CAI Saumur (27-31 May) was affected by very hot weather, with organisers, volunteers and driving teams working hard to ensure the horses were kept as cool and comfortable as possible in the challenging conditions.
Boyd led the dressage phase with 35.32 and was also the top performer in the marathon on 96.71, where his team set the fastest time in four of the seven obstacles.
Following the marathon, the weather challenges intensified, with a sudden thunderstorm bringing strong winds that sent tent canvases flying and large hailstones battering the venue.
A small hiccup in the cones phase saw 3.00 penalties added to Boyd’s score — the third-best result in that phase — but it was not enough to affect the overall outcome.
Second place went to the Netherlands’ Ijsbrand Chardon, who finished 14.73 penalties behind on 149.76, while Germany’s Christoph Sandmann claimed third on 155.96.
Boyd’s equine team included Checkmate (dressage, cones), Daan 8 (dressage, marathon, cones), Hero (dressage, marathon, cones), Mad Max 81 (marathon), and Mister Bono van ’t Hooge (dressage, marathon, cones).
It was a strong result for Boyd following an uncharacteristic mishap at the recent Royal Windsor Horse Show, which saw his team withdrawn from the marathon phase.
Fellow Australian driver Tor Van Den Berge placed seventh in the 24-carriage field on 162.61, producing consistent results across all three phases.
Tor’s equine team included Carbery Estate Cato (marathon, cones), Carbery Estate Chino (dressage, marathon, cones), Indiana (dressage, marathon, cones), Jeebert (dressage), and Kerosine (dressage, marathon, cones).
Both Australian drivers are focused on gaining selection for the FEI World Championships in Aachen, Germany in August.
