The marathon at the FEI World Combined Pony Driving Championships in Greven, attended by 5000 spectators, has changed the individual and team standings. While the German team is still in the lead, they are being chased by The Netherlands and Belgium. Dutch Arjo van Kekem has taken over the lead in the single pony class; German Daniel Schneiders is leading the pairs class. Tobias Bücker from Germany is the only one who has kept his lead after dressage and marathon in the pony four-in-hand class.

Singles

Twenty-two year old Dutch driver Arjo van Kekem, whose father Karel is competing in the pairs class, won the marathon. Arjo set the fastest times in four of the eight wonderful marathon obstacles, driving his Hackney pony Domero. Maxime Maricourt from France, driving his catching skewbald stallion Judo, took the second place on the challenging course, ahead of individual competitor Melanie Becker from The Netherlands. Both Dutch drivers, as well as all other competitors from the Netherlands, were cheered throughout the competition by a big group of fans dressed in orange. By winning the marathon, Arjo has taken over the lead in the standings. He is only 0,69 penalty points ahead of 2005 World Champion Suzy Stafford from the USA and 0,99 ahead of compatriot Melanie Becker. The Top Five are all within one cone, so anything can happen in the final obstacle driving competition.

Pairs

Individual driver Dieter Baackmann from Germany won the marathon in the pairs class. The 45-year-old driver from the nearby village of Emsdetten drove his pair of German riding ponies wonderfully through the obstacles. His compatriot Daniel Schneiders, also an individual competitor for Germany, took the second place, ahead of Dutch team member Karel van Kekem. Daniel Schneiders has taken over the lead in the standings from dressage winner Stephan Koch, who has dropped to the second place after ending on the 22nd place in the marathon. Germany’s Steffen Abicht has climbed to the third position. As the difference between the number one and three is only 2,02 penalty points, the medals will be divided between the German drivers after another thrilling cones competition.

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