The second major international FEI Driving event of the 2026 European outdoor season took place at the Peelbergen Centre, Kronenberg in The Netherlands.  There was a large entry of 200 competitors in 21 classes which included the 4* horse fours, plus two and three-star single, pairs and teams classes, Under-25s, juniors, children and one para driver.

With many of the team drivers still chasing their qualifying scores to reach Aachen, the horse fours class is more pressured than ever this season.

Boyd led from the front

Naturally, with Boyd Exell in the line up, there is an assumption that he will take the lead, especially when using his A-team of striking black outdoor horses.  There were only a smattering of sub-40 dressage scores, and Boyd had the lowest in any class of 34.73.  A mark like that gives him a great cushion ahead of his nearest rivals, who this season seem to be Dries Degrieck and Bram Chardon.  Boyd was second in the marathon, nineth in the cones (only with 0.42) and totalled 123.65.

Dries was third in the dressage with 43.18, fourth in the marathon, sixth in the cones (on zero) and was the best of the rest on 134.01.  Bram’s dressage was off the leading pack and he was 11^th on 49.04, then flew through the obstacles to win the marathon, was third in the cones (again on zero) and sealed the final podium place on 136.17.

Running concurrently was the Dutch national championship so once again, Bram took that crown, and fourth placed Koos de Ronde (139.84) was runner up, ahead of Ijsbrand Chardon, who was twelfth in the class.  A familiar looking podium!

Biggest entry in the 3* Single Horses

It was much closer in the biggest class of the event, the 3* Horse Singles – another cohort with a World Championship on the horizon.  Tony Ecalle (FRA) dipped just under 40 (39.99) to win the dressage, then dropped to third overall with 129.46.  The class winner was Cindy Benschop (NED) and although she didn’t win any of the phases she was consistent, and ended the event on 124.95.  Switzerland’s Stefan Ulrich, who like his father Werner (in the horse fours) is a versatile competitor who was in last year’s Horse Pairs World Championship too, was second on 126.39.

Elsewhere, Rodinde Rutjens (NED) proved impossible to beat again in the 3* pony pairs and won on 132.98, nearly 10 points ahead of Birgit Kohlweiss (GER) on 142.70.  Cédric Scherrer (SUI) had an even bigger margin in the 3* pony singles to win on 116.68; Henrik-Jan Beekhuiszen (NED) took the 3* pony fours on 159.75 after winning each phase and it was another Dutch win for in the 3* horse pairs for Jelmer Chardon on 128.98, ahead of Francois Dutilloy (FRA) on 132.19 and Claudio Fumagalli (ITA) was third on 139.91.

British success

In recent years, when scanning the results list, the eye often had to drift to the bottom to find the British results.  However, there’s been a sea change and for those who make the huge effort to cross the channel to drive in Europe, their commitment and persistence is paying off.  Joseph Adams was third in the 2* single ponies, having won the marathon; Cath Brockie was 18^th in a large 3* single pony class after a fabulous fourth in the dressage; John Ripley was in the mix in the competitive 3* horse pairs, finishing fifth after a great dressage which, like Cath’s test, was good enough for fourth.  Also in the 3* horse pairs, Nicola Pimbblet was 10^th, Grace Smith was 11^th and her father Chris Smith was 12^th.

Assisted by her talented aunt Anna Grayston, Sophia Routledge was second in the Under-25s pony single class, having won the dressage.  Sadly, Charlie Parker-King had to travel home after the dressage with Sue Nebbling’s pair of Hackneys, having started out in the Under-25s pony pair.

Although he was being driven under the Danish flag by Louise Kaiholm, Ruth & John Martin’s versatile Welsh Section C pony Brock was 16^th.

Anna Grayston said –

‘It was lovely being there as ‘Auntie’ to Sophia and trainer to Cath Brockie – very different from my days competing with a pony team, or more recently with the pony pair.  There was even time for me to sit down and take it all in!

There’s no doubt, events like Kronenberg are on a completely different scale and intensity to even our biggest events in the UK.  The sheer number of competitors, horses, lorries – all of it – it’s so much bigger.  It was a great experience for Sophia, who although has driven at many events, needed to step into this sort of environment to see what it’s like.  Being in the warm up with so many other turnouts is quite something!’

Cath Brockie said –

‘After Exloo, for Kronenburg I just had my own plan for each phase which was specific development and target focused, and I stuck to that and achieved all that I set out to.  As much as anything, this is training for Denmark next year.

Otherwise, I do love a large, spread-out venue and my calorie burn jumps to over 1,200 calories per day – which means I can eat more!’

Peelbergen Centre

The Peelbergen Centre, which is the setting for Kronenberg events, is a world class venue with an interesting back story.

Founded and owned by a partnership of over forty businesses, it has some of the best facilities around for riding and driving.  The venue has three indoor arenas, two large outdoor arenas spliced by the long glass hospitality building which provides excellent viewing, and grass arenas, ridden cross country and marathon obstacles.  It was the venue for the first FEI Driving Forum in 2023, ahead of the FEI Driving event.

From the website –

Founders & partners of Peelbergen

Peelbergen is what it is today thanks to the dedication and support of our founders and partners who share a common vision: to create a premier equestrian venue where sport, community, and passion come together. Their commitment and collaboration help us grow year after year, making Peelbergen the place you know and love.