2007 FEI World Pony Driving Championships, Dorthealyst (DEN), 18 -22 July 2007

 

The complete starting list for 2007 FEI World Pony Driving Championship for Singles, Pairs and Four-in-Hand is now official. Sixteen nations representing three continents will take part in the event. Jessica Meredith will be representing Australia with a pair. The United States of America sends a full team of two singles, two pairs and two four-in-hands. With two exceptions, the Americans will bring European ponies: Dartmoor, Welsh, Connemara and a German sports pony, making it a total of 18 ponies on the American team.

Belgium, the Netherlands, France, Germany, Great Britain, Sweden and, of course, home nation Denmark will also send full teams with two competitors in each of the three categories. All in all, there will be 74 competitors with almost 200 ponies. Most of these 74 competitors will bring two different carriages, one for dressage and cones and one for marathon. A spare pony as allowed for pairs and four-in-hands.

The starting order will be determined by a draw that takes place at Dorthealyst Wednesday afternoon. The result will be posted on the official website immediately upon completion.

Dorthealyst is the home grounds of the Danish Driving Society and where they usually hold their competitions. There are two 40 x 100 m dressage areas and a number of permanent obstacles that have been extensively rebuilt and modified for the occasion. One of the obstacles now resembles a village with school, church, blacksmith shop etc. for the competitors to drive around.

Carriage driving is a family sport where the whole family and friends can be together on the same project, and even very small children enjoy watching the ponies. But for those who find it a bit tedious for four whole days, Kompan has sponsored a playground with swings and slides and rocking horses where the children can play supervised by their parents. Kompan is an international company, which has been awarded the ‘Top Investor Award’ for their active investment in the Czech Republic.

For a profile of all the Danish competitors (in Danish):
www.koereforbund.dk/sport_profil.html

For a profile of all drivers
http://www.wdch-pony-07.dk/en/about/press/news/biographies.htm

The photographs in hing resolution can be downloaded from the FEI photo catalogue (from the homepage of www.horsesport.org to go Media Centre > Photo Catalogue).