of FEI Driving

Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another. Walter Elliott

  British carriage drivers won both the gold medals at the World Championships for single horses in Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, with the individual event going to Paul Sidwell, driving HACKNEY Weirbank John, and the team also triumphant.

Amongst the 18 teams present, the 2006 World Singles Driving Championship was dominated by the British, with the three-strong team, of Di Hayes with HACKNEY Hamewith Culmellie, and Ian Bertram with HACKNEY Hamewith Lonarch proving to be unbeatable on the day as well as David Matthews with Native bred welsh cob Carnwallo Boneddwr . The British team got off to a good start in the dressage to take third place behind Sweden and Germany. This was followed by brilliant performances by David Matthews and Ian Bertram in the marathon, placing the British team in the lead. The lead was acheived in the final cone driving section,, with a clear performance by Di Haynes, giving a clear victory to the British team. In 2nd place came the all-female Swedish team followed by Germany in 3rd place.

It was to be the same fate for the individual medals, which saw British driver, Paul Sidwell achieve a score of 128.47 with his 17 year old HACKNEY horse battle it out with 72 others riders, to take the gold in the highly competitive individual title. first class performances in the first two phases ensured that Paul Sidwell took the gold medal driving Weirbank John. Paul, a farrier who lives in Bray in Berkshire also won the National Championship at Lowther in August, Sweden's Cecilia Qvarnström took 2nd place. Third place was secured by Germany's Dieter Lauterbach.

  It is the first time that a British Individual and Team have won the combined Gold Medals since Horse Driving Trails were evolved back in the late sixties. Also competing with an individual Hackney Horse, for Ireland, was Sara Clinghan driving Highmoor Firecracker finishing 16th

Ian Bertram

Paul Sidwell

Ian Bertram