Tomas Eriksson starts his season with victory in Stockholm

By Cindy Timmer

Tomas Eriksson (SWE) started his FEI World Cup™ Driving season in winning style when claiming the fifth leg of the FEI World Cup™ Driving 2013/2014 on home soil in Stockholm to leave German rivals Georg von Stein and Michael Brauchle behind him.

Eriksson’s victory is a page in the history books as he became the last FEI World Cup™ Driving winner in Stockholm’s Globen Arena. After 21 years, the Stockholm International Horse Show now moves to a new arena just outside Stockholm.

The atmosphere in the Globen Arena was electric as usual, with the many spectators enthusiastically cheering the six drivers during their performances on a course designed by Swedish international course designer Dan Henriksson.

Eriksson has recorded previous FEI World Cup™ wins in 2002, 2009 and 2010 and was determined to perform well in front of his home crowd. After a disappointing run in the first competition, Eriksson was first to enter the arena. Despite the addition of 15 penalty points after an incident at the fifth obstacle, fortunately for him, only two of his fellow competitors performed better, earning Eriksson a place in the Winning Round.

Driving one wheeler horse of his teammate Axel Olin, who assisted him as a navigator, Eriksson opened the throttle once more and was three seconds faster than his first round, remaining clear.

This put the pressure on second man in, 23-year-old Michael Brauchle. Brauchle, known for his excellent marathon skills, couldn’t get close to Eriksson’s record-breaking time and left the arena with 10 penalty seconds after his name for two knockdowns.

As in Verona, his compatriot Georg von Stein was assisted by international four-in-hand drivers Christoph Sandmann and Sacha Utz on the carriage. He drove a clear first round and equalled Eriksson’s time in the Winning Round, but one knockdown prevented him from winning in Stockholm.

Boyd Exell (AUS) set a fast round, but had two unfortunate knockdowns to leave him in fourth. Wild card competitor and winner of the first competition Fredrik Persson (SWE) was well on his way to secure a place in the Winning Round, but two balls down in the last phase of the course dropped him to fifth place.

Defending World Cup Champion Koos de Ronde (NED) drove the same team of horses with which he won the first leg of the FEI World Cup™ Driving in Hannover, but was less successful in Stockholm. His left leader horse was not cooperative and, with three balls down and a slow time, he ended in sixth place.

Quotes:
Tomas Eriksson (SWE): “I tried to drive very fast in the first round, especially after I knew that I had three knockdowns. In the second round I really went for it and I am very happy that I can start my season with this win in Stockholm. I used two wheeler horses of Axel Olin on the first night, but I don’t know them so well, so I decided to go safe and use my old wheeler Rachi Rodslev in the World Cup competition.”

Georg von Stein (GER): “I am very pleased with my performance, my horses went super. They become more and more a team, they really start working together. It was a pity that I had one ball otherwise I would have won, but I gave everything I had.”

Michael Brauchle (GER): “It all went well for me, but I have taken too much risk in the second round. This resulted in two knockdowns, which was a shame. But I am pleased altogether with my performance.”

FEI World Cup™ Driving, Stockholm (SWE), 1 December 2013:

1. Tomas Eriksson (SWE) 237,56 (15)
2. Georg von Stein (GER) 246,64 (10)
3. Michael Brauchle (GER) 248,83 (15)
4. Boyd Exell (AUS) 128,32 (10)
5. Fredrik Persson (SWE) 128,83 (10)
6. Koos de Ronde (NED) 140,28 (15)

Results in detail can be viewed here

FEI World Cup™ Driving, standings after 5 of 9 events:
1       Boyd EXELL                           AUS         25
2       Georg VON STEIN                   GER         19
3       IJsbrand CHARDON                NED         15
4       Daniel SCHNEIDERS               GER         13
5       Koos DE RONDE                     NED         12
=6     József DOBROVITZ jnr            HUN        11
         József DOBROVITZ                HUN        11
=8     Tomas ERIKSSON                  SWE        10
         Michael BRAUCHLE                 GER         10
10     Theo TIMMERMAN                  NED         9

The 2013/2014 FEI World Cup™ Driving series now moves on to Geneva, Switzerland on Sunday 15 December.

For information on the next leg go to www.chi-geneve.ch or contact Press Officer Corinne Druey, druey@syntagme-lausanne.ch, +41 21 312 82 22.

For more information on FEI World Cup™ Driving, please check the FEI website and the series’ comprehensive press kit.
 

Photo caption: Tomas Eriksson (SWE) got his FEI World Cup™ Driving season off to the best possible start with victory in the fifth leg of the FEI World Cup™ Driving 2013/2014 on home soil in Stockholm. (Anna Aalto/FEI)

FEI Photo Catalogue: Free images for editorial purposes available at www.feiphotos.org