Pony World Driving Championships, Pau, France - live video

More action from the pony fours at 1pm, UK time. Anna Grayston currently lying fourth in pony pairs.

See the Netherlands' Jan de Boer, reigning champion, four gorgeous Welsh ponies from Templedruid Stud, Cambridgeshire) at 1:10 and GBR's Susan Skeggs at 1:20 and Sara Howe at 3:05 - I can hardly wait!

(Why do people just want to ride one pony when they can drive two - or more? Discuss!!!?)
 
Single ponies on today from 7:30 - 2pm. GBR on at 9:45 and 1:40 UK time.

Drivers from France, Belgium, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Austria, Hungary, Norway, Argentina, Australia, USA, Italy, Germany...

Yes, I hear some crackling too!
 
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After Roger Campbell and Rosanna Walters-Symons came 4th and 5th in the singles marathon Rosanna and Anna Grayston (pairs) went up to third place we were looking good for Sundays' cones. The course was flowing but obviously measured extremely tight so that to achieve the 250m/minute ground speed everyone had to canter as much as possible to avoid time penalties.

Rosanna, 22, and her Welsh cob, kept her nerve and ended second overall, just 0.28 ahead of third place and behind Hungary's Martin Holle, with Roger in fifth. Anna Grayston took third place and Emma Burge was 12th. Last to go was the four-in-hand class: Sara Howe ended 9th and Susan Skeggs 14th in a class won by Bram Chardon - who went clear - as did Jan de Boer, also NED. This was a nail-bitingly exciting finale by two exceptionally talented and competitive drivers.

Team GB came fifth out of nine nations - a great result in a very tough contest!

What struck me was the French commentator saying "Welsh ponies" so frequently. We have so many great driving ponies here, many capable of performing at international level, but it's the Continentals - and Americans - who seem to really appreciate them.

Full results on www.hoefnet.nl/en and clips on their channel on Youtube - well worth a look to see Jan de Boer's little Welsh stallions whizzing round the obstacles and cones after a dainty dressage - no guesses, he's one of my favourites! As well as Sara Howe's Section As, of course.
 
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