Dries Degrieck won in Leipzig at the FEI Driving World Cup Leg
Leipzig – When the spotlight at PARTNER PFERD turns to the four-in-hand teams, the Leipzig Messehalle vibrates with energy. Once again in 2026, the German crowd did not disappoint, providing the perfect backdrop for a spectacular leg of the FEI Driving World Cup, presented by Sparkasse Leipzig and the Sparkassen-Finanzgruppe Sachsen. Writing his name into the record books was Belgium’s Dries Degrieck, who delivered a flawless performance to claim victory.
Degrieck was the only competitor to complete both the opening round and the decisive drive-off without penalties. The clock stopped at 148.37 seconds, a time that left no room for challengers. “It was a really tight competition here in Leipzig,” he commented immediately after the class. “This is my third time competing here and I love the atmosphere. My horses have developed a lot over the season and today they were simply in top form.”
Behind him, defending champion Bram Chardon had to settle for second place. The Dutch driver produced a lightning-fast drive-off but made a mistake at one gate, finishing in 150.68 seconds. Despite that, Chardon was full of praise for the organisation: “Almost everything here is perfect – stabling, warm-up arenas, hospitality. My horses are becoming more and more motivated; now I just need to drive without knocking anything down.”
On the third step of the podium, in a position unusual for him, was Australian Boyd Exell, world champion and the dominant force in the discipline in recent years. Three knocked balls marred an otherwise quick round, which he completed in 161.80 seconds. “I only flew back from Australia on Wednesday, so preparation wasn’t ideal,” he explained, “but the young horse I had in the lead did a great job.” Exell also reiterated that Leipzig is one of the best indoor driving venues in the world, alongside Stuttgart and London.
A strong performance also came from Germany’s Anna Sandmann, who finished fourth in her first full season on the World Cup circuit. Clear in the opening round, she narrowly missed out on qualifying for the drive-off but still left the arena smiling. “I’m very happy with my first indoor season; the horses have improved from competition to competition.” German national coach Karl-Heinz Geiger also praised her steady progress.
World Cup Final: Leipzig decides the qualifiers
The German leg was the final opportunity to collect points ahead of the FEI Driving World Cup™ Final, scheduled for early February in Bordeaux.
Exell, already qualified as defending champion, will be joined by Ijsbrand Chardon and his son Bram, a two-time title winner. However, after what was seen in Leipzig, Dries Degrieck now emerges as a serious third contender in what will no longer be just a head-to-head battle.
Among the potential outsiders is Switzerland’s Jérôme Voutaz, while German colours will be defended by Christoph Sandmann.
PARTNER PFERD 2026: record-breaking figures
There was unanimous satisfaction on the organisational side as well. PARTNER PFERD 2026 welcomed 78,600 visitors, further improving on the previous year’s figures. A success that confirms Leipzig as one of the key fixtures on the European indoor equestrian calendar.
The official results of the World Cup leg, confirming Degrieck’s victory ahead of Chardon and Exell, are available in the official competition document r_27.
With top-level sport, an enthusiastic crowd and an organisation praised by athletes and professionals alike, Leipzig once again confirms its status as a capital of international driving.
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