Aussie Boyd Exell Still Leading Driving Standings After Marathon

Boyd Exell maintains his lead after the marathon phase of combined driving
Photograph: Franz Venhaus/EA
Story: Cindy Timmer/FEI

Title defender IJsbrand Chardon fought like a lion in today’s marathon, which he won ahead of Tomas Eriksson (SWE) and winner of the dressage Boyd Exell (AUS). However, Boyd Exell (AUS) is still leading overall. Chardon had been under a lot of stress before the start of the marathon when he discovered his marathon carriage had been damaged. The Ground Jury allowed him to start last in the marathon to give the four-times World Champion enough time to repair his carriage.

(Left) Title defender IJsbrand Chardon (NED) fought his way back in the marathon
Photograph: Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

IJsbrand Chardon (NED) commented, it was a truly bizarre marathon for me. Before we started the last phase of the marathon I tested the carriage once more. The brakes worked different than usual, but I felt I had to continue. As soon as we started I cleared my mind and I focused on the obstacles. Luckily it went well from the first obstacle and I had a good feeling. Just before the last obstacle I noticed my horses got a little tired and told my son Bram and my wife Paulien who are my grooms that I wanted to take the long route. Bram however told me not to give it away now and to take the short route. I am happy he told me this otherwise I would not have been able to win the marathon and to come so close to Boyd.
The marathon was followed by a large number of spectators, who enjoyed watching the 25 international competitors on the eight marathon obstacles, designed by USA's Richard Nicoll. The temperatures rose to 30 degrees Celsius and all necessary precautions were taken to ensure the welfare of the horses, with plenty of ice, water and misting fans at the halt and finish of the marathon.

The competitors treated the spectators to much excitement as they went through the obstacles and it became a marathon with ups and downs. US top favourite Chester Weber, who was tied in second place with IJsbrand Chardon after dressage, had a groom down in obstacle 7 when one of his wheeler horses jumped over a leader trace, dropping Weber to 13th place in the individual standings.

Dutch driver Koos de Ronde made up for his disappointing dressage and finished fourth in the marathon, climbing to the seventh place in the overall standings. Tucker Johnson moved up to the bronze medal position after finishing seventh in his last marathon. Sweden’s marathon specialist Tomas Eriksson, who broke his foot at the CAIO in Breda five weeks ago on the dance floor, was in the lead in the marathon, despite two extra circles in obstacle 3, but had to give way to Chardon when the Dutch driver entered the course. Boyd Exell gave away his opportunity to win the marathon when he decided to drive the safe route in the last obstacle where Chardon beat him by 3 seconds.

Boyd Exell (AUS) has kept the lead in the standings, but is only 1.72 penalty points ahead of IJsbrand Chardon, who has closed the gap after his marathon win. The battle for the gold and silver medal will take place in the exciting final obstacle driving competition tomorrow, when Chardon will be trying to pile all the pressure on Exell.

After his performance today, Boyd Exell (AUS) said, “my horses did it on their own again. I wanted to go fast to increase the gap with Chardon and I tried not to make any mistakes to let Chardon come closer. My navigator Lisa Banks was ahead of me all the time to warn me when there was a left turn coming up so I could slow down and prepare myself. In this way I did not have to put so much pressure on my injured left hand. We told ourselves before the marathon that we did a really bad dressage test in order to work hard in the marathon. We will do the same tomorrow.”

Tucker Johnson, currently in third, is hoping to conclude his impressive driving career with an individual medal. This would be the first individual medal for the American at a World four-in-hand Driving Championship. But Tucker has to drive clear in order to secure his bronze medal as Dutchman Theo Timmerman is following him in the standings with only 1.73 penalty points difference. And double World Champion Tomas Eriksson from Sweden has moved up into the Top Five with his second place in the marathon and is breathing down Theo Timmerman’s neck; so the bronze medal is still wide open.

Tucker Johnson (USA) said, “the performance of the US team was a little disappointing today. Both Chester and Jim Fairclough had a groom down. This competition has a high level of competitors and our coaches Michael Freund and Peter Tischer have worked hard to get us here. All lines and obstacles went fluent for me; I am very pleased the way my horses went. We are still in the team medals and my goal for tomorrow is to drive clear.”
The Netherlands has taken the lead in the team standings after the marathon. Host nation United States of America follows with 26 penalty points difference, so it seems that the Dutch are almost certain of their second consecutive gold medal. Sweden is in third position, closely followed by Australia.

Individual standings after dressage and marathon:
1. Boyd Exell (AUS) 130.52
2. IJsbrand Chardon (NED) 132.24
3. Tucker Johnson (USA) 147.06
4. Theo Timmerman (NED) 148.79
5. Tomas Eriksson (SWE) 149.82
6. Christoph Sandmann (GER) 151.18
7. Koos de Ronde (NED) 153.56
8. Daniel Würgler (SUI) 159.61
9. Fredrik Persson (SWE) 161.42
10. Georg von Stein (GER) 164.11

Nations Team standings after dressage and marathon:
1. The Netherlands 273.77
2. USA 300.92
3. Sweden 311.24
4. Australia 311.99
5. Germany 315.29
6. Switzerland 328.18
7. Canada 522.79

Marathon results:
1. IJsbrand Chardon (NED) 96.27
2. Tomas Eriksson (SWE) 99.52
3. Boyd Exell (AUS) 100.44
4. Koos de Ronde (NED) 101.34
5. Werner Ulrich (SUI) 103.67
6. Georg von Stein (GER) 106.25
7. Tucker Johnson (USA) 106.87
8. Fredrik Persson (SWE) 108.04
9. Theo Timmerman (NED) 108.60
10. Christoph Sandmann (GER) 110.60

Full results and startlists at www.alltechfeigames.com