Sweden"s Nicke Pålsson has surprised friend and enemy by winning the FEI World Cup Driving competition in "s-Hertogenbosch... Ysbrand Chardon came second, followed by Zoltan Lazar, Tomas Eriksson, Jozsef Dobrovitz and wild card driver Ton Monhemius.
Nicke Pålsson, who is competing in the World Cup series for the first time this season, was extremely pleased with his result: "The footing and the spectators in "s Hertogenbosch were very nice. The carriage stayed well on the ground which made me go faster." Pålsson drives a team of Swedish warm blood horses. One of his leader horses, Trofenix, is owned and driven in single by his wife Lotta, so "I also owe this victory to her" says a smiling Pålsson. His victory in "s-Hertogenbosch brought him a starting place to compete in the last FEI World Cup competition in Gothenburg coming weekend.
Ysbrand Chardon was very eager to win the only World Cup competition in his home country. The triple World Champion was unlucky during the warm up competition when his leader horses fell on the way to the finish. Luckily they were not injured and Chardon was able to start in the World Cup as planned. "My team went well before this incident and I had the same feeling today," explained Chardon. "But Nicke drove very strong and the best driver has won today." Chardon has moved up to the second place in the rankings, with 3 points difference to triple World Cup winner Michael Freund. Both drivers will start in Gothenburg. If Chardon wins and Freund comes second, a drive off will decide the winner of the fourth season of the FEI World Cup Driving. Hungarian driver Zoltan Lazar, winner of the individual silver and team gold at the World four-in-hand Championships 2004, came third with his team of Lipizzaners. Lazar only started to drive a team one year ago after having been successful in the pair class.
Ton Monhemius received the wild card after he won the national qualifying competition on the first day of Indoor Brabant. The Dutch riding school owner won the World Cup warming up competition, but could not use the advantage of being the last starter in the World Cup competition. Monhemius lost his concentration and had to leave the arena with 35 penalty seconds behind his name.
Australia"s Boyd Exell and Switzerland"s Werner Ulrich will travel to the Swedish port city coming weekend. Tomas Eriksson will start with a wild card. World Cup director Max Amman announced at the press conference that Geneva will be part of the series again in 2005/2006.
Results CAI-W "s-Hertogenbosch:
1. Jan-Erik Pålsson (Swe) 136,08 (5)
2. Ysbrand Chardon (Ned) 138,95 (10)
3. Zoltan Lazar (Hun) 154,07 (15)
4. Tomas Eriksson (Swe) 149,96 (15)
5. Jozsef Dobrovitz (Hun) 161,43 (20)
6. Ton Monhemius (Ned) 204,05 (35)
Classification after 6 of 7 events:
1. Michael Freund (Ger) 27
2. Ysbrand Chardon (Ned) 24
3. Boyd Exell (Aus) 22
3. Werner Ulrich (Sui) 22
5. Jan Erik Pålsson (Swe) 16
