Bram Chardon (NED) brings his best to Leipzig (GER) in last leg before the final

Reigning FEI Driving World Cup™ champion Bram Chardon (NED) timed his series-best performance perfectly as he won the eighth and last qualifying leg of the 2024-25 series in Leipzig (GER), beating his father Ijsbrand who was second.  It was 1-2-3 for the Dutch drivers as Koos de Ronde (NED) took third in Sunday’s deciding competition for places at the final in Bordeaux (FRA).

The Chardon father/son strategy is that they did not compete at the same events in this series until the Leipzig leg, when it is all about preparation for the final.  Bram said beforehand he knew his new combination of horses had the speed, but he wanted a clear round which had been elusive for him so far, despite his win in Mechelen (BEL). He was also winner of competition one late on Friday night so was last to go in round one on Sunday lunchtime. With his horses working better together than earlier events, he achieved his first well-earned clear round and secured one of three places in the drive-off, alongside his father and Koos.

Last in again for the second drive-off, Bram had to follow his father who had wound the crowd up into a frenzy with his fast round and guarantee of at least a second place, despite adding eight penalties. Bram remained composed and his horses were both keen and disciplined, and although they misjudged a line late in the course to send a cone flying to incur four penalties, their time of 143.96 and total of 147.96 was enough for the win.

“This year my horses have come a long way.  We started off with too many mistakes. In Mechelen I got my first win and I was very hungry for the second one here in Leipzig. I lost it last year so that gave me extra motivation. The first round was clear and I was happy with the tempo. The second round, I think I got a little bit too excited out of the second obstacle and my line from 11 to 12 wasn’t as good but I could afford the one knock down because I knew that Koos and my father had made mistakes.

The atmosphere here is wonderful and the public helps you over the finish line. It gives me a lot of confidence towards the final in Bordeaux. It’s special to be in competition with your father and I knew he was going to put pressure on me, he was not going to let me win! After Friday I was happy that he came back so strong and to be father and son, one and two, it’s unique.  

 

For the final, I have the title and I want to keep it, and I think my team are able to do it.  More than ever this year we have a very strong field of competitors with four winners which hasn’t happened in the last ten years.  It’s good to know that my horses are capable of doing it, so I need to stay clear.”

Bram Chardon

(NED)

It was very nearly Ijsbrand’s second win of the series as his time was 0.84 seconds faster than his son’s, but an early ball plus a later obstacle knock meant the eight he added put him behind on 151.12.  But for his many fans in a packed Leipziger Messe, it was as if he had won and recreated the magic of London (GBR) because he was cheered by the crowd like a champion during the prizegiving. It was a distinguished recovery after the twenty penalties he incurred on Friday night which kept him out of drive-off contention for a sixth-place finish.

Koos was another who drew on his experience to turn around a problematic Friday night which involved a bell ring and the rebuilding of an obstacle which gave him twenty-two penalties to add to his time. Despite the last place which meant he was first to drive on Sunday, he brushed off the disappointment and produced a slick, clear round which was enough for third in the running order and guaranteed another appearance. As first in for the drive-off, he added eight to his time to finish on 156.12, and in Leipzig as a wild card, he did not gain any more ranking points but ends the qualifying legs in fifth place which takes him to the final.

Fortunes rose and fell for several drivers between competitions one and two. Bram maintained his consistency and confidence throughout and both Ijsbrand and Koos produced their top performances when it mattered.  

Competition one also belonged to Anna Mareike Meier (GER) who drove the only clear late on Friday night to secure her second drive-off of the series and finish third. She was also clear on Sunday but her time couldn’t match her compatriots and she was sixth on 158.09. As a wild card she was not going to gain any more ranking points but she rounded off her series in front of a supportive home crowd and demonstrated her elegant rein handling and accurate steering.

Perhaps under the most pressure in Leipzig with a finals place pending was Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) who has had ups and down this series. Friday went well as he joined the drive-off and finished second behind Bram. But on Sunday, when the ranking points were awarded, despite a fast first half of the course which was up on the split time, he accumulated eight penalties and put himself out of podium contention with 158.75 which meant he was seventh. But he will be in Bordeaux as the sixth qualified driver.

Glenn Geerts (BEL), with his new Lipizzaner team, has showed moments of great promise during the series and they have improved since the early legs. His time on Sunday was very near Koos but he had four to add, so ended fourth on 155.72, the same position he achieved on Friday. 

Another driver who has gained momentum and confidence with his new horses during the series is Fredrick Persson (SWE) who was fifth on Sunday with a clear in 157.78, after being seventh on Friday.  Also rounding off his series was Georg von Stein (GER), another wild card, who produced a decent time in competition two but had twelve to add for eighth with 162.44, after being sixth on Friday.

There was some alteration to Jeroen Houterman’s (NED) course between the competitions and marathon obstacle number ten, which had caused problems on Friday, was opened up on Sunday which resulted in fewer penalties being added. Jeroen will also be the course builder in Bordeaux.

Having four different winners during the eight legs of the series indicates that the final will be very close. The six qualified drivers are Boyd Exell (AUS), topping the ranking table with 30 points, followed by Dries Degrieck (BEL) and Bram on 27, then Ijsbrand on 22, Koos on 17 and Jérôme on 16. There will be wild card entries too which will be confirmed nearer the event.

FULL RESULTS

Image: Bram Chardon (NED) winner at the FEI Driving World Cup™ 2024/25 - Leipzig (GER). © FEI / Leanjo de Koster