Benge Wins Individual Gold; U.S. Team Brings Home Silver at 2008 FEI World Championship for Drivers with Disabilities CPEAI 4*
RELEASE: July 2, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: By Joanie Morris
Lexington, KY – Aiken, SC resident Meghan Benge won an Individual Gold medal today at the 2008 FEI World Championships for Drivers with Disabilities CPEAI4* in Greven, Germany.
Driving Jack, a pony borrowed from England, Benge won the dressage and never looked back. She also led the U.S. to a Team Silver at the conclusion of today’s Cones competition.
Benge’s teammates were Arroyo Grande, CA.driver Diana Kastama, who drove her own horse Jasper to the Individual Bronze medal, followed very closely by Mary Gray. Gray drove Rannock, another pony borrowed from England. The New Hampshire driver was fourth by less than a point.
The Team settled for Silver behind The Netherlands after leading the first two phases. The Germans took home the Bronze.
Keady Cadwell was the Chef d’Equipe for the effort, and was thrilled with the performances of the U.S. squad, especially considering Benge and Gray had only driven their ponies a handful of time before the competition began.
“I’m very proud of our drivers,” said Cadwell. “I hope that their doing so well means we can get more drivers out there.”
ENDS
For more information, please see the FEI website at www.fei.org or contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org.