After superb performances from the Australian driving team, Boyd Exell and Tor Van Den Berg were victorious in the Baron und Baronin von Buchholtz Nations Cup. This is the first time Australia has won this competition, ending the Dutch team’s 18-year reign on this event. Finishing on a total score of 352.780 penalties, the Aussies had a strong lead on Germany who claimed second place with 367.290 penalties, and Belgium rounded out the top three on 370.290 penalties.
Exell Excels
Boyd Exell only needed to place fifth in the obstacle driving competition to clinch individual first place and help Australia win the Nations Cup. Of course he pulled out all the stops and won this phase of competition, nearly 20 points ahead of second place, making this his 13th CHIO Aachen title. Exell placed first in the dressage, first in the Top Score (which was not part of the championship), first in the marathon phase, and first overall in the obstacle driving after two rounds. Exell and his team of horses Celviro, Checkmate, Hero, Mad Max 81 & Mister Bono van ‘t Hooge finished on a total of 154.56 penalties, followed by Germany’s Anna Mareike Meier on 173.09 penalties and Anna Sandmann completed the top three on 179.55 penalties.
Tor Van Den Berg plays vital role in team result
Tor Van Den Berg made up the team of two for Australia in the Nations Cup. Whilst other teams had three members with a drop score option, Australia relied on nothing going wrong, which paid off! Tor Van Den Berg placed a solid 11th overall out of the field of 25 on a score of 198.22 penalties with horses Carbery Estate Cato, Carbery Estate Chino, Indiana, Jeebert and Kerosine. They were sixth after dressage, sixth after the Top Score (not part of the championship), 14th in the marathon phase and 15th in the obstacle driving.
After winning the competition, Exell spoke to the media “The horses flew round the course today! They were easy to drive, like they were all week. You can only be as good as the horsepower in front of you and I have fantastic horsepower!” he said praising his team. What he said about himself and Tor van den Berge winning the Baron und Baronin von Buchholtz Nations’ Cup for the first time? “That is unexpected. But the Dutch team weren’t in best form. The German drivers were good, but the boys weren’t as good as the girls. And the Australian’s simply sneaked in the back door.” And made their way straight to the famous Winners’ Board.
Full results and start lists for the Driving at CHIO Aachen can be found here.
You can re-watch the action from CHIO Aachen via ClipMyHorse.TV
Source: CHIO Aachen press release
