10 September 2017
Breda: Gold for Exell and the Dutch team
Boyd Exell has won the individual competition at the CAIO Breda this weekend. The invincible Dutch team with IJsbrand Chardon, Koos de Ronde and Theo Timmerman took home team gold.
Photo: Marie de Ronde-Oudemans
Boyd won the dressage and finished second in the marathon closely behind winner IJsbrand Chardon and kept his lead in the individual standings. One knockdown in the cones did not keep him from winning the CAIO Breda 2017: “The marathon with seven obstacles was heavy yesterday, my horses were probably a bit tired,” said Boyd. “We could afford two knock downs and some time penalties, so this did not endanger my victory.” Outdoor Brabant was the last competition of this season for the Netherlands-based World Champion from Australia.
Koos de Ronde passed Christoph Sandmann in the final standings thanks to a clear cones round and finished in third place in the field of 20 competitors. USA’s Chester Weber had to withdraw before the marathon because one of his horses was not fit to compete.
French team members Sebastien Mourier and Benjamin Aillaud put down two clear rounds in the cones and with this fantastic performance they passed the German team in the team ranking, winning the silver medal. The bronze went to Germany.
Donaueschingen in Germany will host the last World Cup Qualifying competition of this season next weekend after which the Top 10 drivers will be announced who will compete in the prestigious FEI World Cup™ Driving season 2017/2018 to start in November in Stuttgart.
