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Benge Wins Individual Gold; U.S. Team Brings Home Silver at 2008 FEI World Championship for Drivers with Disabilities CPEAI 4*
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 Temecula, 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.”

Meghan E. Benge, Windsor, SC. Meghan drove Jack, an 18 year-old bay Welsh Cob gelding, leased from Fiona McOuat.

Mary drove Rannoch a 7 year old, Friesian/Arabian/Welsh cross gelding leased from Sara Simmons.

Diane Kastama, Arroyo Grande, CA. Diane defended her gold medal with her partner Jasper, a 13 year old bay Welsh Cob gelding.

Diane Kastama won the Individual Gold medal at Mensport in Hellendoorn, The Netherlands, at the IPC World Carriage Driving Championships for Drivers with Disabilities in September 2006. Sisters and international competitors, Randy and Keady Cadwell of Southern Pines, NC, have grown up together training and driving. They both served as coaches at the 2008 FEI World Championships for Drivers with Disabilities. Keady, who recently won the FEI Pair Horse division at the 2008 CAI-A Ocala at Live Oak International, will also serve as Chef d’Equipe.

Team USA General Information

United States Driving for the Disabled holds the distinguished privilege of selecting a team to represent the United States of America in international competition. Since 1994, our teams, individuals, and even pair drivers have been wonderfully successful. The International Paralympic Committee (IPC) sanctions and organizes these events, held every two years.

The vision of United States Driving for the Disabled, Inc. has reached across our country and led to international success. In 1994 at the International Championship for Drivers with Disabilities in England, Team USA won an Individual Gold and Team Bronze Medals. In 1998 at the World Championship in Germany, we returned triumphant with Individual and Team Bronze Medals. 2000 in Austria brought the Individual Gold home to America. In 2002, US drivers won an Individual Silver Medal, Team Bronze and the International Pairs Championship. 2004 in Scotland the team brought home a fifth place with our largest driving contingent ever-three team members, one individual driver, and one individual pair driver. In 2006, Diane Kastama brought home the individual Gold Medal from Austria.

The USDFD representatives usually borrow horses and carriages in the country that we compete to save the added expense. All drivers must pay their personal expenses as well as the expenses of coach and chef 'd equipe. If you would like to contribute to the Team, please do so through the main office and designate "Team USA" on you donation. Thank you!

Team USA Members of the Past:

Mary Gray v Peggy Benge v Megan Benge v Carol Wilkinson v Michael Muir v Kate River

Cindy Goff v Tom Turner v Diane Kastama v Becky Merritt v Pam Johnson v Mary Woolverton

Gene Hagberg