Australian carriage driver Janelle Marshall has completed her campaign at the FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses in Munich, Germany with 12-year-old Westphalian gelding Finsternis (Fürst Piccolo 2 x Matcho Son).
The US-based combination scored 63.90 in the dressage, 96.73 in the marathon, and 13.84 in the cones for a total of 174.47 and 55th place from 85 competitors.
Janelle was representing Australia at her second FEI Driving World Championship for Single Horses, having also contested the FEI Driving World Championship for Pony Singles on three occasions.
“It has been an amazing competition, probably one of the toughest ones we’ve been at, with my horse who is quite green at this,” said Janelle, speaking to photographer Melanie Guillamot following the cones phase.
Speaking about the marathon phase the day prior, the Australian said there were ups and downs. “We had some very strong points and some not so good points. The horse was super strong and fit, so I was really, really lucky, and he came out at [obstacle] one absolutely gangbusters. And two was the hill, and he was fit and apt do his job there, so I didn’t really back him off. We had a little bit of technical trouble at three – we’re going to ignore three – but the water was fantastic.
“He’s not done a whole lot of shows, but he was very brave and very, very forward. He pulled up incredibly strong. The best comment was the vet at the end of the marathon saying that he could go again, which was huge. He was quite fit, which was nice.”
In the final cones phase, Janelle said Finsternis was still full of energy. “He felt incredibly strong and eager, which was interesting in some areas, but he was still able to cover a lot of ground. I’m a little disappointed with how I drove… but I am very, very happy with the horse and the amazing team that we’ve had here this weekend and all the supporters. So I thank them very, very much.
Speaking about the cones course – which was certainly challenging – Janelle said she felt it was a true championship course.
“It started off nice and flowing, and then when you got to six and seven, it became tighter, and then it opened up again, and then 12, 13, 14 were incredibly tight, and then you went into more skinnies after that, up until you reached 18. I think technically it was actually hard with a lot of skinnies and oxers and not a whole lot of space to turn back into, so I think it was definitely a championship course.”
Stefan Ulrich seals historic Swiss double in Munich
Stefan Ulrich of Switzerland and Bombardier won their first individual gold medal and world title, while Switzerland secured team gold.
Defending champions and fellow Swiss combination Mario Gandolfo and Favela had to settle for individual silver, while Anne Unzeitig and De Niro 29 put Germany on the podium with bronze.
Switzerland’s team gold was their first at a Single Horse World Championship since the inaugural event in Austria in 1998. The Netherlands won team silver, while defending champions France took bronze – both nations have previously won team gold twice.
Course Designer Mayer was credited with much of the championship’s success, despite the challenges presented by the undulating marathon terrain.
At the end of the event, he said with relief: “Now I feel good because before the start, I was a bit nervous. The marathon was incredible – the horses and the drivers did a great job, like they did in the cones.
“I built some of the obstacles at home then when I arrived here a week ago, we had to change some of them again, with a combination of fixed and mobile elements. I looked at them like the drivers do, working out where to go from A, and then I changed some of the lines again. But I was pleased yesterday and we saw a good mix of technical questions and speed.”
