30 December 2014

Mechelen: Fabulous victory for Koos de Ronde in Mechelen

Koos de Ronde has put down an excellent performance late on Monday evening in the Nekkerhal and won the FEI World Cup™ Driving in Mechelen for the fifth time in his career. Sweden’s Fredrik Persson drove fantastic as well and finished second, ahead of Germany’s Georg von Stein whose team is finally coming together. Top favourite Boyd Exell from Australia knocked four balls down and finished on the sixth place.

De Ronde was the last man in the Winning Round, in which the Top Three drivers started from scratch for the first time. De Ronde felt the pressure after Fredrik Persson had driven a clear round and had beaten De Ronde’s time of the first round by two seconds. The golden team medallist of the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy decided to go for it and drove full risk. He knew exactly where he was able to make up some time and drove his team fast, fluent and faultless through the course, cheered by the many enthusiastic spectators in Mechelen who created a fantastic atmosphere. Koos finished four seconds faster than Fredrik Persson and won the leg in Mechelen for the fifth time. Koos won before in 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2012. Koos started with a wild card, which means he did not get World Cup points, but with one more leg to go in Leipzig, he is lying fifth in the standings and it is very likely that he will be amongst the Top Six drivers for the Final.

Georg von Stein was a very happy man in Mechelen. Von Stein was the second man in in the first round and drove clear but not very fast. He had not expected at all to qualify for the Winning Round, but after his compatriot Christoph Sandmann had one knock down, Theo Timmerman (NED) had made two faults and Boyd Exell had left the arena with an unusual 20 penalty seconds behind his name, Von Stein was back in the game. His four-in-hand with two new leader horses, which he has been driving since the start of this season, did a great job and Georg could drive them at high speed through the course. The experience they gained at the previous competitions was paying off. Unfortunately Georg made one mistake himself and one horse hit a ball, which resulted in the third place. Georg was nevertheless a very happy man in Mechelen.

Another brilliant round was put down by Fredrik Persson. The driving teacher at the National Equestrian school in Flyinge grew in the competition with his team of elderly horses, who worked together perfectly. After some hick ups on the first day and one ball in the first round, Fredrik took full advantage of the new system and put the pressure on Koos by driving a fast and clear Winning Round, which took place over the same course. Fredrik’s goal a place in the Top Three in Mechelen to secure his starting ticket for the Final in Bordeaux and his plan worked. Because of Koos’ wild card, Fredrik received ten points and is now on the second place in the standings.

Photo: Dirk Caremans

Five times World Cup Champion Boyd Exell announced at a special press conference in Mechelen that the Belgium-based company Willy Naessens Industrial buildings and pools has become his new sponsor. Naessens, who is a driving fan in heart and soul since over 25 years, is also supporting the FEI World Cup™ Driving leg in Mechelen. Boyd, who was very tired and occupied moving his horses and his house to Valkenswaard in the Netherlands in the past days, was unable to focus in Mechelen and finished on the sixth place after he had knocked four balls down.

It was the first time that Dutch international level 4 Course Designer Jeroen Houterman designed the course in Mechelen and the drivers were all very pleased with his course, which existed of several cones gates, a bridge and three marathon type obstacles. After the first day, some small changes were made to make the course even more fluent and this worked very well. The course was nice to watch for the spectators. Houterman himself was pleased as well: “I will always keep learning, there are always small things to improve, but I am very pleased.”

1. Koos de Ronde (NED) 115,65
2. Fredrik Persson (SWE) 119,68
3. Georg von Stein (GER) 138,05
4. Christoph Sandmann (GER) 132,60
5. Theo Timmerman (NED) 136,16
6. Boyd Exell (AUS) 136,89
7. Glenn Geerts (BEL) 143,52

The new format where the Top Three drivers start from scratch in the Winning Round was a huge success. This option was included in the FEI World Cup™ Driving rules this year and it was the first time that an organiser made use of it. This offered equal chances for the three drivers, which resulted in a very exciting competition, much appreciated by the fantastic crowd in Mechelen.

Quotes

Koos de Ronde (NED): “I decided to go for it and drove at full risk. Everything came together and it was fantastic. This is the best way to win; being the last man in and then drive clear! The good feeling I had with this team in Budapest was back again after my somewhat disappointing results in London Olympia and I am ready for the Final now!’

Fredrik Persson (SWE): “I was second to go in and I knew that Georg had two knockdowns. I wanted to go for it, but I wanted to drive clean as well. The feeling of my horses was so good, they developed throughout the competition. They went so much easier than on the first day. I am so happy with them and with the team of people that are with me, it make me feel very confident.”

Georg von Stein (GER): “My two new leader horses have really proven themselves in Mechelen. They have showed that they have a lot of quality in them, they are so fast. I am so pleased with my results in Mechelen, I don’t actually care that I won’t be in the Final. My horses gave me much satisfaction and next season they will be even better!