German driver Michael Brauchle celebrated winning gold on home turf at the FEI European Championships in Aachen yesterday.
Confusion
Confusion reigned after a thrilling marathon phase in the driving competition as the scores showed Dutch driver IJsbrand Chardon had won the competition. But it soon emerged that a typing error had been made on the score sheet and Brauchle was crowned individual European champion.
Chardon took silver and fellow Dutch driver Koos de Ronde won bronze.
The 25-year-old’s course for gold began with ninth place in the dressage – it was the best German result. He came fourth in the cone driving competition and he excelled in the Deutsche Post Marathon, driving the best time in six of the eight obstacles.
“I hadn’t even thought about winning gold beforehand,” said Brauchle. “I decided with our national coach before the Marathon that we’d take no risks for the team results.”
Champion
The young horseman comes from a line champion drivers – his father Franz won numerous championships and his brother Steffen also won team gold driving ponies at the world championships.
And the driver always performs well in Aachen, having previously won the marathon at the showground in 2008, 2011 and 2013.
The new European champion said his horses were brilliant in the marathon phase and really like the German course.
“Shakira and Clinton are very strong wheelers, particularly the mare is my life insurance in the cross-country,” he added.
Another gold for the Netherlands
The Dutch drivers could not be beaten in the team competition, however, and the country took home their third team medal at the Europeans after winning the jumping and dressage sections earlier this week.
The orange-coated drivers set themselves on the road to victory in the dressage phase where they had three drivers in the top four.
They held their lead in the cones competition, and although the Germans dominated the cross-country they still couldn’t match the Dutch score.
Dutch team member Koos de Ronde said he was thrilled to take team gold and individual bronze with him back to the Netherlands.
“It was a fantastic day in the end,” said the driver. “The course drove harder than it looked, I think we underestimated it a bit when we walked it. It was a really heavy course and I made on small mistake in four and the rest was pretty good.
“I knew Michael Brauchle was pretty fast and he beat me so I was hoping for bronze and I made it so I am very happy.
“It’s unbelievable the last few years the sport is so popular in Holland. Success motivates it hugely – the sponsors, the owners, the drivers, the federation are all incredibly motivated. I am proud to be part of it.”