Victory for Exell in Vecsés

FEI World Cup Driving Qualifying Event, Vecsés (HUN), 4-7 June 2009 

Bronze medalist of the FEI World Four-in-Hand Championship in Beesd 2008 Boyd Exell has won the FEI World Cup™ Qualifier in Vecsés, Hungary. The Britain-based Australian driver won the dressage and did not give up his lead throughout the whole competition. Koos de Ronde from the Netherlands was runner up, ahead of competition host József Dobrovitz. The nations competition was won by Hungary, followed by The Netherlands and Switzerland.

Competition statistics
-       25 four-in-hand drivers from 6 nations competed
-       the field included 3 World Champions: Tomas Eriksson (SWE), Lászlo Júhasz (HUN) and Werner Ulrich (SUI)
-       eldest competitor Lászlo Kécskemeti age 68
-       youngest competitor Michael Brauchle (GER) age 19

Wonderful show
The Dobrovitz Family and their team offered the competitors a wonderful show on their site. A nicely decorated dressage arena, eight beautiful but technical marathon obstacles and a nice cones course, all designed by the Hungarian course designer Gábor Fintha, who was recently promoted FEI O-course designer. The weather was nice and warm with good temperatures for the horses until it started raining during the obstacle driving competition on Sunday afternoon. The rain did not stop until after the prize giving ceremony.

Australian win with a touch of Hungary
Exell drove the team of black German bred warm-bloods, owned by his Hungarian sponsor who was delighted with Boyd’s win at his home soil. Exell used a different horse in the wheel during all three phases of the combined competition and felt his ream was much easier to drive: “My team went up to another level after Windsor. They have learnt a lot and were very easy to drive in Vecsés. With two equally powered wheelers it was even harder to drive the marathon quietly. It was hard to be reserved and to drive sensibly, but it went well. It is great to see that we have such a competitive result.”

Strong Swedish competition
Dutch driver Koos de Ronde came second in the dressage and was pleased with his result: “My team went better than in Windsor. I changed one horse after having looked at some videos and the picture with Bilbo just looks better. I felt the pressure of the Swedish drivers after the dressage and marathon.” Fredrik Persson was eliminated because he went from obstacle 3 to obstacle 6 and Koos was able to create enough distance between him and Tomas Eriksson. The Dutch team had the disadvantage of being the only team with two drivers; the other four teams all consisted of three drivers.

Extra motivation
Host and top-competitor József Dobrovitz finds it sometimes difficult to combine his functions as host and competitor, but it doesn’t affect his concentration. Dobrovitz feels he actually profits from the double-function and is even more motivated to perform well in both jobs. Dobrovitz started with the fourth place in dressage and was not very pleased with his performance: “My leader horses were pushing against each other and I decided last minute to swap them around. They did not have enough time to get used to their new positions and this resulted in a lower score.”  Dobrovitz however was happy with the marathon in which he came second, and with his victory in the obstacle driving competition.

Next event
The fourth World Cup Qualifying event takes place at the CAI in Saumur, France, from 11 to 14 June. The last Qualifier is in Donaueschingen, Germany, from 17 to 20 September. The four best results are counted and the Top Ten after Donaueschingen qualify for the FEI World Cup™ Driving season 2009-2010.

Results:
1.     Boyd Exell (AUS) 121.62
2.     Koos de Ronde (NED) 128.22
3.     Jozsef Dobrovitz (HUN) 131.25
4.     Michael Brauchle (GER) 144.36
5.     Tomas Eriksson (SWE) 146.44

Results teams:
1.     Hungary 286.9
2.     The Netherlands 196.3
3.     Switzerland 297.8
4.     Germany 314.10
5.     Sweden 352.40 

Provisional standings (NON-OFFICIAL) after 3 competitions:
place               Driver                             NF                   total
1                      Boyd Exell                        AUS                 42
2                      József Dobrovitz               HUN                 38
3                      Koos de Ronde                 NED                 37
4                      Lajos Móró                       HUN                 29
5                      Werner Ulrich                   SUI                  27
6                      Daniel Würgler                  SUI                  25
7                      László Júhasz                    HUN                 21
8                      IJsbrand Chardon              NED                 20
9                      Váczi Csaba                      HUN                 19
10                    Michael Brauchle               GER                 18

Qualifying venues for the 2009-2010 FEI World Cup™ Driving season: 
1.     Fabiansebestyen (HUN), 30 April-2 May 2009
2.     Windsor (GBR), 13-15 May 2009
3.     Vecses (HUN), 4-7 June 2009
4.     Saumur (FRA), 11-14 June 2009
5.     Altenfelden (AUT), 18-21 June 2009
6.     Aachen (GER), 1-5 July 2009
7.     Nebanice (CZE), 16-19 July 2009
8.     Beekbergen (NED), 23-26 July 2009
9.     Riesenbeck (GER), 31 July-2 August 2009
10.  Breda (NED), 4-6 September 2009
11.  Donaueschingen (GER), 17-20 September 2009