At the end of Saturday’s marathon phase at the 2025 FEI Driving World Championship for Combined Ponies in Le Pin au Haras, France, three female drivers held the top positions across the Singles, Pairs and Four-In-Hand categories. Switzerland’s Vera Bütikofer, along with the Netherlands’ Rodinde Rutjens and Marijke Hammink, occupy the lead. However, their advantage is slim, and with Sunday’s cones phase still to come, the fight for medals remains wide open.
Rise in the Rankings for Janelle Marshall
Australia’s Janelle Marshall an 15-year-old Welsh mare, Halcyonia Mistletoe, delivered a strong marathon performance in wet conditions, scoring 94.82 to finish 14th in the phase. This result lifted them from 19th to 15th overall in a field of more than 40 competitors. With a total score of 150.32, they remain in striking distance of the leaders, with Bütikofer currently on 134.50.
Marathon shakes up the standings
Dressage winner Vera Bütikofer entered the marathon with only a narrow lead. Despite heavy rain, she set the fastest time at the opening obstacle, though a penalty at the second introduced some uncertainty. Recovering with the best time at the final obstacle, she managed to cling to her advantage. By Saturday evening, however, her lead had been cut to just one point over Germany’s Tobias Bücker. Belgium’s Sebastien Pallen also surged up the leaderboard, winning the marathon to move from sixth to third overall, pushing French contender Bérengère Meuwis Cressent into fourth, only a point off the bronze medal position.
The cones phase will decide the championships on Sunday.
