British carriage drivers are returning home from the FEI world driving championships for ponies in Pau, France (31 Oct-3 Nov) with 2 individual medals.
Senior team debutante Rosanna Walters-Symons added to her 2012 junior European bronze medal when she collected individual silver in the single pony class with Welsh section D Dabernon Tiger Woods.
Representing Britain in the pony pairs at her 3rd consecutive world championships, Anna Grayston stood on the international podium for the first time as she secured bronze.
The 6-strong British team fielded 2 competitors in each of the 3 pony classes (singles, pairs and four-in-hand) to finish 5th of the 9 nations taking part.
Team standings were boosted by a strong result from squad first-timer Roger Campbell, 5th in the single pony with Carregcoch Keltic Rose. Long-term team lynchpin Sara Howe also produced a solid 9th with her team of Welsh section As in the pony 4-in-hand.
This is the first time British pony drivers have brought home medals since Sara secured individual bronze in the pony singles in 2007.
The Netherlands broke Germany’s long-term whitewash of these championships. After 5 consecutive team golds, Germany were finally relegated to silver.
The Netherland’s Bram Chardon, 20, retained his world title in the pony 4-in-hands, dominating all 3 phases to complete with a superb 14.76pen advantage over Hungary’s Jozsef Dobrovitz Jnr.
Team-mate Ewoud Boom was similarly impressive in the pony pairs, leading throughout to finish with a distinct margin over Germany’s Marco Freund.
Bronze team medallists Hungary produced their best result in the single pony, where Martin Holle took the individual gold.
Full report on the FEI world driving championships for ponies in Pau will be published in Horse & Hound magazine (14 November issue)
