Winning his  13th CHIO Aachen title, Boyd Exell delivered a flawless performance at the CHIO Aachen 2025, winning all three phases in the dressage, marathon, and cones. And if that was not enough, he was also first in the Top Score (a non-championship class), and first in the obstacle driving phase after two rounds. Driving his top team—Celviro, Checkmate, Hero, Mad Max 81, and Mister Bono van ‘t Hooge—Exell finished with just 154.56 penalties, twenty points ahead of second-place driver Germany’s Anna Mareike Meier with 173.09, and Anna Sandmann completed the podium in third with 179.55.

Photo: Australia takes the Team win for the Baron und Baronin von Buchholtz Nations’ Cup Driving for the first time. Boyd Excell (AUS) with his team: Celviro; Checkmate; Hero; Mad Max 81; Mister Bono van ‘t Hooge and Tor van den Berge (AUS) with his team: Carbery Estate Cato; Carbery Estate Chino; Indiana; Jeebert; Kerosine . 2025 CHIO Aachen | Weltfest des Pferdesports. Soers, Aachen, Germany. Sunday 6 July 2025. Copyright Photo: ©Libby Law Photography

The Sweetest Win – Historic Australia Nations’ Cup CHIO Aachen 2025

In a sport where so many things can affect the outcome, the Australian Excell continues to dominate the sport in both the combined driving phase and also the wildly entertaining World Cup tour during the indoor circuit, keeping spectators in their seats regardless of the schedule.

However, where Exell’s victory was once again a given, his sole teammate, fellow Australian Tor van den Berge, put in a solid performance among the world’s greatest drivers to finish in eleventh place, making CHIO Aachen history.

With his result combined with Exell’s commanding lead, Australia won the Baron und Baronin von Buchholtz Nations’ Cup. A popular clinician, van den Berge, and his wife, Olivia, are also accomplished FEI Dressage riders and trainers. Over the past few years, they have continued to polish their skills in combined driving, reaching the highest level at Aachen. Tor is also qualified for the FEI World Driving Championships for Horse Pairs 2025.

After winning the competition, Exell spoke to the media, “The horses flew round the course today! They were easy to drive, like they were all week. You can only be as good as the horsepower in front of you, and I have fantastic horsepower!” he said, praising his team.

You can re-watch the action from CHIO Aachen via ClipMyHorse.TV