Hot on the heels of the opening leg in Lyon, France last weekend, the FEI Driving World Cup action moved to Maastricht in the Netherlands, with a starry line up that included current World Champion Bram Chardon and two previous champions, Boyd Exell and Koos de Ronde.
It was the Australian, Boyd Exell, who produced the most polished and consistent four rounds over the two days of competition to earn ten points and join last week’s winner Dries Degrieck of Belgium at the top of the ranking table for the season thus far.
Boyd’s equine team comprised of Bajnok, Barny 68, Katydid Duchess, and Mad Max 81. Fifteen-year-old mare Katydid Duchess joined Boyd’s team for the first time, making her World Cup debut and international-level four-in-hand debut. Bajnok and Barny 68 are of course long-time members of Boyd’s indoor team, while eleven-year-old Oldenburg stallion Mad Max is not only a top World Cup team member but was also part of Boyd’s gold-medal winning World Championship team earlier this year. Mad Max’s sire, Millennium, is a Gestüt Sprehe stallion who was once ridden by fellow Australian Simone Pearce.
It was another win for Boyd Exell. Image by FEI/Leanjo de Koster.
Koos de Ronde, who was competing as a wild card, held his nerve in the second drive-off to finish second and Bram Chardon had to settle for third after an extra loop in one of the obstacles.
Belgian Glenn Geerts, with his new team of Lipizzaners was fourth, Anna Mareike Meier of Germany was fifth and fellow German George von Stein was sixth.
Boyd Exell and his team on their way to a win in Maastricht. Image by FEI/Leanjo de Koster.
