Exell Wins Four-in-Hand Driving World Title

Boyd Exell won his eighth individual four-in-hand driving world title in Aachen. He finished the three phases on 142.64 penalty points.

One last clear round, one eighth crown

The title was decided on the Sunday in a near-capacity Stadium 2. Exell entered as the final driver and guided his team through the tight cones with a fast, precise round. He took just 0.30 penalty points for a slight time fault.

His lead of 5.38 points from the marathon was never at risk. Exell dismounted, handed the reins to groom Emma Olsson, and thanked his horses as the crowd rose in a standing ovation.

Aachen complete, a gap in the palmares filled

The win carried extra weight. Exell, 54, had never taken a major title at Aachen. He missed the 2006 World Equestrian Games there through injury, leaving the German showground as the one arena where gold had escaped him.

Belgium's Dries Degrieck took silver on 148.85, his first individual world medal. Chester Weber of the United States claimed bronze on 156.77.

"I feel relief," Exell told reporters afterwards. "We've got good horsepower and I brought my old horses to this World Championship."

With an eighth world title, the most decorated driver closed the one remaining blank page in his record book.