FEI World Cup™ Driving: Göteborg (Swe)

On 24 and 25 February, the Göteborg Horse Show in Sweden will host the Final of the FEI World Cup™ Driving season 2006/2007. After an exciting season, which included seven events, the Top Six four-in-hand drivers of the standings are getting ready for the Final in Göteborg presented by Volvo, in which they start from scratch.

In order to spread the competitors equally over the seven competitions, the top five drivers of the outdoor qualifications had a slight advantage this season as they competed in four events of which the best three results counted.
The Top Six include Germany’s top drivers Michael Freund and Christoph Sandmann, who did not qualify for the FEI World Cup™ Driving during the outdoor season. Michael Freund, who was until 2004 by far the best performing competitor in the FEI World Cup™ Driving, ended his career as an active four-in-hand driver after the World Equestrian Games in Aachen 2006. But being the most popular driver in Germany, ‘Mr. Fahrsport’ Michael Freund was invited to compete in the German FEI World Cup™ Driving events with a wild card. He won the competition in Stuttgart, which entitled him to another wild card in Mechelen, Belgium. Despite the tough opposition, Freund managed to win this competition as well and firmly secured his starting ticket for the FEI World Cup™ Driving Final. His compatriot Christoph Sandmann, member of the golden German team in Aachen and winner of the individual bronze medal, received wild cards in Hannover, Stuttgart and Leipzig. Sandmann came second twice and picked up 14 points altogether, which was sufficient for a ticket to the Final. Hungary’s Jozsef Dobrovitz improved as the season progressed and with the second place in the FEI World Cup™ Driving competition in Stockholm 2006, he came fifth in the standings and will represent the Hungarian colours in the Final. Dutch driver Koos de Ronde won the competition in Stockholm and secured his starting place in the Final with a third place in Geneva. “I am very pleased with my results during this season. After my starting problems in Stuttgart my team went much better.” De Ronde will use a different leader horse in the Final to ensure the speed and stability in his team.
Sweden’s Tomas Eriksson won the first FEI World Cup™ Driving competition in Hannover and received another ten points in Amsterdam, where he came second behind wild card driver Ijsbrand Chardon. “The Final will be exciting, everyone can win. But Chardon is my favourite for the title since he has performed so strongly during the whole season already.”
Title defender Chardon won the FEI World Cup™ Driving competitions in Geneva and Leipzig and came second behind Freund in Mechelen.
Although all six drivers in the Final have equal chances to become the sixth FEI World Cup™ Driving Champion, all eyes will be focussed on the performances of title defender Ijsbrand Chardon and his opponent Michael Freund. Will Freund succeed to win his fifth FEI World Cup™ Driving Champion title during his last FEI World Cup™ Driving season? Chardon will put everything at stake to win this prestigious title: “To my opinion, there are four drivers who have a good chance to win the title. I am just one of them. It will be an open competition which will be decided in less than two minutes.”

Course designer in the Scandinavium in Göteborg is Sweden’s Dan Henriksson, who was also responsible for the course at the FEI World Cup™ Driving competition in Stockholm. The warm up competition is scheduled on Saturday, 24 February at 21.20 hrs.. The FEI World Cup™ Driving Final takes place on Sunday, 25 February at 17.40 hrs.

FEI World Cup™ Driving Champions 2002-2006:
2002: Michael Freund (Ger)
2003: Michael Freund (Ger)
2004: Michael Freund (Ger)
2005: Michael Freund (Ger) and Ijsbrand Chardon (Ned)
2006: Ijsbrand Chardon (Ned)


The Final of the FEI World Cup™ Driving season 2006/2007 takes place in Göteborg, Sweden, on 24 and 25 February. Press Officer is Lotta Åmnestal, phone: +46 709 79 56 35, e-mail: Lotta.amnestal@ridsport.se, website: www.goteborghorseshow.se