FEI World Pairs Driving Championship, Warka (POL), 29 Aug - 2 Sept 2007

The German pair drivers have proofed their marathon skills in today’s heavy marathon of the FEI World Pair Driving Championship in Warka, Poland. Klaus Tebbe took advantage of his early start and set the times to beat in the eight big and high obstacles, designed by his compatriot Dr. Wolfgang Asendorf. Tebbe won the marathon, ahead of his experienced team mate Rudolf Huber. Harry Verstappen took the third position from the Netherlands, who is representing his country for the first time at a World Championship.

German Team Leader Fritz Otto-Erley was the happiest man on the show grounds today. With the Top Two positions in the marathon, Germany has taken the lead in the nations competitions and Sebastian Warneck, who came 16th in the marathon, has kept the lead in the individual standings.
Klaus Tebbe, who is celebrating his 33rd birthday tomorrow, was proud of his performance: ‘The obstacles were very heavy and I tried to keep my pace up throughout the whole marathon. I am happy that me and my team have managed this today.’ Tebbe commented laughingly that he would use most of the prize money for his baby daughter Lily, who was born only four weeks ago. The farrier from Neuenkirchen is one of the ten competitors in Warka have also competed in the FEI World Single Driving Championship in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, in 2006.

Rudolf Huber has been a member of the German team at the World Pairs Championship in 2001 and 2005. Two years ago he won the marathon at the World Championship in Wals-Siezenheim and today he aimed for another win. ‘I had adjusted my routes in the obstacles because I knew that being one of the last starters, I could encounter bad footing in the obstacles. I decided to take fluent routes and this proofed to be a good decision, because the sand got deeper after every competitor. It was still a very fair competition, though.’

Harry Verstappen drove his pair of striking piebald Dutch Warmblood horses wonderfully through the obstacles, not producing any unnecessary noise. Verstappen is known as a true marathon specialist, he recently won the marathons at the CAI-A Saumur and Windsor and came second in the marathon in Beekbergen. ‘I am very pleased with my horses, they have proofed today that they are very strong. I had hoped to win the marathon at this World Championship, but I am happy with my third place, looking at the strong opponents.’ Verstappen was disappointed with himself after he made a small mistake in obstacle 7 where missed the first gate.

Dressage winner Sebastian Warneck is a little over two points ahead of Hungary’s Karoly Hodi in the individual standings. Klaus Tebbe has moved up to the third place, while Harry Verstappen is now the best Dutch driver in fourth position. The Netherlands’ leading lady Mieke van Tergouw, second in dressage, had to use a young horse in the marathon today and could not perform on the level she is used to.
Double World Champion Vilmos Lazar from Hungary is in fifth position, followed by Georg Moser from Austria and Ben Gosschalk and Mieke van Tergouw representing the Netherlands. The differences between the top drivers are so little, that anything can happen in tomorrow’s final obstacle driving competition.

Germany is leading the nations competition, followed by the Netherlands and Germany.

The marathon on the site of Farma Sielanka in Warka was followed by around 5.000 spectators, mostly fans from Hungary, Germany and the Netherlands. Video images of the marathon were transmitted live on internet via the website of the OC.