CAIO4* H4 WORLD CUP QUALIFIER

We seem to be witnessing the start of a new order at the top of FEI four-in-hand driving.  Dries Degrieck (BEL) held his nerve, like he did at the World Cup final in February, and ended Boyd Exell’s (AUS) incredible run at Royal Windsor.  Belgium also retained the team win they took last year.

Dressage – Friday 14^th May

On the first day, Dries posted his best score to date and his first sub-40 with 38.39.  Only Chester Weber (USA) was better on 34.73.  His typically polished test was the leading choice of four of the five judges – Pia Skar (DEN), Maron Koorneef (NED), Bert Jambon (BEL) and Barry Capstick (IRE).  Only Andrew Counsell (GBR) scored Dries’s test as his favourite, by 0.5.

There were uncharacteristic errors from last to go on Friday, Boyd Exell.  His black team’s usual cohesion, panache and discipline wasn’t in as much evidence as we’ve got used to.  With breaks in his trots, the marks during the test displaying on the digital screen were making onlookers gasp in surprise.  His score of 40.12 was enough for third, but not in a zone where he usually finds himself.  Boyd, wife Preetha and the crew in Valkenswaard have committed to a lot this World Championship year in supplying and supporting horses for at least three other four-in-hand drivers, plus hefty training commitments, and perhaps there were just too many demands on them.  They said they’d supplied in the region of 20 horses for Royal Windsor, plus were assisting Tucker Johnson and the Millers with their trips to Europe from the USA for the Coaching endeavours.

The consistent Fredrik Persson (SWE) found himself in fourth place – again – in front of the elder statesmen of the class, Christoph Sandmann (GER) and Ijsbrand Chardon (NED).

For the British, Peter Bennett continued his good performances since the team silver medal at the Pairs World Championship.  Now he’s graduated (or returned to) the horse fours, and using one of Dries’s old horses, was the best placed Brit in 12^th on 50.04.  Robert Wilkinson, who’s horses are based at Boyd’s, was nearby on 51.91 for 15^th out of the 26 starters.  Daniel Naprous, perhaps another who was spreading himself thinly at Royal Windsor, gained five penalties for a mistake and tallied 61.97.  Karen Bassett had the biggest total of 66.69, stating publicly afterwards that the Coaches setting off on their drive and passing during the warmup had unsettled one of her horses.  In addition, during her test there had been some fizzy feedback on the sound system which also caused problems for her.

In the team event, Chester’s low score was coupled with Taren Lester’s put the Americans in front after the first phase.  Only 1.93 behind were the Belgians, Dries’s score being added to Glenn Geerts, with Tom Stockmans being the drop score.  Boyd and teammate Tor van den Berge were next by 1.8 for Australia, ahead of the Germans, Dutch, British, Czech and French teams.

Marathon – Saturday 15^th May

It was thrilling to be invited to commentate live on the Marathon with Dick Lane who serves as announcer for the Driving Grand Prix.  We hadn’t done it together before and once we found our rhythm, it was great fun.  Our commentary box was in a plumb spot next to the last obstacle but could see the first two over our shoulders, and had a screen showing several obstacles at once in our box.  But things happen so quickly and times appear on the scoring screen so fast that much of the focus must be on sharing that information with the onlookers.

The setting is one of the most beautiful, anywhere. There were deep crowds around the eight obstacles, especially those on either side of Lime Avenue.  Having the new obstacle, number seven, set well inside the showground also proved popular with the audience.  This was one of several initiatives introduced by Hugh Scott-Barrett in his new role as Director of FEI Driving at the show.  Hugh had also worked to gain more sponsorship and instigated a dedicated sponsors’ marquee near the water obstacle.

As the only 4* event internationally with eight obstacles before the Aachen World Championship, it was all to play for and several competitors were still trying to secure their qualification score.  Thursday’s rain on hard ground meant some of the going was slippery and ultimately, this was the undoing of Boyd who had to retire in the second obstacle when one of his leaders slipped and got a leg over a trace.  Although the horse ambulance attended and the horse was treated, the Exell team put out a statement shortly after to say that the horses were fine, there had been a cut but that all the horses were well and back in the stables.  But it was a disappointing Royal Windsor for the reigning World Champion who had hoped to add to his record of 15 wins to date.

Daniel Schneiders (AUT), who won the Marathon at the European Championships last September in Lähden (GER), gave a repeat performance to storm through the obstacles with a winning total of 107.22.  Dries was second on 109.95, having lost a little time in a couple of the obstacles, and Glenn was third on 110.55.  Bram Chardon (NED) was back in contention after an off-form Dressage for fourth on 110.03, just ahead of his father on 111.28.

How much Boyd staying in the competition would have changed the leader board, we will never know, but after two phases, Dries moved into pole position. Chester, with his comfortable margin after the Dressage, had a good enough round to keep him in podium contention with 114.72 and second place.  Ijsbrand crept up into third, ahead of Fredrik and Christoph.

Robert was the best of the Brits, slightly in front of Daniel, with Peter and Karen a few places behind.

The team event changed too with Belgium moving into first, ahead of the Dutch, Germans, Americans and British.  The Australian and Czech teams dropped out of contention.

Cones – Sunday 16^th May

Czech pride was restored when Radek Nesvacil (CZE) won the cones, after his brother Jiri’s disappointing elimination with the Kladrubers in the water obstacle.  Bram produced another characteristically cool round for second and Anthony Horde (FRA) was third; there were eight double clears in total.

Dries had done enough to stay ahead of Chester and Ijsbrand to take his first Royal Windsor win, and his third win of the outdoor season – he won the 3* at Exloo (NED) and the 4* at Kladruby (CZE) in April.  The top three stayed on their A+B scores, having double clears, and with only 0.2 to add, Glenn rose to third, ahead of ‘Mr Fourth Place’ Fredrik.  Anna Sandmann (GER) was the highest placed of the three ladies in fifth.

Belgium retained their Royal Windsor crown in the nation’s team event on 307.60, with Germany second on 321.82, narrowly ahead of the Dutch on 322.53.  The Americans were fourth on 329.82, the British were fifth on 358.31 and the French were sixth on 366.11.

The presentations were made in the Castle Arena on Sunday afternoon.

For the full results, click here