Bronze medallist Hester 'inspiration to youngsters'

Image source, EPA

Image caption, This is the third Olympic medal of Carl Hester's career

Horse rider Carl Hester has inspired others with a bronze medal in the Tokyo Olympics team dressage event says the Guernsey Dressage Group.

For Hester, 54, the oldest Team GB athlete in Japan, it is a third Olympic medal, having waited 20 years to win his first after debuting at the 1992 Games.

Hester, who was brought up in Sark and Guernsey, won an Olympic team dressage gold medal at London 2012, and a team dressage silver medal in Rio 2016.

The rider was an "inspiration to youngsters", said Susie Farnon, chair of the dressage group.

"He just gives you goosebumps, what he has done for Sark and Great Britain is just fantastic," she said.

"Before he came into the dressage world, Great Britain was in the wilderness."

The bronze medal with Charlotte Fry and Charlotte Dujardin was "amazing", said Hester's father Jess.

"They have done so well, they must be so proud," he said.

"He's got the gold, silver and bronze medals so, so he's got the full set."

Hester was appointed聽MBE in the 2013 New Year Honours for services to equestrianism.