Rounding off the year’s FEI Driving World Cup™ legs in Mechelen (BEL), a delighted Dries Degrieck (BEL) clinched victory before a supportive home crowd in the glittery, festive setting of the Nekkerhal.
Although he was competing as a wild card so won’t gain ranking points, it was a sweet win at a crucial stage in the season when the title contenders are building towards February’s final in Bordeaux (FRA). Stating at the previous leg in London (GBR) that he seemed to have ‘a contract with second place’, the prophesy for Dries was nearly true again, until the leader Bram Chardon (NED) made a costly mistake near the end of his drive-off late on Tuesday night.
Second of the three to go in the drive-off, Dries had given Bram a bit of leeway with a four second addition to his time. A focused Bram seemed to have found his rhythm at this later point in the series having won the first competition and appeared to be on track to repeat the performance.
But Dries is consistently fast and even when the odd ball rolls to add seconds, he has enough time in hand to put pressure on the others and force errors. That, and a bit of luck, meant that he could sit back and watch the win come to him after Bram’s miscommunication with his leaders which meant they had to stop and regroup for a few seconds. In the end Dries’ total of 143.13 was enough to put him comfortably ahead of Bram’s clear in 154.84.
“It’s unbelievable to be here in Mechelen in my home country. The crowd is so amazing, and they really push you until the end to go for it. I am only a part of it – the horses and the grooms did an amazing job too. The whole team has been brilliant for the competition, not just today, and it is fantastic to have such great people around me.”Dries Degrieck
(BEL)
Jérôme Voutaz (SUI) was not in drive-off contention on the first night, but such was his speed late on Tuesday that the eight extra seconds from two rolled balls kept him in contention and secured a top three place. Assured of at least third, he attempted a faster round, but the balls kept falling so he tallied an extra twenty seconds to finish on 168.21. But it was enough to garner seven ranking points which puts him in touch with a place at the final.
Another wild card, Koos de Ronde (NED), displayed what has made him a formidable World Cup competitor for many years, and he stormed into the drive-off on Monday night, ending third behind Bram and Dries. But Jérôme’s improved round on Tuesday meant that Koos was denied a repeat drive-off by only 0.95 seconds and he finished fourth on 153.56.
Glenn Geerts (BEL) was another crowd-pleasing presence and although he only had four to add to his time, the total of 158.46 kept him out of touch of a top three finish. A previous podium finisher at the final, he now won’t make it this season having completed his qualifying legs.
Father and daughter Christoph and Anna Sandmann (GER) were sixth and seventh respectively. Former champion Christoph hasn’t replicated the early season success he enjoyed in Maastricht (NED). Both he and Anna only knocked one ball in their respective rounds, but they were slightly off the leaders’ pace – he totalled 159.57 for sixth and Anna totalled 164.09 for seventh.
Mechelen had three wild cards boosting the line up and the third was regular Belgian outdoor team member and medallist, Tom Stockmans who was seventh on 191.60.
There is some downtime now for the horses, drivers and crews before the last, eighth leg of the series in Leipzig (GER) in mid-January. The qualified drivers who are aiming to gain more ranking points and secure their Bordeaux slots are Bram and his father Ijsbrand Chardon (NED), Dries, Anna and Fredrik Persson (SWE). The wild cards will be Christoph, Anna Mareike Meier (GER) and reigning champion Boyd Exell (AUS), who currently tops the ranking table with 30 points.