It looked like Friday night’s winner Boyd Exell (AUS) would be caught in the drive-off during the opening round of the FEI Driving World Cup™, but he pulled a flying round out of the bag to prove once again why he is the one to beat. Dries Degrieck (BEL) was the lowest score qualifier with the only clear round of the night in 138.84 seconds to take second place, while completing the top three was last year’s London FEI Driving World Cup™ winner, Ijsbrand Chardon (NED).
Chardon, the Dutch legend, was the first back in, and although he flew round the first part of the course, a missed entry to the second marathon obstacle and a ticking clock meant that he tallied a hefty score of 203.33, eight being for two rolled balls.
Boyd was next to go – and despite having four to add after a knock in number nine, he sliced off the seconds by taking the tightest lines at incredible speed to total 126.16.
Last to go, the pressure was on Dries who pushed his horses to try and better Boyd’s pace, but he paid the price in having to take longer lines, and rolling balls at cones three and ten to add eight for second place with 134.27.
Just missing drive-off places were Glenn Geerts (BEL) and Bram Chardon (NED), with Anna Marieke Meier (GER) and Daniel Naprous (GBR) behind them.
“The indoor driving is a good demonstration showcase, but to me this is like coming home. I’m driving with home public, home friends, people in the boxes so it’s a great feeling,” said Boyd.
“When you’re a wild card driver you come in first to the arena – as we did today – so you have to set the bar so you have to go fast enough not to make mistakes, but careful enough that you’re not too slow just to get in the top three. Then once you’re back to zero then you can sort of hit the accelerator and the drive off,” explained Boyd.
Boyd, whose winning round was all the more impressive for having been achieved with a broken foot, has had to make some adaptations to his vehicle. “I operate the front and back brake with my right foot. The left pedal is actually for the turn table brake for anti-sway to stop the fishtailing so I can use my heel. We did a little adaption – we made an extension on the pedals so I just have my foot outside the vehicle. It’s not perfect for when I turn right because you use your left leg to brace but when I turn left I’ve got a lot of strength.”
Today’s results determine the starting order for Sunday’s second-round FEI Driving World Cup™ leg, and there will be much expectation on the last to drive, Boyd, to carry on his winning streak.
