JACK’S CORNER
WORLD COMBINED PONY DRIVING CHAMPIONSHIP

The first ever World Combined Pony Driving Championship was held from 14 to 17 August in Karlstetten (AUT).

Germany was the undisputed leader of the championships and won gold in all three categories (Four-in-Hand, Pairs and Single) as well as the Team gold.

German drivers Dirk Gerkens (Four-in-Hand), Steffen Abicht (Pairs), Tobias Bücker (Single) led the championships from the first Dressage day to earn a well deserved individual gold medal each. Together with Elke Hillebrandt (Single), Peter Borgmann (Pairs) und Martin Thiemann (Four-in-Hand), they were unbeatable and earned the team Gold medal with a total of 329,92, praising the excellent work of their trainer Ewald Meier. The silver medal went to the Netherlands and the bronze to Austria.

The Championships were held in a cheerful atmosphere and were very successful, thanks to the more than 100 volunteers that helped the Organising Committee. More than 5000 spectators attended the Marathon on Saturday.

Results

Four-in-Hands
1 Dirk GERKENS GER 134.50
2 Martin THIEMANN GER 138.12
3 Pjotr van der HEYDEN NED 142.08

Pairs
1 Steffen ABICHT GER 102.61
2 Josef STICKELBERGER AUT 122.47
3 Peter BORGMANN GER 122.48

Singles
1 Tobias BÜCKER GER 106.29
2 Peter KOUX DEN 121.77
3 Rudolf PIRHOFER AUT 122.73

PRINCESS ASTRID PATRON OF IPC DRESSAGE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

The 5th IPC Dressage World Championships will take place from 2 to 7 September in Moorsele, Belgium, under the Patronage of the Princess Astrid of Belgium. They will be a major selection trial for dressage competitors who want to qualify for the ATHENS 2004 Paralympic Games.

Under the lead of its present Chairperson (Jonquil Solt) and her committee, Equestrian has grown at a remarkable rate. Dressage riders with a disability first competed at the Atlanta 1996 Paralympic Games. In 1996, there were 16 nations practising the sport; now there are 40.

Thirty-six of these 40 nations have entered riders for the World Championships and a total of 120 riders with a disability are expected to compete at the competitions in Belgium.

Equestrian has established itself as a sport of substance. It has a robust infrastructure of rules, based on those of the FEI but widely adjusted to cater for persons with a disability. The forthcoming World Championships will demonstrate the high standards of performance that have been attained over the years based on the motto of the International Paralympic Equestrian Committee: "It's ability that counts - not disability".

For further information, please contact Miriam Wilkens, IPC Media and Communication Manager on +49 228 209 7180, e-mail: Miriam.wilkens@paralympic.org or http;//www.paralympic.org


Source:FEI Press News 27/03