6 december 2008

Budapest: Exell starts off well

Boyd Exell has won the warm up competition of the FEI World Cup Driving in Budapest, Hungary this afternoon with a very well driven clear round. Wild card driver Jozsef Dobrovitz was one second faster, but knocked a ball down which made him end on the second place. Fredrik Persson from Sweden came third, ahead of Dutch driver Koos de Ronde.

The organising committee in Budapest had allocated two more wild cards for this top event, which was nearly sold out this afternoon. Hungarian newcomer Peter Juhasz, no relative of former World Champion Lászlo Júhasz, was unable to keep up with the high level of indoor driving and finished last with his mixed team of KWPN and Westfalen horses. Also Lajos Móró encountered the same problems and came seventh.
Switzerland’s Daniel Würgler starts his World Cup season in Budapest and was pleased with his young leaders, with which he came sixth. Although Zoltan Lázár started off very fast, he could not maintain his high speed throughout the course and knocked a ball down, which dropped him to the fifth place. Koos de Ronde drove a nice round with his mixed team of horses borrowed from his father, his mother and one of his own. Due to a small communication problem with his leaders in the marathon obstacle he lost precious seconds, which cost him the third place.

Looking at the fast times that were driven today and the nice course, which was very much appreciated by all drivers, the Hungarian spectators can expect a very exciting competition tomorrow.

Result warming up FEI World Cup Driving Budapest:
1. Boyd Exell (Aus) 115.55 (0)
2. Jozsef Dobrovitz (Hun) 119.74 (5)
3. Fredrik Persson (Swe) 123.31 (0)
4. Koos de Ronde (Ned) 123.43 (5)
5. Zoltan Lázár (Hun) 124.67 (5)
6. Daniel Würgler (Sui) 130.22 (10)
7. Lajos Móro (Hun) 152.88 (15)
8. Peter Júhasz (Hun) 178.88 (15)-