Chardon takes the lead in Bordeaux

IJsbrand Chardon (NED) is well on his way to secure his third FEI World Cup™ Driving champion title. The experienced Dutch rider won the first competition of what has turned out to be a very exciting FEI World Cup™ Driving Final 2014, which got under way in Bordeaux (FRA) last night. Daniel Schneiders (GER) finished second ahead of title holder Koos de Ronde (NED). Australia’s Boyd Exell (AUS) came in fourth.

The enthusiastic spectators attending the Jumping International de Bordeaux enjoyed a thrilling competition despite an incident suffered by the first starter.

Wildcard driver Thibault Coudry (FRA) tipped over after the fourth obstacle, but his horses, his grooms and Coudry himself were not injured. The Frenchman will start in the Final on Sunday afternoon but has little chance to make the podium.

The rule, according to which 50% of the score differential converted into seconds are carried forward to the final competition on Sunday, was introduced to ensure that all the competitors did their best from the start and guarantee an excellent show.

Budapest and London Olympia winner IJsbrand Chardon held on to his strong performances with his Lipizzaner horses and drove a very fast and fluent round around the course designed by FEI O-course designer Gabor Fintha (HUN) who had also officiated at last year’s Final. Chardon, who won the FEI World Cup™ Driving Final in 2005 alongside Michael Freund (GER) and again in 2006, took some significant risks by using a shortcut in the last phase of the course. He managed to overtake by six seconds Daniel Schneiders, who had been in the lead until that moment, and won the competition.

Daniel Schneiders drove his mixed team of German and Dutch warm blood geldings in a safe manner and managed to beat Koos de Ronde’s time by 0.59 seconds taking second place. The 33-year-old farrier thoroughly enjoys the FEI World Cup™ Driving circuit in which he competes for the first time. Schneiders praised the Bordeaux organisers for putting on a wonderful event with excellent facilities for the horses, the competitors and their teams.

Reigning FEI World Cup™ Driving Champion Koos de Ronde used his new chestnut gelding Zimba for the first time in the wheel at an FEI World Cup™ Driving event. Zimba is replacing the experienced piebald gelding Mario, who was injured halfway through the season.

De Ronde’s performance was on the safe side but the Dutch driver was nevertheless pleased with his third place.
Four-time FEI World Cup™ Driving champion Boyd Exell found the right speed and was well on his way to victory when his left leader horse hit a ball off the last pair of cones dropping the team to fourth place. The time difference between Exell and leader Chardon is however only 4.17 seconds which guarantees an exciting Final.

Tomas Eriksson (SWE) drove a clear round but failed to reach the necessary speed whereas European and Dutch national champion Theo Timmerman was a bit too impatient and had a knockdown dropping to sixth place.

Seconds carried forward

By winning the first round, IJsbrand Chardon will be the last starter in the Final this afternoon at 17.00 CET.

Runner-up Daniel Schneiders will have to make up only 2.61 seconds to catch up, closely followed by third-placed Koos de Ronde who is 2.96 seconds behind the leader.

Chardon is well aware he cannot take anything for granted as his rivals are very focused and one knockdown can make or break a champion.

The course in the FEI World Cup™ Driving Final will remain the same as during the first competition. The course for the Winning Round, for which only the best three drivers will qualify, will also remain unchanged.

Quotes

IJsbrand Chardon (NED): “My team has been performing well all season. This is the Final and there is no room for hesitation, so I decided to give it my best. I am very happy with my results, but I know that the differences are very small so I will see if I have to drive even faster.”

Daniel Schneiders (GER): “My goal was not to drive too fast and be safe. I really enjoyed the course and I will see what I can improve in the Final. My horses are a good team and I am very pleased with them.”

Koos de Ronde (NED): “I think I drove a bit too safely, but I did not want to make any mistakes. Zimba did very well and I am pleased with him. I know I can drive faster and in the Final I will have to drive faster, but I also realise that one knockdown can make a big difference.”

Results of the first competition CAI-W Final Bordeaux (FRA), 8 February 2014:

1. IJsbrand Chardon (NED) 122,86 (0), 0
2. Daniel Schneiders (GER) 128,19 (0), 2,61
3. Koos de Ronde (NED) 128,78 (0), 2,96
4. Boyd Exell (AUS) 131,20 (5), 4,17
5. Tomas Eriksson (SWE) 133,01 (0) 5,51
6. Theo Timmerman (NED) 133,80 (5), 6,97
7. Thibault Coudry (FRA), EL