Lexington, KY—After the dressage and the marathon, Suzy Stafford is currently on Silver at the FEI World Pony Driving Championships in Greven-Bockholt, Germany. Stafford drove a very good marathon with the Morgan pony Courage to Lead and climbed to the second place in the standings. The U.S. team has kept its fourth position in the nations standings, but has every chance to win a medal since the difference with third placed nation Belgium is small.

It was a beautiful day for the marathon in Greven. Lots of sunshine and an occasional breeze made the circumstances for the ponies, their drivers and the many spectators that visited the event quite comfortable.

Suzy Stafford, who was the World Champion in the Single Pony class in 2005, took the 11th place in the marathon, with which she was very pleased.

“The marathon was not very heavy, but Courage to Lead got a little excited in the tracks between the obstacles,” she said. “She thought she had to go in! Luckily, I was able to calm her, and she did a good job in the obstacles.”

Stafford is only 0.69 in points behind the leader of the standings, marathon winner Arjo van Kekem from The Netherlands. The top six are all within 3.05 points from the leader, which will make the cones competition extremely exciting.

Sara Schmitt unfortunately had an error of course in obstacle 2 and was eliminated.

Individual competitor Sherri Dolan came 25th in the marathon after she had some bad luck in the third obstacle. The breeching snapped and Dolan had to stop outside the obstacle to repair it. She and her pony Smoke are currently in 22nd position after dressage and marathon.

Title defender Miranda Cadwell came back with force after her somewhat disappointing dressage score. Cadwell drove her Rambo and Tony very fast through the obstacles and came 7th in the marathon.

“I am very proud at Miranda that she drove such a super round today,” said chef d’equipe Chester Weber. “She was given the order to go for it and she did.”

Tracey Morgan drove her pair of Dartmoor ponies to the 16th place in the marathon.

“I had a small communication problem with one of my ponies, and because of that, I could not make any proper right turns in the first three obstacles,” said Morgan. But I managed to deal with it afterwards, and I enjoyed the nice course, which has kept well throughout the day.”

Individual driver Kathleen Whaley took the 25th place and was pleased.

“My ponies went better than I thought. It is only their 7th marathon, and they still have much to learn,” said Whaley. “I also enjoyed the technical but nice course.”

In the pony four-in-hand class, Laurie Astegiano drove a fantastic marathon in which she took the 9th place. Her team of Welsh ponies looked as if nothing could take them out of their concentration and Astegiano confirmed this.

“They went so well, I could do just what I wanted,” she said. “It was my best marathon of this season. I have been driving with a younger pony in my team in the previous competitions to let him get experience. Today, I drove my regular team again, and it felt so easy, I had so much fun.”

She has climbed one place in the standings and is now in 8th position before the cones.

Allison Stroud drove her team of grey Connemara geldings to the 17th place in the marathon and keeps her 17th position in the combined standings.


ENDS