FEI World Pony Driving Championship, Dorthealyst (DEN) - Pairs Dressage

Today Lars Dau assured Denmark a second gold medal in dressage. With 40.64 penalty points Lars Dau took the first position for pairs, while Tracey Morgan from the United States came second, and Steffen Abicht from Germany third.

“It is indescribable!” said the 25-year-old Dane when it had been announced in the speakers that his gold medal in dressage was secure.

“I have trained for and thought about this Championship everyday for two years – ever since we drove home from Catton Hall. And now we did it.”

“When I left the course, it felt very special to have performed so well at a World Championship. My horses were 110 percent fit for fight today. At the same time they were relaxed and energetic, supple, and absolute regular in their trot” continues Lars Dau about his two haflinger-ponies, Nico and Nappo.

Lars Dau has a 2,56 points lead to the silver medallist Tracey Morgan with 43.20 points. Hereby the American team won their second silver medal, which is very promising for their chances in the team competition. The first silver medal went to the single driver Rochelle Temple yesterday.

The reigning world champion Steffen Abicht from Germany assured a bronze medal for Germany with his 47,04 penalty points. So far the first medal for the Germans but unlikely to be the last!

Very close on the fourth and fifth position came Jessica Meredith from Australia with 48.32 points and Rupert Ganhör from Austria with 48.64 points. However, everything can be turned upside down tomorrow in the eight obstacles around Dorthealyst. Not least with the Swedish marathon queen Rebecca Kristiansen - who ended up a surprising 14th place today – as an outsider. She sure knows how to fly through an obstacle.