Driving Competition Starts at WEG

Canada’s four-in-hand drivers Darryl Billing of Milverton, ON, and Debbie Laderoute of Calgary, AB competed in the driving dressage test to start the Combined Driving today, October 8th, at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG).

Billing drove his own Dutch Warmblood geldings, eight-year-olds Victor and Villeroy, 10-year-olds Thunder and Tornado, to a score of 68.74 penalties for 12th place.

Driving four horses owned by Fred Mannix, Vaspari, an eight-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding; Salina, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; Ramondo, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding; and Vitanna, an eight-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding, Laderoute earned 75.52 penalties for 13th place.

“It was tough draw to go after Chester Webber, who is such a wonderful driver, but it was a fantastic experience. I am very happy to be here,” said Laderoute. “I think the marathon will be a very challenging course. They are the most beautiful hazards that I have ever seen, and the course is breathtaking.”

As a team, Billing and Laderoute are currently sitting in fourth place with a combined score of 144.26.

“It has been a great experience. Both Canadian drivers tried very hard today, and we will see what the marathon brings. I think that our drivers will give it their best effort,” said chef d’équipe, Bill MacGillivary.

WEG Combined Driving Event is comprised of three sections, driven dressage, marathon and obstacle-cones. The final placings are determined by the driver with the lowest combined number of penalties throughout all three competitions for individual results. To determine ranking among nations, the best two scores by the team drivers who have completed all three competitions can be used. The nation with the lowest total penalty points wins.

There will be two days of driven dressage on October 7th and 8th followed by the exciting marathon competition on Saturday, October 9. The final day will include the obstacle-cones on Sunday morning, October 10, followed by awards and closing ceremonies.

In the next phase for the Canadian Equestrian Team—Driving is the marathon, which consists of three sections. Section A is a 6.84 km trot course that has an optimum time allowed window and 15 compulsory flags. A mandatory 1 km walk, section D, follows and also has an optimum time allowance. A veterinary inspection occurs in the rest area between section D and section E. The 8.49 km course of section E consists of eight obstacles and 22 compulsory turning flags.