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Articles: Press Release
2006 World Singles Driving Championship Ends with Great Britain, Sweden
and Germany on Top
Contact:
United States Equestrian Federation, Inc.
4047 Iron Works Parkway
Lexington, KY 40511-8483
Tel: (859) 258-2472
Fax (859) 231-6662
Web site: www.usef.org
NEWS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2006
Lexington, KY - Despite a mighty effort, the U.S. team could not rally a
win this year in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy for the 2006 World Singles
Driving Championship held September 20-24. Great Britain, Sweden and
Germany had a successful championship finishing in that order in both
the team and individual championship.
Great Britain took first place with a total team score of 248.76. Paul
Sidwell of Great Britain and his horse Weirbank John won the combined
driving event with a score of 128.47. He was sixth after dressage,
seventh in the marathon and 24th in the cones. American Sterling
Graburn of Bonifay, FL, and Quincey, a 13-year-old Belgian Warmblood,
owned by Alexander Hewitt, had the best overall individual finish for
the U.S. They finished 18th overall with a score of 142.34, finishing
as high as fourth in the marathon.
American Eleanor Gallagher of Southern Pines, NC, and Kashmier, a
14-year-old Gelderlander, gelding, owned by Gallagher, had their best
showing in the cones phase where they finished 11th out of a total of 74
competitors. Fred Merriam of Paris, KY, and Gaitwood Lightwing, a
12-year-old Morgan gelding, owned by William Willey did as well as
fourth in the dressage phase but was eliminated in the marathon. The
third member of the U.S. team, Scott Monroe and his 13-year-old Morgan
gelding, Bethesda After Dark had their best showing in dressage with a
16th place finish. As a team, the U.S. finished in 18th place.
Chester Weber of Ocala, FL, served as the team coach at the World
Singles Driving Championship while Hardy Zantke of Torrance, CA, was the
team's chef d'equipe.
END
As the National Governing Body (NGB) of Equestrian Sport, the United
States Equestrian Federation(r), Inc. (USEF) is the regulatory body for
28 breeds and disciplines, including our country's international teams
competing in the disciplines of dressage, driving, endurance, eventing,
para-equestrian, reining, show jumping and vaulting. With over 87,000
members, it is the country's largest multi-breed organization and
annually license more than 2,800 competitions nationwide. The USEF
governs all aspects of competition, including education and licensing of
all judges, stewards, and technical delegates who officiate shows.
Vision Statement: The vision of United States Equestrian Federation(r)
is to provide leadership for equestrian sport in the United States of
America, promoting the pursuit of excellence from the grassroots to the
Olympic Games, based on a foundation of fair, safe competition and the
welfare of its horses, and embracing this vision, to be the best
national equestrian federation in the world.
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