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The
Laurels At Landhope International Combined Driving Event Completes
Most Successful Year Ever
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West
Grove, PA—September 8, 2003—World-class drivers brought
their horses and ponies from all across the United States and Canada
to compete for championship honors in the United States’ most
prestigious combined driving event, The Laurels at Landhope CDE, held
at Landhope Farm in West Grove, PA.
Championship
titles at stake included the USA Equestrian National Combined Driving
Pony Championship, presented by Driving Essentials. The winner of
the Advanced Single Pony Division and this honor was Betsy Cowperthwaithe
of Aiken, SC who won with an overall score of 121.23 penalties.
“I
was thrilled to win,” said Cowperthwaithe. “I was a little
worried after I dropped a ball in the cones, but fortunately it
did not make a difference.”
It
was a fierce but friendly battle in this division between Cowperthwaite
and Jack Wetzel of Aiken, SC, who held the lead through the dressage
and marathon phases. Wetzel dropped to the Reserve Champion position
after a less-than-satisfactory seventh place finish in cones. Last
year Wetzel won at The Laurels by less than one point. “At
least the championship is still going back to Aiken,” said
Cowperthwaithe.
The
other National Championship at stake was the Advanced Pair Pony
Division. It was won by the defending champion, Tracey Morgan of
Beallsville, MD, who recently finished 11th in the inaugural World
Championship for Ponies in Austria. She finished The Laurels with
an overall score of 126.24 penalties.
“I
am really pleased with the Ponies,” said Morgan of her pair
of Dartmoors. “They are now going to get a well deserved holiday!
This competition was so beautiful and a culmination to a really
great year.”
Fred
Merriam of Newfane, VT, individual Bronze Medalist at the 2002 World
Singles Driving Championship, won the Advanced Single Horse Division,
which served as a Selection Trial for the 2004 World Championships
in Sweden. As winner of this division, Merriam also claimed the
Martin Auctioneer/Kuhnle Carriage North American Single Horse Challenge,
scoring 100.07 penalties.
“The
course was awesome,” said Merriam referring the marathon course
designed by Harry Buurman of The Netherlands. “We all had fun
with it. It’s fantastic to compete here because all of the
drivers here are top notch. I want to thank the Laurels for putting
on such a great event.”
Chester
Weber of Ocala, FL led from start to finish in the Advanced Multiple
Horse Division, claiming victory with a score of 125.17 penalties.
Weber’s fourth consecutive international win came over five
other four-in-hand teams. “My goal this year has been to win
all the international events that I compete in and so far I have
to say that it’s going according to plan,” Weber said.
“I hope that things will continue to go well.”
In
the Advanced Pair Horse Division, Eleanor Gallagher of Southern
Pines, NC, took top honors with 167.60 penalties.
In
the Preliminary divisions, Scott Adcox of Mendenhall, PA, won the
Preliminary Single Horse “A” Division, going clean in
the cones for a combined score of 92.94 penalties. Rochelle Temple
of Powhatan, VA, won the “B” Division after she also went
clean in cones for a final tally of 107.57. Ellen Epstein of Newtown,
PA won the Preliminary Pair Horse Division with 122.40. In the Preliminary
Single Pony “A” Division, Suzy Stafford of Bear, DE took
top honors with a clean go in the cones for a final score of 94.30
penalties. The “B” Division was won by Leslie Griewe of
Southern Pines, NC who was also clean in the cones and finished
with 104.95. Joan McGurren of Great Falls,VA captured the Preliminary
Pair Pony division with 102.77 penalties and Claire Reid won the
Preliminary Multiple Pony scoring 174.21.
The
Laurels at Landhope Autumn Celebration benefited the Brandywine
Conservancy, the Cheshire Hunt Conservancy, the Large Animal Protection
Society and the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center.
For
further information and results, please visit the website at www.laurelscde.org.
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