11 June 2022
Valkenswaard 2022: Exciting marathon brings shifts in classification
The Demanding marathon in Valkenswaard brought spectacular and exciting sport on Saturday. The marathon specialists among the drivers were able to indulge themselves, and the many flocking public enjoyed the driving skill on display.
Ewoud Boom leads the classification in the pairs
Photo: Krisztina Horváth
In the pairs, the German Dennis Schneiders was the winner of the marathon. His small horses were lightning fast and he clocked the fastest time in 5 obstacles. The best Dutch pair result is in the name of Ewoud Boom. Smoothly and at full speed he blasted through the obstacles, where the cooperation between the two horses was text book. “I am happy with the result”, says Ewoud afterwards. “I like obstacles where my horses can stay in the wooden obstacles, such as obstacle 1 and obstacle 8.” He is now in the lead, but the difference with the number 2 is only slightly more than a point. That number 2 is Stan van Eijk. For him, the marathon didn’t quite go as he would have liked, because he got stuck in obstacle 3 for a while and so he finished 6th in the marathon. The differences are small, so Sunday will be another exciting day of competition.
Brauchle unstoppable
With the four-in-hand, Michael Brauchle felt like a fish in water. He won the marathon, despite coming to a halt in the water hazard. Almost every drider had some setback in one of the hurdles. IJsbrand Chardon was briefly stuck in obstacle 3 and Bram Chardon also had some setbacks. He was briefly stuck in both obstacle 3 and obstacle 4. Boyd Exell had huge bad luck getting out of the last obstacle. He grazed a fence causing one of the horses to fall, but luckily everything went well and the horse was unharmed. Because it happened after the obstacle, it did not result in any penalty points, but he finished too late in the route, which brought him 3.25 time penalty points. With a difference of slightly less than 1 ball, Boyd is still in the lead. Michael Brauchle has moved up to second place thanks to his marathon win. Koos de Ronde was the best Dutchman in the marathon. Thanks to his 3rd place in the marathon, he is now 10th overall. In the top 10 the differences are small, so the cones will undoubtedly be an exciting finale.
Michael Brauchle won the marathon
Photo: Krisztina Horváth
Handicap stakes
After the marathon, VIP-class driver Jan Olivier leads the handicap stakes in the pair driving. Tom Stokmans still leads the four-in-hand class in this special classification.
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