28 juni 2013
Aachen: Top performance for Koos de Ronde
World Cup Champion Koos de Ronde has won the individual obstacle driving competition this morning in Aachen and has climbed to the third place in the standings. De Ronde was one of the four drivers with a double clear round. Dressage winner Chester Weber held on to his leading position with a nearly clear round. Runner-up Boyd Exell drove a double clear round and kept his second place in the individual ranking.
“It went really well for me,” said a happy Koos de Ronde. “I have been driving very well in the cones competitions lately and today it all came together for me again. This team is very easy to drive and has a good ground speed which allows me to drive correctly.”
De Ronde will now focus on tomorrow’s marathon with eight obstacles, designed by German O-course designer Dr. Hartmut Kaufmann: “We must not underestimate the marathon in Aachen. When we walk the obstacles, we always think that it is quite easy, but when we drive it, it always turns out to be more difficult.” De Ronde will try to hold on to his third place, since the difference between Exell and Weber is normally too big to conquer.
German team member Michael Brauchle had very bad luck today. First of all, he came out of hospital this morning after he was admitted because of a possible appendicitis. This luckily turned out not to be the case, it probably was acute food poisoning. The bit of Brauchle’s right leader horse broke during the competition and the 23-year old driver was eliminated.
Because today’s score only counted towards the individual ranking, Brauchle will be able to compete for the German team in the marathon and in the cones competition on Sunday.
