Exell wins FEI World Cup Driving in Geneva for the eighth time
Reigning FEI World Cup™ champion, Boyd Exell from Australia, won the FEI World Cup™ Driving Leg in Geneva for the eighth time in his career this morning.
He finished over 11 seconds faster than runner up Sébastien Mourier from France who competed with a wild card while Dutch driver, Koos de Ronde, claimed the third place.
Dutch Level 4 Course Designer Johan Jacobs laid out a long course in the largest indoor arena in the world. The track consisted of a spectacular water splash, a bridge, three marathon obstacles and several cones, and despite the early morning start, the tribunes were filled with enthusiastic spectators who enjoyed the skills of the eight drivers performing at the 55th edition of the CHI Geneva.
Third win in a row
Boyd Exell proved to be in top form once again at the Swiss venue, where the drivers felt very much at home. Exell has a tremendous record at the Palexpo Exhibition Hall in Geneva where he won his second FEI World Cup™ title in 2010, and where he has been victorious at every leg of the FEI World Cup™ Driving in which he has competed.
He put down a very fast round and was six seconds faster than during the First Competition on Saturday afternoon, despite one knock down. Before going into the Winning Round, which took place over a shortened course, he had an advantage of 16 seconds over Mourier. But the six-time FEI World Cup Champion just let his horses go and drove them smooth and fast through the course, securing his third win in a row for this season.
“I had two knock downs today and that was me interfering with my horses, I was trying to be too careful,” Exell explained afterwards. “I never underestimate the other competitors and I always feel pressure before the drive-off because I know how quickly you can go from hero to zero”, he wisely added.
With 30 points, Boyd is in the lead on the series rankings and has already secured his ticket for the Final in Bordeaux (FRA) on 6 and 7 February.
Geneva -> London
Both Exell and De Ronde will compete in the fifth leg of the FEI World Cup™ Driving series at London Olympia (GBR) next week, but they both feel this will not affect their horses. “We all know that December is a busy month with many World Cup competitions,” said De Ronde today. “Everybody is well prepared and the horses are all fit”, he added.
Father and son, József and József Jr. Dobrovitz, finished in fourth and fifth place today. Their leader horses lacked the necessary speed in order to keep up with the fast times of their fellow competitors. Dobrovitz Senior will also compete at London Olympia next week, where he will use one of Boyd Exell’s horses to spare one of his own.
Results FEI World Cup™ Driving, Geneva (SUI), 13 December 2015:
- Boyd Exell (AUS) 328,86
- Sébastien Mourier (FRA) 340,22
- Koos de Ronde (NED) 343,00
- József Dobrovitz (HUN) 181,91
- József Dobrovitz jr. (HUN) 190,19
- Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) 191,36
- Werner Ulrich (SUI) 204,06
- Cyril Maret (SUI) 214,59
Results in detail can be viewed HERE
FEI World Cup™ Driving, standings after 4 of 7 events:
- Boyd EXELL AUS 30
- IJsbrand CHARDON NED 17
- Koos DE RONDE NED 14
- Jozsef DOBROVITZ HUN 9
- Rainer DUEN GER 8
- Jozsef DOBROVITZ jr. HUN 8
- Michael BRAUCHLE GER 7
- Jérôme VOUTAZ SUI 7
- Georg VON STEIN GER 6
- Glenn GEERTS BEL 2
The 2015/2016 FEI World Cup™ Driving series now moves on to London Olympia (GBR) on Saturday, 19 December.
The FEI World Cup™ Driving competition in London Olympia will be broadcast live on FEI TV, the FEI’s official video platform, on 18 December at 13:20 hrs. and 19 December at 19:35 hr.
For information on London Olympia go to go to www.olympiahorseshow.com
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