Triple World Champion carriage driver Boyd Exell added a fourth victory to his achievements at the FEI World Four-in-Hand Driving Competition at Breda last weekend.
A total of 56 drivers from 16 nations gathered at the Prinsenhoever Estate in Breda, but Boyd reigned supreme, winning all three phases of the combined competition. Dutch drivers Ijsbrand Chardon and Koos De Ronde were then left in battle for silver and bronze.
Chardon got off to a promising start on the first day of the dressage, leaving the pressure firmly on defending world champion Boyd to outperform them. Boyd gained a winning score of 33,15 points. Ijsbrand took second whilst USA’s Chester Weber took third.
The marathon competition saw 10,000 spectators eagerly watch the close competition between De Ronde and Chardon, which saw De Ronde clinch second place in the individual standings, with Chardon dropping to third.
With Boyd a clear winner, the tough cones course was all about vying for silver and bronze. Chardon’s unlucky knockdown gave De Ronde the advantage, but knocking two balls down, De Ronde eventually finished with bronze.
Host nation The Netherlands took gold in the team section, for the fifth consecutive time. And with wins in the dressage, marathon and obstacle competitions, Boyd was crowned individual World Champion for the fourth time in a row.