A second year philosophy and politics student has become the youngest ever National Dressage Champion.

Laura Bechtolsheimer, aged 20, from Gloucestershire, was competing at the National Dressage Championships in Warwickshire.

She was among 350 competitors from across the UK who had qualified to challenge for the 17 national titles up for grabs.

Laura rode two horses at the competition, riding her father's horse Douglas Dorsey, in the highest level - the Grand Prix.

Despite a class of competitors which included previous National Champions and riders who have represented Great Britain at Olympic Games, Laura won both the Grand Prix and the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music.

In the Grand Prix Freestyle to Music Laura put together her own routine and chose music by Elvis to show off Douglas' fancy footwork.

Laura said: "I'm really quite amazed. I was secretly hoping it would all come together here and I'm thrilled to have won.

"Douglas felt amazing in the warm up, so I felt more confident. No-one expected me to win in the Grand Prix because I'm so young. The only pressure was from myself," she added.

Laura is about to start her second year at the university, studying for a BSc in Philosophy and Politics, and admitted that training and competing at this high level whist studying means she has to be very organised.

She said: "I have most of my lectures in the morning, so every day I drive back from Bristol to Cirencester to ride Douglas in the afternoon."

Laura is a member of the National Lottery-funded World Class Potential programme for riders between the ages of 14 and 30 who demonstrate the exceptional talent and dedication to ride and win at Olympic level.

She has her sights firmly set on Olympic success, saying: "I'm definitely aiming to ride in the London Olympic Games in 2012, but if things keep going this well I'll be aiming for Beijing in the meantime."