31 August 2014

Kelly Houtappels-Bruder competes for Canada at World Singles in Izsák

At the forthcoming World Single Driving Championship which takes place in Izsák, Hungary from 24 to 28 September, Kelly Houtappels-Bruder is going to represent the Canadian flag.

Kelly previously drove her Arabo Friesian Frits at competitions. After a year of searching, last year she came across Zidaan. To get experience they started at international driving competitions like Horst and Chablis, as well as at several Dutch national events. During the Dutch Single Championship in Beesd this year, Kelly finished on the eleventh place.

The Dutch-based Canadian is the only driver from her country, driving her 10-year-old Dutch harness horse Zidaan. Her aim is to share her experiences and make other Canadian drivers enthusiastic to compete, so a Canadian team could participate at the next World Championship in two years. After Izsák, she is going to organise clinics in Canada.
Kelly came to Europe five years ago for an internship. She fell in love with driving and decided to stay here. She is married to a Dutchman, Frank Houtappels, but she insists on her Canadian nationality.