Driving

The Dutch drivers were in a class of their own again this year in the Boehringer Ingelheim Nations’ Cup of the Four-in-Hand Drivers and the result in the individual classification, the Prize of Family Richard Talbot, didn’t come as a surprise either.

Today’s Prize of Event Rent GmbH, an obstacle driving competition with a winning round, was the last of the three phases for the four-in-hand drivers and was also the decider in the Boehringer Ingelheim Nations’ Cup and in the individual classification of the Prize of Family Richard Talbot. Ijsbrand Chardon drove into first place in the obstacle course, which he mastered clear in 83.09 seconds. Second place went to Mareike Harm, which allowed her to move up in the overall rankings (see below). Third place went to the Dutch driver, Koos de Ronde, who also drove clear in 86.14 seconds.

Not only Ijsbrand Chardon and Koos de Ronde, Bram Chardon also didn’t pick up any faults in the obstacle course. As such, the Dutch team won the Boehringer Ingelheim Nations Cup for the 15^th time in a row. Their overall score was 314.330 minus points.

The German team had moved up one place in the rankings after the Marathon yesterday and they managed to defend their position today. With a total score of 322.860 minus points, Michael Brauchle, Mareike Harm and Georg von Stein asserted themselves against the Belgian team, comprising of Dries Degrieck, Glenn Geerts and Tom Stokmans on a score of 344.640 minus points.

In the individual classification, the Prize of Family Richard Talbot it was once again the Australian driver, Boyd Exell, who lives in the Netherlands, who drove to victory on a combined score of 152.35 minus points, which sufficed to keep his perennial rival, Ijsbrand Chardon, at bay. The Dutch driver completed all three phases on an overall score of 154.63 minus points. Mareike Harm from Germany was able to secure third place on a score of 163.26 minus points.

Today was Marathon day for the four-in-hand drivers in the Prize of schwartz Group. The fastest team of horses came from Germany. There is a new overnight leader in the individual classification, in the team competition, the Dutch drivers are heading for their 15^th victory in succession. But Germany is close at their heels!

Michael Brauchle and his team of horses were the fastest in the Marathon of the Prize of schwartz Group for the fifth time. With a score of 105.45 minus points, he was able to assert himself against the Australian driver, Boyd Exell, who collected 106.46 points. Third place went to the Dutch driver, Koos de Ronde on a score of 111.32 minus points.

Brauchle said: “The Marathon was difficult, but the horses did a fantastic job!” The praise was addressed at his quartet comprising of Carola, Djamilo, Don and Quidditch S. The European Champion of 2015 added that Aachen is “always something special” for the horses, alone due to the many spectators and the loudspeakers and that the ground became rather soft. “But the obstacles were all well driveable with good lines.” The praise went to the new course designer, Alexander Flocke.

In the individual classification, the Prize of Family Richard Talbot, the cross-country specialist worked his way up to third place today after lying eighth in the dressage. His overnight score is 157.45 points. Boyd Exell is in the lead with a score of 145.38 points, followed by the Dutch driver, Ijsbrand Chardon, (154.63 points). Chester Weber from the USA, who ranked first after the dressage, was eliminated because he left an obstacle out.

The Dutch team heads the field in the overall classification of the Boehringer Ingelheim Nations’ Cup with a joint score of 314.330 minus points. Germany managed to move up to second place (320.260 minus points). The Australian dropped down one place into third (329.420).

In addition to skilful driving and precision in the “Top Score” competition, the Prize of Fa. Horsch, Der Entsorger, the four-in-hand drivers have to demonstrate strategic skills. The Chardon family mastered these tasks best today.

In the Prize of Fa. Horsch, Der Entsorger, there is no predefined order in which the four-in-hand drivers have to pass through the obstacles, they can choose their route themselves. They have to collect as many points as possible within the fastest time, but within three minutes at the maximum. The different obstacles are worth a varying number of points, depending on the level of difficulty. Each obstacle can only be driven through twice.

The Dutch driver, Ijsbrand Chardon, came up with the best tactics today. He may not have been the fastest driver on the track, but he certainly collected the most points, 1910 to be exact. His son Bram was faster, but he didn’t quite match his father’s score. He notched up 1870 points. The Australian driver, Boyd Exell, who lives in the Netherlands, collected only 10 points less, which secured him third place.

Close decision in the exciting dressage competition for the four-in-hand drivers in the Prize of Martello Immobilienmanagement GmbH & Co. KG! Not even a tenth of a point separated the two leading teams.

The victory in the dressage of the four-in-hand drivers in the Prize of Martello Immobilienmanagement GmbH & Co. KG went to the US-American master driver, Chester Weber, on a score of 38.85 minus points. Just seven hundredths of a point behind him: The record holder in Aachen victories, Boyd Exell, for Australia (38.92). Third and four place are occupied by the two Dutch teams of the Chardon family. Father Ijsbrand picked up a score of 42.38 minus points and his son Bram was awarded 48.38. The best German team was Mareike Harm and her quartet in fifth place on a score of 49.11 minus points.

The Prize of Martello Immobilienmanagement GmbH & Co. KG is the first in three competitions for the individual and team classifications in the Nations’ Cup of the four-in-hand drivers. It was the first time that Chester Weber was able to win in Aachen. Boyd Exell has on the other hand already had his name eternalised on the winners’ board in Aachen ten times.

After the dressage, the Dutch team is in the lead in the team classification. It would be their 18^th victory in the Boehringer Ingelheim Nations’ Cup. It is easier to say in which year they didn’t win: 2006. The Belgian team won that year, in 2023 they are lying in fourth place after the dressage on a score of 105.75 points. The Dutch team are currently topping the rankings (90.76), followed by Australia (92.96), who only have two drivers, and Germany (101.02).

In the Prize of schwartz Group on Saturday, the four-in-hand drivers will set off on their cross-country course, the Marathon, which is being built by Alexander Flocke from Rhineland for the first time this year.