Despite an on-form Dries Degrieck of Belgian clocking two faster first rounds, Boyd’s experience ensured that he edged ahead when it mattered in the two drive-offs at the fifth leg in Geneva, Switzerland, and he comfortably won Sunday’s World Cup in 153.06.
In competition one, Boyd had the quicker first round time but knocked a ball to add four, which opened the door a little for Dries who drove after him. Although the Australian and his horses have the advantage of more match-practice than any other combination in the series, Dries wasn’t daunted as he attacked Michael Mayer’s course with determination at only his second event this season. Initially faster than Boyd by 0.03 on Saturday then 1.22 on Sunday, the Belgian was last to go in both drive-offs. But despite his consistency, clear rounds and speed, he couldn’t maintain the leads and finished second twice.
Boyd did what he often does when the pressure is on and found even more pace which leaves the others in his wake. On Saturday, he drove such a precise, clear drive-off that it forced an error from Dries who rolled a ball for four penalties and meant that the winning time of 141.76 over a slightly reduced course simply couldn’t be caught. The Australian had even conjured a different route to shave off seconds in his first round, driving over the bridge again and through cones number one for a sharp right to the second entry into the water – a trick soon taken up by some of the others, but it was his idea first!
“The horses got faster in the second round. My wheelers got wind in their lungs, and they started to fly so it was fantastic to drive, and I hope it was fantastic to watch. Dries was close here, and he was also close a couple of times last season – he was like a flying machine!” said Boyd Exell.
“The crowd was behind you on every turn, and when you did a good turn in the speed box, they enjoyed it and cheered. The course builder did a lovely job with natural, flowing lines for the horses, so they enjoyed it as well.”
Boyd’s equine team once again included 22-year-old Bajnok (Bundy), Barny 68, Katydid Duchess, and Mad Max 81.
Dries did everything right and drove three of his regular indoor horses, plus a new one, with determination and confidence. It was a flowing course in a relatively large arena that required stamina and courage, which Dries’ horses displayed. As last season’s runner up at the final, he is showing again that he is one of the strongest challengers to Boyd’s dominance, and his two clears on Sunday, with a drive-off in 157.92, consolidated his position as a title contender.
Wild card Benjamin Aillaud of France gave his Lusitano team one of their best indoor drives and they glided through the course. Fourth behind Dutch driver Bram Chardon by only 0.13 after the first drive-off, he bettered his performance on day two to gain one of the three coveted drive-off slots for third place in 165.69 seconds after two clear rounds. Although he might not have the acceleration of Boyd and Dries, or be competing as a qualified driver, Benjamin always champions his team and featured in a film made behind the scenes in Geneva when he spoke about how the relationship with the horses must be pleasurable for all involved, especially the horses, and how variety in their training helps their driving performances.
Another famous face who participated on a wild card ticket was Dutch driver Koos de Ronde who recovered after a tricky first round on Saturday evening. In a relatively rare situation at a qualifying event, the organisers allowed all seven drivers to return for the first drive-off and the places were awarded on the totals of both rounds, so although Koos put himself back in the mix, the twelve penalties he’d initially added held him in fifth place. However, by Sunday he was back on form and with only four to add to his time, he was fourth on 167.47.
Expectation was on Bram Chardon of The Netherlands who was competing for the first time this series as a qualified driver. His two rounds on day one amassed four penalties each but he was safely in third place. But on day two, a ball in the second marathon obstacle, number nine, was costly and put him behind Koos for fifth place on 168.56.
Fredrik Persson of Sweden and Jérôme Voutaz of Switzerland traded places between the first and second competitions. Fredrik swapped in one of his outdoor horses, the bay Kaptain, for Sunday and drove clear in 176.87 for sixth, an improvement on his seventh place on Saturday. Jérôme kept the Swiss fans fully engaged as they cheered his rounds but although he was fast against the clock, there were too many knocked balls, and he added twelve on day two for a total of 179.70.
The second of the festive shows on the FEI Driving World Cup circuit, CHI de Genève is a popular and glitzy event that attracts families. The Driving course gained praise from the winner, with two marathon style obstacles containing Christmas trees positioned alongside each other at one end, and the water and bridge complex, that is also used for the ridden classes, at the other end which added an exciting element to the rounds. There were vital opportunities to gain time against the clock on the longer passages and the run to the finish line was a crowd pleaser.
Boyd already tops the rankings on a maximum of 30 points having now completed all his events as a qualified driver.
But who comes next will change again after leg six in London on 20 & 21 December at the Excel Arena when Dries, Bram, Ijsbrand, Anna Mareike Meier of Germany and Glenn Geerts Belgium are the qualified drivers aiming to secure more points towards the final. Boyd will be there as a wild card, alongside Daniel Naprous of the UK.
Source: FEI press release by Sarah Dance
