Germany’s Michael Freund has won the second leg of the FEI World Cup Driving competition in Stuttgart. After two sensational rounds, in which Freund was supported by over 8500 enthusiastic spectators, the reigning World Champion won the first World Cup competition in which he competed this season. It is the 12th consecutive time that Freund is awarded with the Stuttgart title ‘German Master’. ‘No one can win from Freund, he has to retire from the sport in order to get a different winner in Stuttgart!’ stated organiser Gotthilf Riexinger, who was very pleased with the Driving Entertainment in the Schleyer Halle. Freund mentioned that he does not have a special secret for his high performance: ‘I do a lot of dressage training with my horses and that is one of the reasons why they turn so nicely.’

Swiss four-in-hand driver Stefan Kläy, who currently trains with Freund, assisted Freund on the carriage. ‘It was good to have a fellow driver on the carriage,’ Freund says. ‘I had yesterday’s drive off course in my head during the first round and Stefan saved me from taking the wrong route.’ Freund plans to end his career as an active four-in-hand driver after the FEI World Equestrian Games in Aachen 2006 (‘unless I find a sponsor’) and is looking forward to watch someone else win in Stuttgart. For now, Freund is determined to add another World Cup title to his name but his colleague-drivers are trying their very best to get closer to the Indoor Master.

Although Freund led the competition in Stuttgart by far, the battle for the remaining placings went on as never before. Wild card driver Max Dangel put down an extraordinary performance from the Baden-Württemberg region. Dangel managed to stay clear in both rounds and drove his team to a well-deserved second place. ‘It is like a dream to start in Stuttgart in front of this amazing crowd. I knew that Stuttgart had a very strong field of competitors and I decided that I had nothing to loose,’ explains Dangel.

Hungary’s Zoltan Lazar, who knocked three balls down in his attempt to beat Freund’s time in the second, took the third place in the World Cup competition round. It is Lazar’s second indoor season and he feels that he is getting more experience every time.

Switzerland’s Daniel Würgler was forced to use his spare horse, an Appaloosa gelding, after one of his other horses was lightly injured before the start of the first competition. Bad luck kept chasing the Swiss driver when he drove through a wrong gate in the warming up competition and was eliminated. Determined to make up for his mistake, Würgler drove a very concentrated and controlled round. Unfortunately one knocked down ball prevented him from qualifying for the second round. ‘I am pleased despite the bad luck I had,’ explains Würgler. It is the first time I compete in Stuttgart and I am happy with the fourth place. I look forward to my second competition in Stockholm next week.’

Christoph Sandmann came very close to beating Freund’s time in the first round. He passed the finish line just two seconds slower than Freund, but three knock downs made him end on the fifth place.

Lazar’s compatriot Jozsef Dobrovitz did not manage to find the right pace in the Schleyer Halle: ‘One of my horses did not do well in the warm up competition and although he was better today, I could not get my horses in the right speed. I know I need some more experience to be able to get closer to Freund, added a smiling Dobrovitz.

The second leg of the FEI World Cup Driving 2005/2006 took place in the renewed Schleyer Halle in Stuttgart. Although construction works have not completely finished yet, the competitors and spectators could already profit from the major changes. The arena has become wider and longer which was appreciated very much by German course designer Falk Böhnisch: ‘The course I designed was not easy. It was demanding but it resulted in a perfect mix between sport and excitement.’

Results CAI-W Stuttgart:
1. Michael Freund (Ger) 280,52
2. Max Dangel (Ger) 298,66
3. Zoltan Lazar (Hun) 310,39
4. Daniël Würgler (Sui) 161,57
5. Christoph Sandmann (Ger) 164,07
6. Jozsef Dobrovitz (Hun) 165,92

Classification after 2 of 7 events:
1. Zoltan Lazar (Hun) 12
2. Tomas Eriksson (Swe) 10
2. Michael Freund (Ger) 10
4. Max Dangel (Ger) 7
5. Jozsef Dobrovitz (Hun) 6
6. Koos de Ronde (Ned) 3
6. Daniël Würgler (Sui) 3

Check out the official website: www.feiworldcup.org
or www.worldcupdriving.com

The next FEI World Cup Driving event takes place in Stockholm, Sweden, on 25 and 26 November 2005. Press Officer Lotta Amnestal, phone: +46 709 79 56 35, e-mail: Lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se. Website: www.stockholmhorseshow.com