Boyd Exell (AUS) storms into lead after marathon

The odds of defending champion Boyd Exell (AUS) winning a record-breaking 7^th consecutive world title look stronger than ever after his display of dominance on the marathon.  Using a team of experienced horses who are marathon specialists, including one from his indoor team, he produced a foot perfect round over a demanding course to win on 110.4.  Added to his dressage score of 33.53 from yesterday, his running total of 143.93 propels him 9.2 points ahead of Chester Weber (USA) who slips to second on 153.13.

Although the European Champion, Bram Chardon (NED) has not yet won an individual world medal.  But he has given himself a great chance to change that after his strong and consistent round which saw him score 114.62 for second.  Combined with his dressage mark, he rises up the standings to third on 157.74, 4.61 behind Chester.

Hopes were high for marathon maestro Michael Brauchle (GER) who is often a winner in this phase.  On the course immediately after Boyd, they split the spoils between them with four quickest times each through the eight obstacles.  But a few hesitations and a late penalty ball in number seven kept him off the top spot for third on 115.73 and eighth going into the cones.  

Fresh from his win in Austria in mid-August, Glenn Geerts (BEL) was one of the last out of the day. He drove a confident round for fourth on 117.16 which elevated him to fourth overall and puts him in sight of an individual medal. Another one who can go into Sunday’s cones with medal hopes is Germany’s Georg von Stein who was fifth on 118.75 to move into fifth overall, despite adding four penalty points to his times with two knockdown balls. 

Always competitive on the marathon, Koos de Ronde (NED) contributed to the change in team order as his score combined with Bram’s put The Netherlands in the lead on 320.74.  With only two on the team, the pressure was on Tor van den Berge of Australia to drive well which he did to keep them in contention on 323.59. But there’s no room for cone or time penalties as the strong German team are only 0.18 behind on 323.77, although they have some breathing space as they are ahead of the Belgians who are lying fourth on 336.17. 

Organisers believe there were 16,000 spectators who came to watch the marathon which was set on hilly ground above the town and stud.  Despite it being another hot and dusty day, hordes of fans arrived early to enjoy the spectacle, clustering around the obstacles which were arranged on either side of a central gravel track.  With music playing there was a festive feeling, and the loudest cheers were reserved for the nine Hungarian drivers, two of which were driving Lipizzaner horses that are kept at the Stud Farm.  The team has also improved their chances of a medal thanks to the typically bold rounds from father and son Jόzsef Dobrovitz Snr and Jnr who contributed to their success.