Boyd Exell and his team

Boyd Exell came to Leipzig to win but admitted that he simply went too fast. “I lost my concentration for a second and made mistakes. I am pleased however with my horses, they were fantastic and went exactly where I wanted them to go.” Unfortunately the three knockdowns in the first round, kept Exell from a starting place in the winning round and thus from a possible victory.

Christoph Sandmann drove brilliantly to the delight of the capacity crowd.  Sandmann did not qualify for the FEI World Cup Driving season, but received wild cards to compete at Hannover, Stuttgart and Leipzig.  The surprised winner said, “If you had told me that I would leave Leipzig as a winner, I would not have believed you.”

 Sandmann was very proud of his lead horse, 20 year-old Gerlof ‘Alf’ whose experience contributed to the win.

In second place was Frenchman Benjamin Aillaud, who got the performance that he had hoped for from his team of Lipizzaner horses. The pressure was on Aillaud in the winning round to beat Sandmann’s fast time and clear round.  Aillaud was not able to better Sandmann’s time and also incurred one knock down.

In third place was Ijsbrand Chardon (NED), who along with Exell was considered a favourite to win the final.  Chardon had three knockdowns in the first round and two cones down in the winning round.  

Final standings FEI World Cup Driving season 2007/2008

1. Christoph Sandmann (GER) 232.88
2. Benjamin Aillaud (FRA) 238.63
3. Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) 241.65
4. Boyd Exell (AUS) 126.26
5. Mark Weusthof (NED) 127.73
6. Tomas Eriksson (SWE) 136.29
7. Koos de Ronde (NED) 142.89