FEI World Pony Driving Championships Dressage

The German team is going for gold on home ground at the FEI World Combined Pony Driving Championships in Greven-Bockholt. With a winner in the dressage in every class, Germany is 13 points in the lead in the team standings, ahead of Belgium and the Netherlands.

Singles

Individual competitor for Germany Franz Josef Lehmkuhl won the dressage of the single pony class. Lehmkuhl left the arena on 44,80 points and is ahead of title defender Peter Koux from Denmark, who had been in the lead until then. Belgium’s Johan Verswalm took the third place with his impressive New Forest pony Cathy’s Tabor.

For Lehmkuhl, the World Championship is a home competition as he lives in Emsdetten, which is only eight kilometers away from Greven. The 61-year old driver will have special memories of Greven because this will be his very last competition. After having been a successful pony pair and pony single driver for many years, Lehmkuhl will now concentrate on training and teaching carriage driving; he will become a course designer for which he has been learning from Dr. Wolfgang Asendorf.

Pairs

German team member Stephan Koch claimed another German victory with his pair of Welsh ponies. The reigning German Champion scored 40,83 penalty points which helped him overcome fellow country member Steffen Abicht, who was the overnight leader with 44,42 points. Former pony team driver Anna Grayston from Great Britain placed third. took the third place. Title defender Miranda Cadwell ended on an unusual 33rd position in dressage, having used a different pony.

Four-in-hand

Tobias Bücker, also from the nearby village of Emsdetten, won the dressage in the four-in-hand class as. Bücker, who has represented Germany at every European and World Pony Driving Championship since 1995, has contributed towards many German team gold medals won in the past, and it looks like he will be doing the same in Greven. Young driver Tinne Bax from Belgium performed very well with her team of grey Welsh ponies and took the second place, ahead of Germany’s second team driver Steffen Brauchle and title defender Jan de Boer from the Netherlands.

Marathon

Tomorrow’s marathon consists of eight challenging obstacles, built by 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games course designer Dr. Wolfgang Asendorf. The weather has warmed and all the necessary measures have been taken to ensure that both ponies and drivers can efficiently cool down. Asendorf is looking forward to the marathon, “It was difficult to build obstacles which are suitable for singles, pairs and teams of ponies. We have built the obstacles in a way to minimize the risk of injuries; the welfare of the pony has been our highest priority.”

Quotes

Franz-Josef Lehmkuhl (GER):

“I was very pleased with my dressage, this in my best phase of the combined driving competition. I am 61 and I am not so fast in the marathon anymore. But I will try everything tomorrow to keep up with my challenges, assisted by my groom, who has been with me for over 15 years.”

Stephan Koch (GER):

“I bought the ponies when they were three and four years old and I schooled them myself. Dressage and cones are my specialties; I don’t like taking too many risks in the marathon. My ponies really like to work for me and I will certainly try to go nice and clear through the obstacles.”

Tobias Bücker (GER):

“Although I am very far in the lead, I will try to drive a safe marathon to secure the team result. Of course, I will not go slowly, but I will avoid taking risks. To become team World Champion is more important than to become individual World Champion!”

Results dressage/ individual standings

Single pony

1. Franz-Josef Lehmkuhl (GER) 44,80

2. Peter Koux (DEN) 46,46

3. Johan Verswalm (BEL) 46,98

4. Suzy Stafford (USA) 48,51

5. Yvonne de Ruyter (NED) 49,54

Pony pair

1. Stephan Koch (GER) 40,83

2. Steffen Abicht (GER) 44,42

3. Anna Grayston (GBR) 45,57

4. Daniel Schneiders (GER) 51,20

5. Johann Weitlaner (ITA) 51,71

Four-in-hand

1. Tobias Bücker (GER) 42,75

2. Tinne Bax (BEL) 44,67

3. Steffen Brauchle (GER) 50,30

4. Jan de Boer (NED) 54,66

5. Jozsef Dobrovitz jr. (HUN) 55,30

Team standings

1. Germany 136,06

2. Belgium 149,51

3. The Netherlands 159,37

4. USA 160,38

5. Great Britain 162,30