CAIO Kronenberg: Bram Chardon Wins on Eventful Marathon Day

Sat 18 Apr, 22:00 Sport CAI Kronenberg 2026

Today, the marathon phase was on the programme for the 3* and 4* classes in the single horse class, pairs, and four-in-hand (horses), while the remaining classes competed in the cones phase.

Cones

Three drivers in the 3* single pony class managed to produce a “double clear” (clear round and within the time). Desiree van Lambalgen was the fastest of them, winning the phase. She has now moved up to seventh place in the overall standings. Cédric Scherrer recorded only a small time penalty and now leads the overall classification.

In the pairs (ponies) class, Lisa KleinJan delivered a faultless and fastest round. She moved up one place in the standings to sixth position. France’s Jean Frederic Selle now takes the lead, with only a minimal margin over Rodinde Rutjens in second place.

Challenging Marathon

The marathon was not the same for all classes; obstacles 2, 5, 6, and 7 were driven by all competitors, while the single horse class had different obstacles in sections 1, 3, and 4.

The ground jury paid extra attention today to the correct use of the whip, and the horses’ mouths and tongues were also regularly checked. Horse welfare remains the top priority.

The course building team also deserves recognition. Despite a busy day, they ensured that the entire course remained in excellent condition. Obstacle 1 in particular required a great deal of maintenance.

Photo: Melanie Guillamot

Single Horse Class

Quite a lot happened in the single horse class. Saskia Siebers, competing with two horses, started her day with Noxander. In obstacle 4, an incident caused the carriage to tip over, resulting in her elimination. Fortunately, both Saskia and Noxander were unharmed, and the equipment was still usable later in the day, allowing her to complete the marathon neatly with Nulleke.

Denmark’s Karina Blaabjerg was forced to retire in obstacle 3 after losing control of her horse. Further eliminations were recorded for Saskia van Heesch with Niek, Xander Tuitjer, and Germany’s Anne Unzeitig, whose carriage also overturned—this time in obstacle 6. Sweden’s Linnea Kristianssen had already withdrawn prior to the competition.

Eline Houterman delivered an outstanding marathon performance to take the win in this phase. France’s Clair Lefort and Tony Ecalle followed in second and third place respectively. The best Belgian result came from Pieter-Jan Brynaert, finishing thirteenth.

Pairs (Horses)

The marathon was far from trouble-free in the pairs (horses) class as well. Rob Lommers did not complete the marathon, while Belgium’s Laurens DHollander retired after obstacle 1.

Jelmer Chardon delivered an exceptional marathon, setting the fastest time in five of the seven obstacles. Belgium’s Sander Moens also performed strongly with his Maestoso horses, securing second place. France’s Louis Horde finished third in the marathon.

Four-in-Hand (Horses)

It was the day of Bram Chardon. He drove an excellent marathon and claimed the win. Boyd Exell had to concede slightly and finished second. The obstacles in Kronenberg also suited Koos de Ronde, who secured an impressive third place. It was not the day for Germany’s Michael Brauchle, who was forced to retire in obstacle 5.

Bram Chardon - Photo: Melanie Guillamot

Standings After Dressage and Marathon

In the single horse class standings after two phases, dressage winner Tony Ecalle has strengthened his leading position and now holds a five-point advantage. Cindy Benschop, third in dressage and fifth in the marathon, has moved up to second place, overtaking Stefan Ulrich. The Swiss driver finished eleventh in the marathon and now sits third, just one point behind Benschop.

In the pairs (horses), Jelmer Chardon has taken over the lead from François Dutilloy, who drops to second after finishing fifth in the marathon. Italy’s Claudio Fumagalli retains third place following a fourth-place finish in the marathon. The margins remain extremely small, meaning the cones phase will decide who takes the win in Kronenberg 2026.

Dutch Four-in-Hand Championship Standings

In the four-in-hand standings, Boyd Exell has built a solid lead of over eleven points ahead of second-placed Dries DeGrieck. The gaps then narrow significantly heading into the final cones phase, with Bram Chardon in third and Koos de Ronde in fourth. There is still everything to play for in the cones.

In the race for the Dutch Championship, Bram Chardon leads, closely followed by Koos de Ronde. IJsbrand Chardon has an eight-point deficit to make up on De Ronde—but with IJsbrand, anything is possible.

Nations Teams

The Dutch team delivered a strong performance in the marathon and has moved into the lead. Belgium remains in second place, trailing by just under six points.

The two-member Australian team benefits from top driver Boyd Exell. Teammate Tor Van Den Berge had a disappointing dressage but bounced back with an excellent marathon, moving Australia from fifth to third place. They are closely followed by the German team, which has lost its leading position and now sits just outside the podium places.

Tomorrow, the roles will be reversed: the 3* and 4* classes in the single horse class, pairs, and four-in-hand (horses) will compete in the cones phase, while the remaining classes will conclude the competition with the marathon.

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Boyd Exell - Photo Wil Smeets