Last Update |
| |
30 Nov 2018 |
Further Personal Information |
| Other names |
Laura Bechtolsheimer |
| Residence |
England |
| Occupation |
Athlete, Coach, Horse Trainer |
| Languages |
English |
| Higher education |
Philosophy, Politics - Bristol University: England |
Sport Specific Information |
| When and where did you begin this sport? |
She first tried riding at age three. |
| Why this sport? |
She originally practised eventing before taking up dressage as a teenager. |
| Club / Team |
Laura Bechtolshemer Dressage: England |
| Name of coach |
Klaus Balkenhol [personal], GER |
International Debut |
| Year |
2007 |
| Competing for |
Great Britain |
General Interest |
| Nicknames |
Laura B (equestrianlife.com.au, 18 Jun 2014) |
| Most influential person in career |
Her parents. (2gallop.co.uk, 01 Nov 2015) |
| Hero / Idol |
German equestrian coach Klaus Balkenhol. (standard.co.uk, 20 Jul 2012) |
| Injuries |
She slipped a disc in her back in 2017. (haygain.co.uk, 09 Jan 2018) |
| Superstitions / Rituals / Beliefs |
She has a pair of lucky pearl earrings that she wears during competitions. (standard.co.uk, 20 Jul 2012) |
| Sporting philosophy / motto |
"The best piece of advice I've had is never to say, 'I can't' or 'the horse won't'. If you have this in mind it forces you to look around and through a problem, rather than accept it's not solvable." (horseandhound.co.uk, 18 Jun 2015) |
| Awards and honours |
In 2013 she received an honorary degree from Bristol University in England in recognition of her services to equestrianism. (gloucestershireecho.co.uk, 19 July 2013)
She was appointed Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire [MBE] in the 2013 New Year Honours list. (telegraph.co.uk, 02 Mar 2013)
She was named the 2008 Rider of the Year by British Dressage. (equestrianteamgbr.co.uk, 26 Jun 2008) |
| Famous relatives |
Her husband Mark Tomlinson has represented England in polo at the Coronation Cup. Her father Wilfried Bechtolsheimer rode for Great Britain, and her grandfather Karl-Heinz Kipp became a billionaire through his Massa retail business. (horseandhound.co.uk, 26 Jun 2018; thisisbath.co.uk, 04 Mar 2013; horseandhound.co.uk, 15 Aug 2012) |
| Other information |
EQUESTRIAN WRITER
She has worked as a columnist for equestrian magazine Horse & Hound. (horseandhound.co.uk, 20 Sep 2018)
SOCIETY WEDDING
She married her husband Mark Tomlinson in the Swiss ski resort of Arosa. The ceremony was attended by the heir to the British throne Prince William, who acted as an usher on the day. Also present were William's wife Kate and his brother Prince Harry. (thisisbath.co.uk, 04 Mar 2013)
FROM GERMANY TO ENGLAND
She was born in Germany but moved to Gloucester, England, as a baby. (telegraph.co.uk, 02 Mar 2013) |
Olympic Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2012 |
OG-D London (GBR) |
MISTRAL HOJRIS |
3 |
1 |
| 2008 |
OG-D Hong Kong - The Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (CHN) |
MISTRAL HOJRIS |
17 |
5 |
World Equestrian Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2010 |
6th WEG FS Lexington KY (USA) |
MISTRAL HOJRIS |
2 |
|
| 2010 |
6th WEG Lexington KY (USA) |
MISTRAL HOJRIS |
2 |
2 |
| 2006 |
5th WEG Aachen (GER) |
DOUGLAS DORSEY |
21 |
6 |
Continental Championships and Games |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2011 |
CH-EU Rotterdam (NED) |
MISTRAL HOJRIS |
3 |
1 |
| 2011 |
CH-EU FS Rotterdam (NED) |
MISTRAL HOJRIS |
4 |
|
| 2009 |
CH-EU Windsor (GBR) |
MISTRAL HOJRIS |
3 |
2 |
| 2009 |
CH-EU FS Windsor (GBR) |
MISTRAL HOJRIS |
4 |
|
| 2007 |
CH-EU La Mandria, Torino (ITA) |
MISTRAL HOJRIS |
20 |
5 |
| 2004 |
CH-EU-Y Aarhus, Vilhelmsborg (DEN) |
DOUGLAS DORSEY |
4 |
3 |
| 2004 |
CH-EU-Y Aarhus, Vilhelmsborg (DEN) |
DOUGLAS DORSEY |
5 |
3 |
World Cup Final |
| Year |
Venue |
Horse |
Ind. Rank |
Team Rank |
| 2006 |
CDI-W Final Amsterdam (NED) |
DOUGLAS DORSEY |
14 |
|
