Boyd blasts ahead in Geneva (SUI) for third victory in the current FEI Driving World Cup™

It’s been three years since Boyd Exell (AUS) last appeared in Geneva (SUI), but he returned triumphant to see off stiff competition from the best of the rest to show yet again why he is a multiple champion. He has now completed his four qualifying rounds of the 2024-2025 series and sits at the top of the ranking table after three wins and a second place.

Winning both competitions in this fifth leg of the series in front of a packed Palexpo Arena, the Australian felt the pressure from a measured but strong Bram Chardon (NED) who saved his best ‘til last for the second drive-off.  But Boyd and his powerful horses propelled their performance to another level when last to go, they went clear in 155.66; s5.51 seconds faster than Bram’s clear. 

Ever the controller, Boyd could be heard talking to all four horses in succession – his stalwarts Bundy and Barney, plus Max and ‘Duch’ the new mare.  The whole crew were back on tight and disciplined form after the penalty heavy rounds in Stuttgart (GER) and the second place in Stockholm (SWE), and they dominated from start to finish through Michael Mayer’s (SUI) testing course, producing fast, clear rounds each time.  

“They are fantastic horses.  I didn’t think I was going to get a 155; we thought we might be doing 159, 160, but not five seconds faster and the horses were flying.  Nobody has a faster team than my team!”

Boyd Exell (AUS)

It was the second outing of the series for current champion Bram after the second leg in Maastricht (NED).  He was trying out two new horses in the team and wanted to see if the strategy worked over the two days.  He finished third after competition one, despite having a bell ring and an extra 10 penalties in the first drive-off due to knocking a cone which he hadn’t yet driven through.  Going into Sunday’s drive-off in second place, he raised his game and asked more of his horses who worked well together to go clear in 161.17.  It was the fastest time so far over the full course, and it looked like he might have done enough to win – but Boyd can never be discounted when he is pushed and with the advantage of being the final one out, he amended his route in the first marathon obstacle number 4 and shaved even more off the clock.  

The on-form Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) was the wild card and gave the home crowd a thrilling drive-off on Sunday to finish third on 166.18, adding 4 penalties to his time of 162.14.  He seemed to put the disappointment of the extra 20 penalties for a corrected error of course from Saturday’s drive-off behind him and played to the supportive audience. He had been second placed going into the first drive-off and produced a quick round, but an extra loop which took him through the E gate in the second marathon obstacle number 10, meant he slipped to sixth place.  But all was forgotten as he grinned and acknowledged his fit and willing horses who gave him their best throughout each of his four rounds.

Only by the narrowest of margins did Koos de Ronde (NED) miss out on the second drive-off as a frustrating 0.39 separated him from Jérôme Voutaz, and he finished fourth on 173.94 having added 4 to his time of 169.94.  A loss of momentum for his big horses in the tight turns of number 10 meant that he was slightly slower on the clock, and with 4 to add he slipped out of contention. His Saturday night had gone to plan, and he was second despite adding 8 to his time of 154.55.

Fredrik Persson (SWE) and his new Lipizzaner team were much more attuned to each other after their debut in Stockholm (SWE) two weeks ago. They produced a harmonious, clear drive-off in 162.37 on Saturday night but as both scores counted towards the final places because all the drivers returned for the drive-off, their slower time and 8 penalties from the first round put them fourth behind Bram. With only the top three eligible for the drive-off on day two, the Swedish combo were outsiders for a place in it, but another smooth clear pleased the crowd and bodes well for their appearance in London (GBR).

Georg von Stein (GER) was fifth on Saturday and sixth on Sunday and tallied ball penalties on all his rounds. He managed to quickly reorganise his reins after his leaders jumped out of the speed box on Sunday which contributed to his 20 penalties and added to his time, gave him 197.11. 

The festive themed events continue as the sixth leg is next Friday and Saturday in London.  Boyd will be there as the wild card, alongside Daniel Naprous (GBR). It will be fascinating to see if Dries Degrieck (BEL) can maintain his winning ways against Boyd who is back on fearsome form and will be boosted by a crowd that always gets behind him. Joining them are Koos, Fredrik, Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) and Anna Mareike Meier (GER).

FULL RESULTS

Image: FEI / Massimo Argenziano