14 December 2024
Geneva: Very convincing first round for Boyd Exell
It was a fun competition to watch today in Geneva. The course, this time built by Michael Mayer (SUI), is different from the ones we saw earlier this World Cup season.For example, the two obstacles are on the same side of the course, there is water, a speed box and a hill. In addition, some chose to drive through the obstacles, especially from gate eight to nine and from gate twelve to thirteen, to reduce the number of metres. So a lot of variety!
Boyd Exell was today’s winner very convincingly. Despite his wide lead before the start of the Drive-off and the fallen ball at the end of his second round, he remained 26 points ahead of his competition.
Drive-off
In the Drive-off, gate E of obstacle four and gate F of obstacle ten did not have to be driven. As a result, the times of the first and second rounds cannot be compared. In the Drive-off, Fredrik Persson went first. He drove beautifully and seems to be very happy there!
Georg van Stein also got off to a fast start. In the first round he was also able to keep up well with the fastest, but the twelve extra penalties due to fallen balls caused him to drop in the standings. After gate five unfortunately a ball fell in the second round and in obstacle ten he had a small fault which caused the team to slow down. With eight penalties, he ended under Fredrik Persson.
In the first round, Bram did not seem to give everything he has. He drove smoothly, controlled and very friendly through the obstacles. Yet he also ran into a ball, in front of him in obstacle ten. With his time of 176.56, he could not match Jérôme Voutaz, Boyd Exell and Koos de Ronde in the first round. In the second round, Bram stepped up the pace throughout his round. With his two dropped balls in the second round, he finished on a total result of 337.25 seconds.
Bram Chardon
Photo: Melanie Guillamot
Recovered error of course for Jérôme Voutaz
Koos de Ronde was fast in the first round, although he seemed to lose his way for a moment when entering obstacle four and a small correction in obstacle ten, when his horses almost wanted to go through the E on the way from the A to the B. In the second Round, Koos again took off like a rocket. Unfortunately, he took the turn in the speed box a little too short, causing a ball to fall. A ball also fell in obstacle 10. He then went like a rocket to the finish line and with that ended before Bram Chardon
Wild Card competitor Jérôme Voutaz went first in the first round. With his time of 165.48 and two fallen balls, only Boyd could improved on that result. In the second round too, Jérôme goes for it, the pace is high and obstacle four goes smoothly. Unfortunately, on gate five a ball falls and in obstacle ten he turns an extra circle after the A, going through the E. He recovered his course error, but thus plummets from first place in the overall standings to last place.
Koos de Ronde
Photo: Melanie Guillamot
Boyd wins very convincingly
In the first round, Boyd Exell was the only one to leave all balls behind ánd he set the fastest time. With his time of 162.29, he was just over three seconds faster than Jérôme Voutaz. Before Boyd enters the ring, he too knows he has a big lead over the rest. He drives smooth and flowing and lets his horses speed up well on the long lines. Despite his ball at the end of the parcrous, he finishes on the amazing overall score of 310.72.
Despite Boyd Exell’s convincing victory, tonight’s scores and placings do not count towards the World Cup points. Tomorrow, however, they will be fought for. Then the competitors will start in reverse order of today’s final results.
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Boyd Exell
Photo: Melanie Guillamot
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