10 August 2023

17 Nations represented at the FEI Driving Championships in Exloo

No less than 65 competitors from 17 nations will be represented at the FEI Driving European Championship for Four-in-Hand and the FEI Para Driving World Championship from 23rd to 27th August at the site of Equestrian Center Exloo, the Netherlands.

European Championship for Four-in-Hand

The 13th edition of the European Championship for horse teams counts 40 competitors from 13 nations, amongst which twice individual gold medalist, title defender and Exloo-ambassador Bram Chardon. In the individual battle for the European title, Bram will compete against, among others, his father IJsbrand Chardon, who won the title in 2011 and 2017. The 2015 European champion Michael Brauchle from Germany will also start in Exloo. The Nations competition counts eight teams. The Dutch team is the title holder and Bram Chardon, IJsbrand Chardon and Koos de Ronde will do everything to keep the gold in their pockets.

Bram Chardon
Photo: Krisztina Horváth

World Championship Para Driving

The World Championship Para Driving celebrates its 7^th FEI edition in Exloo. Twenty-five competitors from nine nations will travel to the beautiful province of Drenthe to compete, amongst which one competitor from Australia! This country was never before represented at the World Para Driving Championship. Jodie Mckeone is the first and, so far, only para driver for Australia. Germany is title defender in the Nations competition. The individual title defender in Grade 1, USA’s Tracy Bowman, came to Europe several weeks ago to prepare for the World Championship, just as several of her team mates. World Championship-ambassador Ingmar Veneman will be member of the Dutch Team.

In the Para Driving Championship, the competitors compete in two classes: Grade 1 and Grade 2, so six individual medalists will be celebrated on Sunday, 27^th August.
The Nations teams are composed of 2 or 3 competitors, of which minimum one Competitor must compete in Grade 1 (the heaviest handicap). The competitors compete with both ponies and horses in the two classes.

Drivers from Drenthe

Host province Drenthe is well represented at the FEI Driving Championships in Exloo. Ambassador Ingmar Veneman lives in Tweede Exloërmond, while her team member and World Championship debutant Josien de Boer is from Borger. Multiple World Champion Jacques Poppen lives in the neighboring province of Groningen.

Harry Streutker from Coevorden represents the local honors at the European Championship. Young Driving talent Joris Wouda from Drouwen is the so-called Guinea pig, he will be the first starter in Dressage, Marathon and Cones.