24 oktober 2009

WC Hannover: first victory for Koos de Ronde

Koos de Ronde has won the very first FEI indoor competition of this season. The golden team medallist of 2008 set the fastest time in the warm up round of the first FEI World Cup driving competition in Hannover, Germany. IJsbrand Chardon put down the only double clear round and came second, ahead of Jozsef Dobrovitz.

Despite the late night hour, the Messehalle in Hannover was well filled with enthusiastic spectators who cheered the six competitors throughout the competition. The leader horses of title defender Boyd Exell, who put a new horse in the lead, were a bit overactive in one of the marathon obstacles. They turned too tight which made Exell loose precious seconds. Tomas Eriksson also had a slow start this evening. The Swedish double World Champion went the wrong way at the start of the course and knocked three balls down. Eriksson came fifth, ahead of wild card driver Rainer Duen.