16 April 2022
Kronenberg 2022: Difficult marathon and cones
Today in Kronenberg, half of the participants drove the marathon, while the other half drove cones. The weather conditions were perfect: lots of sun and about 18 degreesThe marathon and cones were not easy. Peter Zeegers (2* single horse) was the only one to ride a double clear today. He thus retains his first place.
Cones expert Stan van Eijk only had one ball off and scored 1.26 penalty points for exceeding the time. Which means he takes the lead in the classification of the 3* pairs horses.
Comfort-zone
“It was the first time that I had Deniro and Zorac side by side as a pair in cones”, says Stan van Eijk.“The cones course was tough. I found it quite difficult for the start of the season. We had decided inadvance to use this pair, but when I saw how difficult the course was I thought: ‘Wow…’ This decisionwas kind of out of my comfort zone, so to say.”
“I had said I wouldn’t change my decision regardless of the course. So I didn’t. But I kind of regretted itbefore entering the ring! Deniro and Zorac felt good. I was a bit disappointed about that ball, that was myown fault. But they were going great and I am very happy with the result.”
Tomorrow he will also use Deniro and Zorac together for the first time for the marathon. “I think the marathonis going to be hard enough. They have both been driven in marathons before, but not together in a pairyet. So tomorrow I’ll just drive and see how much gas I can give per obstacle. But if it feels like today,then we can drive well.”
Stan is now 2.48 penalty points ahead of Francois Dutilloy (FR). Anna de Ronde is currently in thirdplace.
Stan van Eijk
Photo: Meike Paridaans
Shifting places after cones
Marloes van ‘t Veld, with her third place in the 3* single ponies, has climbed to third place in the overallclassification after cones today. Cédric Scherrer (SUI) and Anna Christmann (FR) are in first and secondplace.
In the 2* pair horses, the podium of the intermediate classification after cones consists of Wybe Kramer, Hans Hoens and Loic Rohaut (FR). Jorn van Olst and Larissa Reints changed positions today in the 2* pony pair. Tomorrow Larissa Reints will start the marathon with a 1.93 penalty points lead.
Els Broekman had to settle for eighth place today in the cones in the 2* single driving ponies after her firstplace in dressage. She drops to third place. Lucy Scott (GBR) and Jur Baijens are now on one and twoin the intermediate standings. Freddy Soete (BEL) won the dressage on Friday and the paradriving conestoday. He will appear at the start of the marathon tomorrow with a comfortable lead of more than 39penalty points.
Marloes van 't Veld
Photo: Meike Paridaans
Brammetje
Marijke Hammink also managed to finish above her fellow competitors today. “It went well today. Ideliberately brought my small and fast chestnut Pronto (nickname: Brammetje) to this competition. Iexpected a difficult marathon here and it was, so I’m glad I had Brammetje. He hasn’t competed in theoutdoor competitions for a number of seasons, because I mainly use him for indoor competitions. ButBrammetje was super nice to drive and took the whole team through the obstacles.” Hammink is almost 12penalty points ahead of Jan de Boer, the number two.
“But tomorrow it all has to happen! A ball falls quickly. Tomorrow at the end of the day we will knowmore”, she concludes modestly.
Marijke Hammink
Photo: Krisztina Horváth
Shifting places after marathon
Boyd Exell (AUS) had a hard time today in obstacles 2 and 6 and IJsbrand Chardon also made a mistake in obstacle 6. Koos de Ronde won the marathon. He thus climbs into third place. Boyd Exell finished third today and retains his first place. IJsbrand Chardon is in second place in the intermediate standings.
Saskia Siebers has climbed to second place in the 3* single driving horses. Marion Vignaud (FR) is less than two penalty points ahead. The gap to number 3, Linnea Kristianssen (SWE), is more than 8 penalty points.
Melanie van de Bunt managed to keep her first place in the 3* pony pairs and Cas Hendriks is still in second. The third place in the intermediate classification is now for Sietske Flobbe.
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Marion Vignaud
Photo: Krisztina Horváth
