Cones bring changes at the top on final day at Driving Test Event

Beginning with the national and single classes, who ran over a reduced course, it soon became evident that to finish inside the time and keep the balls from rolling was a tough challenge. Giorgia Brillantino, one of two drivers in the U25 horse singles, was the one to take the accolade of producing the only double clear of the day, which secured her win.

Of the 12 drivers who finished inside the time, one was eventual horse fours winner Anthony Horde, who drove a brilliant and flowing round.  Maintaining a forward pace throughout, his momentum meant that he had nearly 10 seconds in hand from the 193 sec limit.  Having only knocked no. 8 for a ball to tumble, he put the pressure on overnight leader Jόzsef Dobrovitz Jnr.

The final competitor to enter the arena, Jόzsef’s right leader took a dislike to the wooden horse models with their bristles on top, and became distracted. Jόzsef did well to contain his horse’s exuberance but could not keep the balance throughout, so knocked two cones and went over the 193 sec allowance by 6.84 sec to add 12.84 to his score, which put him behind Anthony who with only 3 to add, finished on 158.5 and was crowned winner of the horse fours.

Jόzsef Dobrovitz Snr. held his third position, producing a round which like his son, knocked two cones and added time penalties.  János Papp had an expensive round in terms of penalties but stayed in fifth as unfortunately, after only four cones, Luca Cassottana had to retire because his right leader bar broke off.  One of the most fluid displays came from dressage winner Benjamin Aillaud who, on an eliminated score after his tip-up on the marathon, was able to enjoy himself without the pressure of chasing a place.  Knocking one ball and finishing inside the time, he ended the phase on only 3 penalties, showing what skilled rein handling and teamwork with a horse four is all about.

With so little between the top two in the horse pairs, it was a nail-biting showdown between two of Italy’s finest drivers.  Austria’s Sylvia Peters gave onlookers an enjoyable round to watch having knocked three but with no time penalties to add, rose up a place to end in fourth. Lying in third after the marathon, Misdee Wrigley Miller did enough to secure her position and was delighted with the performance of her two horses, who, until the last minute, were due to be her team leaders.  Luckily, the carriage she brought down from The Netherlands had adjustable axles, so she was able to narrow the wheel width to the correct distance for horse pairs.

«It was a great, flowing course to drive, but if you lost your line, then that’s when you hit the cones, and I lost my line going into number 6» – Misdee Wrigley Miller.