Tor Van Den Berge and his pair of Gelderlanders at Boyd Exell’s.
© Roger Fitzhardinge
By Roger Fitzhardinge
Tor Van Den Berg continues to becoming a successful driving star in Europe. He was so enthused and enthusiastic when the 40 travellers with the EQL CHIO Aachen tour met up with him at Boyd Exell’s property in Valkenswaard, where Tor now lives and trains — that is, when he is not back in Australia coaching his dressage students down under.
Since Aachen, Tor has taken his fancy pair to the Dutch Championships at Hulsburg; this was a selection event for the Dutch team so the competition was strong to say the least. His pair of Felix and Harry, owned by the Scottish couple Owen and Janette Pelling, were leading on 39.22 penalties by a good margin after the dressage and produced for sure their best test and placing so far. Tor was thrilled to say the least, but knew that to stay there was going to be hard as his experience was still lacking and the marathon was tough!
In the marathon he didn’t go crazy fast as he was really there in that phase to concentrate on the obstacles and the control. He unfortunately made a few minor mistakes that were costly. He made a circle and that incurred penalties, as well as overshooting a gate and that was enough to drop his placing. However, he was very philosophical about them and it’s all the valuable experience that he needs to learn and that can only be gained in competition where you have to drive fast and think faster!
He was excited by his performance, as this is the area that he finds the hardest and he only had one mistake in the cones and finished 5th in that section. He had focussed a lot in training with Boyd on this phase and it paid off.
To finish 6th overall was an impressive performance to say the least, and Tor’s humble yet killer instinct is proving a point in this interesting and difficult sport where there is so much concentration needed, not to mention technology, thoughtfulness and above all to be a real horseman in so many facets. Tor is turning into the man and with his excitement with the sport and his natural ability, his progress under the eyes of Aussie Boyd Exell will by interesting to follow.
Tor Van Den Berge and his team in action.
© Amy Mundell
Tor is now back in Australia coaching and Mel, his wife in Holland working with Boyd and riding Tor’s pair, as well as Boyd’s. Tor’s next big competition is the FEI World Pair Driving Championships in Drebkau, Germany (11-15 September), where he has been selected to represent Australia.
When Tor returns to Holland, he is flying over his pair of Gelderlanders, Chino and Kato, that were bred here and he has been competing. He will as well take the dressage horse Rattle and Hum, Remi Lancaster and Remi Lady of Loxley for Mel. Ton De Ridder will be helping them there, as he is already interested in Tor’s progress and they cant wait to work together with the dressage horses as well.
It’s all happening for Tor and it looks like Australia may loose Tor and Mel from our shores, but they will forever be Aussies and their progress will be appreciated by us all!
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