Dear USDFD Members and Supporters,
At Sandringham, England the FEI Para-Equestrian World Driving Championships have come to a close today. Germany held on to its overnight lead to take Team Gold. The Netherlands took Silver with the USA a mere 3.29 penalties behind in Bronze. Great Britain finished in fourth place. Robert Giles (USA) won the individual Grade 2 silver medal with Virginia (Boo) Fitch (USA) in fourth!
It is the first time that these championships have been hosted in England and para-drivers from eight nations competed in a very fiercely fought contest for world supremacy. Four of the nations, including the USA, fielded a team of at least three competitors required for the “team medal” awards; the other countries were represented by individual competitors. Individual medals are awarded by “Grade” which is a classification by the FEI according to level of disability (with Grade I being more severely disabled than Grade II – usually wheelchair bound). 60% of the competitors were Grade I. Following are the final Medal scores and awards
Teams:
1st Germany 227.07
2nd Netherlands 244.74
3rd USA 248.03
4th Great Britain 264.91
Grade I:
1st Jacques Poppen (Ned) 107.18
2nd Heiner Lehrter (Ger) 118.46
3rd Markus Beerhues (Ger) 124.25
4th Lucy Barclay (GBR) 131 73
Grade II:
1st Alexandra Roeder 111.61
2nd Robert Giles (USA) 125.21
3rd Mick Ward (GBR) 127.25
4th Virginia Fitch (USA) 131.82
For further detailed scores see:
http://www.hoefnet.nl/en/home/site/uitslagen/d8471a0aa505c1165003032658706598
Additional news is at: http://www.britishcarriagedriving.co.uk/
Germany holds overnight lead to take Team Gold at the 2014 Para-Equestrian World Championships
http://www.hoefnet.nl/en/home/site/news/sandringham-germany-holds-overnight-lead-to-take-team-gold
Attached are photos of the US team and the final parade. Photos by Marie de Ronde-Oudemans and Patricia Kastama. More at www.facebook/usdfd
Special Note of Thanks from Team USA and USDFD: Heartfelt thanks go to Coach Sara Schmitt and Chef d’Equipe Marie de Ronde-Oudemans who each went above and beyond in their help to the team. We would also like to extend our utmost appreciation to all of the individuals and groups over the past many months who have given us their encouragement, backing and support and who have truly been the ones who have made this possible.
THANK YOU all for being a part of this wonderful accomplishment!!
