Lewis Robertson-Carrier

The new national dressage champion and his newly-wed wife tell Oscar Williams about the highs, challenges and emotions of their unforgettable week

IT'S been a whirlwind week for Lewis Robertson-Carrier and his now wife Olivia. A week ago they were tying the knot and now he's reflecting on being crowned national champion at the LeMieux National Dressage Championships on his ride of more than a decade, Diego V.

"It's surreal," Lewis says, still processing the magnitude of his achievement after the prize-giving. "It's something you dream of doing, especially having watched people I look up to like Gareth Hughes and Carl Hester do it in the past.

"In dressage, like in every sport, there are ups and downs," he says. "So to end the week and this week in particular on a high was a massive relief." Lewis and Liv have been in constant motion for the whole competition. As well as riding Diego in the grand prix, Lewis has also been competing another horse in the prix st georges, and training and supporting clients. Meanwhile Liv, who runs her own digital marketing business, has been back and forth between arenas filming.

"We don't really do days off," she laughs.

"I've been filming for brands and riders and grooming for Lewis so I'm running around and also trying to catch up with people it's mad but if results like this happen then it's worth the stress.

"The wedding finished on Saturday, we went back to work on Monday and then came here on Wednesday.

"Our lives are pretty crazy but we just fit things in wherever we can - you just keep going, don't you? "And although I think sometimes on the surface it might not feel like it, we are very organised and when we both want to do something we do it." Lewis adds, a little unsurely but with a laugh: "I think one day the stress will get easier. But the wedding was also a stress we could very much control, whereas with the horses there's only so much you can do and the rest is sort of fate.