Laura Bechtolsheimer was the standout performer for Britain as the German-born 26-year-old rode Mistral Hojris, better known as Alf, to victory in the freestyle victory just 24 hours after compatriot Charlotte Dujardin had won the grand prix.

Bechtolsheimer had claimed silver behind Dujardin in the grand prix but roles were reversed in the freestyle when Dujardin, riding her horse Valegro, finished in second place.

Britain's Carl Hester finished third behind the duo in both of the events while Richard Davison came fourth on both occasions.

A British team has never before posted such strong dressage results while the result means that Bechtolsheimer remains second in the world rankings despite, by her own admission, failing to deliver her best in the past year.

"The last two competitions before Olympia for me, as an individual, weren't my best performances," said Bechtolsheimer, the granddaughter of the billionaire property magnate Karl-Heinz Kipp, who founded the Massa chain of department stores.

"I wanted to finish 2011 showing that Alf and I are by no means old news.

"It means everything to have won this competition."

Though some key rivals were absent from the competition, the result illustrates Britain's increasing prominence in the sport after they won their first ever European team title in August.

Dujardin also expressed her delight at taking a gold and silver in the event following what has been a phenomenal year for her.

"I'm still learning and getting to grips with it all, but for a nine-year-old horse to go in there and do that, you have to pinch yourself," she said.

"I've been to the European Championships, won gold, come to Olympia which was one of my dreams this year and I won.

Hester added his delight after taking two bronze medals at Olympia.

"I can't ask for much more," he said.

"In the past, we've had an incredible horse or two come along but, without back-up, that doesn't make a great team.

"For the first time ever, we have these three combinations of horse and rider with a couple more in the background.

"The reality is we have three good horses, getting great scores, with no weaknesses."

Olympia is part of a series of World Cup qualifiers with the event set to be the only World Cup qualifier that most of the British team will compete in prior to the London 2012 Olympics, where both team and individual dressage medals will be available at Greenwich Park.

Dujardin, Bechtolsheimer and Hester will now skip the remaining stages to focus on the health of their horses.

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