Gold for Australian driving team at the Baborówko Nations Cup

Australia’s driving stars have struck gold once again, with Boyd Exell and Tor Van Den Berge powering to Nations Cup victory at Baborówko, Poland. Competing with just two drivers, the pair delivered flawless performances to top both the team and individual podiums.

Tor van den Berge and Boyd Exell won the FEI Driving Nations Cup in Baborówko. Image by Katarzyna Pakuła.

Equestrian Life

Published 4 Oct 2025

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Australian drivers Boyd Exell and Tor Van Den Berge have done it again. Following on from their historic win in the Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen earlier this year, the pair have taken out the Nations Cup CAIO4*-H4 at Baborówko in Poland (26-28 September) – with both drivers also finishing on the podium individually.

The Australians claimed the gold medal in the Nations Cup at Baborówko on a total score of 303.31, finishing well clear of Germany (330.86) and the Czech Republic (401.84). As was the case at Aachen, the Australians were competing with just the two drivers rather than the allowed three – meaning there was no drop score, and therefore no room for error.

The event could not have been more successful for Australia, with seven-time world champion Boyd Exell taking out the individual gold medal with 142.18 and Tor Van Den Berge claiming the silver on 161.13.

Tor Van Den Berge in the dressage phase, where he placed third. Image by Katarzyna Pakuła.

Boyd Exell and his team – which included horses Julius van Hapert, Daan 8, Maestro H and Jelviro – placed first in the dressage phase. Image by Katarzyna Pakuła.

Team XL

Boyd’s equine team at Baborówko was not his usual seasoned campaigners. Stepping up to gain experience were Luxor S (nine-year-old), Julius van Hapert (11-year-old), Maestro H (eight-year-old), and Jelviro (11-year-old), with Daan 8 (17-year-old) providing the team with a touch of experience. Remarkably, it was a completely different team to the one Boyd won with at Aachen.

Dressage: Julius van Hapert, Daan 8, Maestro H and Jelviro, with Katarzyna Wieczorek and Mel on the carriage (First, 35.26)

Marathon: Luxor S, Julius van Hapert, Daan 8 and Maestro H, with Wannes Larsen and Catharina on the carriage (First, 104.26)

Cones: Julius van Hapert, Daan 8, Maestro H and Jelviro, with Katarzyna Wieczorek and Mel on the carriage (First, 2.66)

Boyd won the marathon phase with horses Luxor S, Julius van Hapert, Daan 8 and Maestro H. Image by Katarzyna Pakuła.

Tor’s dressage team included horses Carbery Estate Chino, Indiana, Kerosine and Jeebert. Image by Katarzyna Pakuła.

Team Van Den Berge

Tor’s team remained unchanged from Aachen and included Carbery Estate Cato, Carbery Estate Chino, Indiana, Kerosine and Jeebert.

Dressage: Carbery Estate Chino, Indiana, Kerosine and Jeebert, with Mel Van Den Berge and Catharina Matschurat on the carriage (Third, 45.85)

Marathon: Carbery Estate Cato, Carbery Estate Chino, Indiana and Kerosine, with Mel Van Den Berge and Martin Zubek on the carriage (Fourth, 109.04)

Cones: Carbery Estate Cato, Carbery Estate Chino, Indiana and Kerosine, with Mel Van Den Berge and Catharina Matschurat on the carriage (Third, 6.24)

Full results can be found here.