Today was marathon day at the World Championship Single Driving in Jarantow, Poland and it was a true festival for the driving sport. Thousands of enthusiastic spectators visited the marathon site and enjoyed a high quality and accident-free marathon with lots of action. The very tough, but horse friendly and fairly built, marathon course was very demanding for both horses and their drivers at this high level.

Donna Crookston opened the marathon of the World Championship 2008 as first starter with the 12-year-old Morgan RG Cowboy's Black Cadillac who was driven smoothly and attentively through the gates of the eight long and difficult obstacles. Crookston ended on the 40th place in the marathon and is in 46th position after dressage and marathon.
Leslie Berndl was the next driver to start for the USA. After her very elegant dressage test, many were eager to see how the wonderful chestnut gelding Koopman's Lightning Rod would perform in the marathon. And he did not let his fans down. Leslie and the gelding Koopman's Lightning Rod performed very ambitiously and showed especially in the long water obstacle how powerful this very elegant horse is. After the eight obstacles, Team Berndl/ Koopman's Lightning Rod, who represent the USA in Jarantow on individual basis, found themselves on place 50 and are in 34th position in the individual standings.

Robin Groves proved with the “small” Thor's Toy Truck that a good marathon horse does not need to be big. The team flashed through the gates and especially the obstacle with the steep and long bridge which had to be driven twice, was no problem to the small black 13 year old gelding, who is the smallest horse competing at the World Championship. With the 47th place in the marathon, Robin Groves is in 43rd place in the standings.

William Peacock and Beau started the marathon steadily. Nice and round routes at a steady speed took the combination to the 55th place in the marathon and in 45th place after the dressage and marathon.

The US Team is in 13th position before tomorrow's final obstacle driving competition. The differences between the teams are very small so that the competition is still open on the last day of the World Championship in Jarantow 2008.

Chef d'equipe Ed Young and trainer of the US teams in Jarantow Lisa Singer were pleased with the performances of the American drivers. All horses brought this marathon, which was definitely one of the heaviest marathons in the history of single driving sport, to a good end.

The horses of the US drivers were in extremely good condition; they not only faced this marathon without any problems but also dealt with the long trip and the time-and climate changes without problems.

The marathon was won by Austria's Andreas Rathner ahead of Dieter Lauterbach from Germany. Dressage winner Jan van den Broek from The Netherlands is still in the lead after the two phases. Lauterbach and his compatriot Christoph Dieker are in second and third place at the moment.

ENDS

For more information, please contact Joanie Morris at [email protected].