at this summer's FEI European Championships in Aachen, Germany, the 48-year-old rider delivered a performance that simply demonstrated why he has long been a legend in this sport.

Hans Peter Minderhoud from The Netherlands finished third with Glock's Flirt while another British rider Lara Griffith claimed fourth spot with Rubin Al Asad.

"I just chucked everything at it to see what I could do! I know the degree of difficulty is being stepped up so I took every movement that was difficult and just rode it one day, wrote it down and then did it again the next day. With this horse I have no choice, if I want to be in the top lot I have to do something that showcases that," Hester said after posting the winning mark of 83.750.

Dujardin, who calls Hester "grandad", said she didn't mind having to settle for second place.

"If there's one person to be beaten by it's granddad, he inspires me every day," she said.

"I'm so thrilled for him because he's always wanted to win here and he's done it at last!" said the rider who, with her no. 1 horse Valegro, holds every record and every title in the sport.

The next leg will take place in Amsterdam on January 29-30, 2016. Endi