Pau, France – The 2013 FEI Pony World Driving Championships came to a conclusion Sunday with the cones phase and saw the United States secure a seventh place finish on a total of 452.1. The Netherlands capped off a banner weekend earning Team Gold on a score of 332.3, with Germany claiming Silver on 365.9, and Hungary cruised to a Bronze medal on a score of 388.3.
In the Single Pony Championship, Tracey Morgan (Beallsville, Md.) led the way for the U.S. finishing in 13th on a total of 132.95. On Sunday, the 2013 National Champion and her own Fuego 88 added 9.57 penalties to their score in the cones. Paul Maye (Fairfield, Va.) and Harmony Sporthorses’ Markus also represented the U.S. in the Single division. The pair leaves France with a 17th place finish to their name after adding 4.80 penalties to their score in the cones to finish the weekend on an overall total of 140.27.
Hungary’s Martin Holle earned the Gold medal in the Single Championship finishing on a score of 110.73, Great Britain’s Rosann Walters-Symons claimed Silver on a score of 118.15, with Els Broekman of The Netherlands securing Bronze with a score of 118.43.
Wendy O’Brien (Aiken, S.C.) was the sole U.S. finisher in the Pair Pony Championship finishing in 13th place with an overall total of 159.47. The 2012 National Champion and her own pair of ponies added 7.49 penalties in the cones on Sunday.
Ewoud Boom of The Netherlands claimed the Individual Gold medal on a score of 107.18, with Germany’s Marco Freund earning Silver with a total of 116.59 and Great Britain’s Anna Grayston finishing in Bronze medal position on 130.72.
In the Pony Team Championship the U.S. secured two top 10 finishes with Lisa Stroud finishing eighth and Katie Whaley driving to 10th place. Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) and her team added 8.27 penalties to their score to finish on 159.64. Whaley (Paris, Ky.) finished on an overall total of 165.01 with Mia Allo’s team after adding 7.85 penalties to their score in the cones.
Bram Chardon of The Netherlands claimed Individual Gold with a score of 106.71, with Jozsef Dobrovitz of Hungary capturing Silver on a total of 121.47, and Germany’s Tobias Bucker earning Bronze with 125.81.
By Helen Murray
To learn more about the 2013 FEI Pony World Driving Championships, visit: http://www.couleurs-automne.com/en/welcome.
Follow the 2013 U.S. Driving Team here.