Carl Hester Honoured in Guernsey Hall of Fame

Dressage

British Dressage News

Sark's Olympic gold medalist Carl Hester has been inducted into Guernsey's Hall of Sporting Fame. The former Elizabeth College student who won an equestrian gold in last year's games says he's overwhelmed.

Islanders had a unique opportunity to meet the local sporting hero and learned first hand about his experiences as one of the world’s leading Dressage riders.

Hester competed in four Olympic Games. He’s also represented Britain in the 2011 European Championships, where Britain won team gold. At the 2013 European Dressage Championships the team won bronze.

Carl said, “'To see my name included on the Hall of Fame at Beau Sejour, alongside sporting heroes like Matt Le Tissier, Dale Garland and Andy Priaulx will be very special. Guernsey certainly punches above its weight when it comes to sport, and the achievements of so many local sporting legends is a testament to the Guernsey spirit of determination.

The Guernsey Hall of Fame was started in 2005 at its Sporting Achievement awards, where ten of the most significant individual sports persons that the island has ever produced were recognised.

Carl was born in 1967 and spent his childhood in Sark. He was educated at Elizabeth College in Guernsey. Carl first learned to ride, at a young age in Sark, on a donkey! Later, he drove a carriage on the island. At 16 he moved to the UK where he worked at the Fortune Centre of Riding Therapy in Dorset, where adults with disabilities can learn to ride.

Although Carl started out competing in eventing, he moved to dressage and became Young Rider National Dressage Champion in 1985. He was selected for the British Young Rider team in 1988. Carl has been incredibly successful in his competitive career and is highly regarded as one of the top dressage trainers in the world with a lengthy, high profile list of clients.