The FEI Driving European Championship 2025 Podium: Bram Chardon (NED) first place, Christoph Sandmann (GER) second place and Dries Degrieck (BEL) third place. ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

Dutch Drivers dominated at the FEI Driving European Championship for Four-in-Hand and the FEI Para Driving World Championship by winning team and individual titles as Bram Chardon (NED) was crowned European Four-in-Hand Champion for a record fourth consecutive time. And the Dutch pairing of Jacques Poppen (NED) and Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) won the FEI Driving Hand-in-Hand Trophy. 

Returning Para Champions

Jacques won his first World Para medals in 2006 and has consistently won team and individual medals since then. In Lähden he proved too hard to catch, especially after he only knocked one ball in the Cones for second on 3.00. His overall score of 128.95 gave him his fourth individual Grade 1 World Para Driving gold medal. 

After thanking the Sandmanns for hosting the event, Jacques said, “I am very pleased that we Para Drivers are connected to the European Four-in-Hand event and I hope this formula will stay so that we are certain to have a World Championship every two years, because this has been uncertain for us. This gives us something to work towards for the next championship and hopefully we will have another beautiful event like here in Lähden in two years’ time.” 

It wasn’t to be three-in-a-row for Californian based Tracy Bowman (USA) who tied in second place on 133.59 after the Marathon with Josien De Boer (NED). Tracy was first in of the two, and although inside the time, she rolled three balls to add 9.00 to her score for 142.59. It gave Josien some leeway in her bid for a silver medal, but she incurred 21.25 penalties and slipped behind, totalling 154.84 for the bronze. 

Heiner Lehrter (GER) has won more medals in Para Driving than anyone and he showed his class in the Cones to have only one ball down in the fastest time to win the section. Jacques was second and Emily Ham (GBR) took third with three balls for 9.00, but was within the time.

No sooner had the 17 athletes in the Grade 1 class Cones finished than it was straight into the Grade 2 class, with 10 forward. There was never any doubt that defending champion Alexandra Sievers (GER) would retain her crown, consolidated by a perfectly judged round with only 0.14 in time penalties. Decisively winning all three phases, as she did two years ago, she retained her title on 131.87. Hans Arends (NED) took silver with 148.03 after tallying 10.33 in the Cones ahead of Aad Van Marwijck (NED), who was second in the final phase on 6.33 and took his bronze medal with 152.58. Gaining a third place in the Cones phase was Torsten Roeder (GER) with 7.13.

Alexandra Sievers (GER) 1st place Para Grade 2, FEI Para Dressage World Championship - 2025 in Lähden (GER) . Copyright ©FEI/Massimo Argenziano

In the nations’ event, The Netherlands team of Hans Arends, Josien De Boer and Jacques Poppen totalled 272.50 to take gold for the fifth time since the championship began in 1998. Germany was second on 297.23 and Great Britain was third on 326.45.

Bram’s Cones supremacy seals his fourth title

Sitting in third place overnight behind Christoph and Anna Sandmann (GER), Bram knew nothing less than a clear Cones round was needed if he was going to retain his crown. He came close with a time only score of just 0.12 to win the phase, and it put him on 170.99 which applied pressure to the Sandmanns.

Anna Sandmann followed Bram in but incurred ball and time penalties to drop to 187.17 and sixth place. Last into the arena as overnight leader, Christoph had some penalties in hand but when the third ball rolled and he went over the time to end on 177.41, he had to settle for silver and Bram was assured of the win. But Christoph was gracious afterwards and said that he was delighted with the result and proud to have the opportunity to host the event.

“Coming here this year, there were 10 or 11 other Drivers who were very strong – the whole Dutch, Belgian and German teams. It’s so open now and we can see it in the outcome here. I was not so certain of myself and I had to come from a bit far away this time, but I made the effort today with a good Cones round. 

It's wonderful that an event like Lähden can get a championship.  

"The facilities this week were fantastic and it was made extra special because people from within the sport held the event."

Bram Chardon

(NED) 

Dries Degrieck (BEL) achieved his goal of winning his first individual medal to add to his collection of team medals for the Belgians. His Cones round of 5.84 was good enough for second in the phase and his competitive total of 178.88 meant he climbed the leaderboard for the bronze medal.

Upholding the theme of family success, Ijsbrand Chardon (NED) also kept his cool in the Cones to retain his overall fourth place on 179.83, ahead of Marathon winner Daniel Schneiders (AUT) who totalled 185.62 for fifth.

Team medals

The Netherlands could not be caught and the Chardons were joined by long-term teammate Koos de Ronde (NED) whose Marathon score counted towards their winning total of 348.93. 

Belgian team member Glenn Geerts (BEL) stated that after his team won silver, they will be aiming for gold at the next championship. His scores combined with those of with Dries and Tom Stokmans gave them 370.02, ahead of Germany who had to settle for bronze on 375.17. 

The organisers at Lähden received universal praise from the competitors and visitors, particularly the Para Drivers who said that they were particularly grateful for the layout and facilities.