25 November 2021

Stockholm: Michael Brauchle wins first competition

In the warm-up round of the World Cup in Stockholm, Michael Brauchle was in good shape tonight. He won and is the last to start on Saturday evening, to battle for the points.

Parcoursbouwer Johan Jacobs had een technisch parcours gebouwd. Naast twee marathonhindernissen waren er een speedbox, die naar keuze van de ene of de andere kant kon worden aangereden. Verder was er een brug die twee keer moest worden genomen en kende het parcours 2 oxers. De start- en finishlijn lag op het midden van de piste. Door een afbeelding op een reusachtige videowall langs de piste (vanuit het publiek gezien achter de brug) werd het een prachtig aangeklede arena.

Course designed Johan Jacobs developed a technical course. In addition to two marathon obstacles, there was a speed box, which could be hit from one side or the other. There was also a bridge that had to be taken twice and the course had two oxers. The start and finish line was in the middle of the track. A huge video wall next to the arena (seen from the audience behind the bridge) beautifully decorated the place.

Early course walk

The drivers walked the course this morning at 6 o’clock. By using a special technique with laser beams, the course could be set up quickly. After test driver Fredrik Persson, Lyon winner Boyd Exell had to start first. He set a fast time and with only one ball down on the bridge his finishing time of 151.34 was not bad.

Glenn Geerts (BEL) was well on his way and seemed to be heading for a clear round, but a ball fell on the last oxer. He ended up behind Exell. József Dobrovitz (HUN) started very fast. In the first obstacle his team turned very easily and he stayed close to the wood, but gradually three balls fell.

Then it was the turn of Mareike Harm (GER), who surprisingly managed to beat Exell by 0.24. Last starter Michael Brauchle (GER) was not only clear, but also fastest. With the time of 140.80 he took the lead.


Michael Brauchle is in shape
Photo: Karolina Swärdh

Harm surprised, Brauchle wins

The winning round went between the two Germans and the world champion. In this course, the D gate from the first obstacle had not to be driven and the bridge had to be driven once. Again Boyd Exell had one ball down. In the second obstacle he hit the fence at gate C, resulting in another ball fell down. He stayed third.

Mareike Harm drove wider turns in the obstacles, took no unnecessary risks and remained clear. She enden second. Michael Brauchle knocked off a ball in the first obstacle, but again developed a lot of speed and won this phase.

The deciding competiton is Saturday evening at 7 p.m. This can be followed live via FEI TV.

Click here for the results

Click here for the photoalbum of the first competition

Click here for the photoalbum of the horse inspection & course walk

Watch the competition on the FEI YouTube-channel

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