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U.S. Driving Team Sits in Third, Stafford in Second at FEI World Driving Championships for Singles after Dressage Phase

by Kathleen Landwehr | Aug 5, 2016, 4:41 PM

Piber Köflach, Austria – Following the second day of driven dressage at the 2016 FEI World Driving Championships for Singles, the U.S. Driving Team of Donna Crookston, Suzy Stafford, and Sterling Graburn sits in third place with a score of 105.4. Stafford leads the way for the U.S. contingent, sitting in second place with PVF Peace of Mind, with two other U.S. drivers, Graburn and individual Leslie Berndl, in the top 20.

Stafford (Wilmington, Del.) had a stellar test with her own PVF Peace of Mind on Thursday.  She and the 2007 Morgan mare demonstrated excellent transitions and extensions, producing a lovely, obedient effort to receive a score of 49.34 from the Ground Jury of Klaus Christ (GER), Dr. Barna Fejér (HUN), Bert Jambon (BEL), Anne Marie Turbé (FRA), and Boots Wright (USA).
Sterling Graburn and Mannkato (Krisztina Horváth/Hoefnet.com)
Sterling Graburn and Mannkato (Krisztina Horváth/Hoefnet.com)

Graburn (Paris, Ky.) and his and Laura Corsentino’s Mannkato were the sole U.S. combination on Friday, and they had a solid performance. The 2001 Dutch Harness gelding had plenty of energy in the main arena, but Graburn drove him well, executing great extensions and one-handed deviations. The pair earned a score of 56.06 to sit in 14th place.

U.S. individual Berndl (Newcastle, Calif.) had a strong performance on Thursday with her own Uminco. She and the 2001 KWPN gelding had an accurate test, aside from one bobble, to put them in 17th place with a score of 56.86.

Crookston (Saltsburg, Pa.) and her own Viktor were the pathfinders for the U.S. team on Thursday. Despite the 2008 Dutch Harness gelding being somewhat tense in the electric atmosphere, the pair had a respectable test to sit in 62nd place with a score of 69.61.

Germany leads the team competition with a score of 101.4, while France is in second with a score of 104.3. Marlen Fallak (GER) and Tessa FST lead the field of 74 combinations with a score of 48.70 and Franz Schiltz (LUX) and Frodo sit in third on a score of 50.35 behind Stafford and PVF Peace of Mind.

The marathon phase begins at 4 a.m. EST on Saturday.

Find out more information about the FEI World Driving Championships for Singles and watch the live stream on the FEI YouTube Channel.

Read a full recap of Thursday’s coverage.

The USEF International High Performance Programs are generously supported by the USET Foundation, USOC, and USEF Sponsors and Members.