HANNAH MILLER FINISHES SECOND; LOSES BY JUST ONE POINT IN THE 12-COUNTRY WORLD CUP COMPETITION

   by john manzi for NAADA

Drawing the rail in the sixth and final race in the World Cup didn't hurt Italy’s Mirko Marini who managed a second-over trip and then blew away the field to score his second victory in the international amateur driving competition. And with that victory Marini finished with 61 points, just one point better than the USA’s, Hannah Miller’s (60).

“It was a great competition and wonderful experience for me in the World Cup of Amateur Racing and I’d like to congratulate Mirko Marini, he a great driver and a tough competitor,” ‘Hurricane Hannah’ said after the concluding  race in the World Cup.

 “Although the final standings are obviously disappointing for me to come so close to the first U.S. victory in the World Cup, all in all, having had the chance to bring home a couple of American victories is a great honor for me and my family.”

NAADA founder and president, Joe Faraldo traveled with Hannah and her family to Budapest for the World Cup competition and served as a correspondent, witnessing the racing action first hand while taking and sending  photographs. 

“Sure it’s obviously disappointing for Hannah to come so close and to lose  by just one point but she drove as good as anyone could have hoped” Faraldo said via telephone.  “Hannah drove great and we are extremely proud of the showing our champ made in the World Championship. Hats off to the Italian champ from Montegiorgio."

“America was very well represented and we could not have chosen a better representative than Hannah. She will be heard from for quite a while to come in this sport,” Faraldo added.

This was by far the best results that the USA has had since NAADA joined FEGAT, the international organization that governs the World Cup of Amateur Racing, in the 1980’s.

In an earlier World Cup race  on the card at Kincsem Park in Budapest, Hungary Hannah drove her second winner in the competition in a 1900 meter trot.  “In that contest Hannah handled Sved Barat, an UpFront Larry out of an Armbro Trick  mare," Joe Faraldo reported. "Not one of the picks but drawing the two hole, Hannah left from post two and quickly grabbed the lead. She yielded going around the first turn, sat the two hole then thought about how a guy stopped in her face the race before, and she pulled the pocket and sat chilly on the outside just buggy riding with the leader. Sensing the Italian nearby, Hannah drew off at the top of the lane and put distance between her and the Argentinian followed by her nemesis, the Italian.”

Hannah was one of four ladies who competed in this year’s 12-countryWorld Cup of Amateur Racing. Ms. Bitten Jensen from Denmark, finished third in points, making two of the top three finishers in points, lady drivers.

Here are the final standings in the 20116 World Cup of Amateur Racing--- Italy (61), USA(60), Denmark (45), Argentina (38), Finland (37), Belgium (33),New Zealand (32),Czech Republic (30),Hungary (29), Spain (29), Switzerland (24), Austria (2).