World Equestrian Games – Exell Wins Gold or Australia
Australia’s hero of the 2014 World Equestrian Games is Boyd Exell who became the Driving World Champion and added another world record to his impressive biography – three World Championship Gold medals in succession – congratulations.
The Four in Hand Driving is made up of three phases, Dressage, Obstacle Marathon and Cones, Boyd placed second in the Dressage section to USA rival Chester Weber with just 3.30 penalties between them. Weber dropped to 12th after the Obstacle Marathon, Boyd third while German Christoph Sandmann was the fastest through the marathon obstacles. Boyd took the overall lead on 125.83 from Weber on 128.6 after the Marathon ensuring a real battle on the final day in the cones obstacle driving.
The lead following the Marathon and the seeded meant that Boyd was last into the arena on Sunday for the Cones competition, he was clear in a time of 184.51, Chester also clear in a slower time – Boyd Exell won the championships by 2.77 penalties from Weber and Dutch driver Theo Timmerman 5.28 penalties away in third. Boyd calculated perfectly just how fast and how much risk he had to take to win the Gold – amazing under such pressure.
The 42 year old Australian, born in Bega NSW commented after he finished the cones.
"It was a huge relief," said Exell. We had a good show throughout the weekend, but not a perfect show. The cones went really well for me although the arena was moving (surface shifting) a lot.
"I knew Chester would have a clear round because he has been driving clear rounds all season.”
Exell added “He has the best cones team and I expected this already.”
"It is great to be the world champion again and I would like to thank my entire team for their great support."
Boyd has lived in England for the last 20 years where he is based in Leicester with his wife and two children.
The unassuming Australian has now added to his history making four consecutive wins of the FEI World Cup Driving Final.
A truly great Australian.
Fellow Australian Gavin Robson placed 38th in the Driving on a penalty score of 207.31 an outstanding effort with a relatively inexperienced team. The Australian Team, competing with only two members (Exell and Robson) placed 9th in the Teams Championship which was won by Holland, then Germany and Hungary.
Jenny Sheppard
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