Tag Archives: CAIO Aachen

*Featured/Spotlights, Driving

Chester Weber Scores Top 3 Finish at Aachen, Looks to 2014 World Equestrian Games

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Team Weber competing in the cones phase at the CAIO Aachen. (Photo courtesy of Scheytt Photography)

Aachen, Germany (July 11, 2013) – Chester Weber, the nine-time USEF Four-in-Hand National Champion, drove his way to stand on the coveted international podium in Aachen by taking a third place overall in the individual CAIO-4 competition. Proving himself worthy of his well-earned nickname, Mr. Dressage, Weber started things off by winning the Preis der Fa. Horsch – the dressage competition for four-in-hand drivers of the CHIO. During this first phase of the competition, Weber drove his team to a personal international record score of 31.2 , and dominated this world-class field by beating out reigning FEI World Champion, Boyd Exell for the win.

Weber followed things up the next day with a win in the team dressage and a fifth place finish in the cones phase; then he and his team successfully navigated the Wohnwelt Pallen Marathon course to take 14th place on the final phase, which earned him a third place overall finish.  Standing on the podium in this prestigious world-wide competition, was certainly a proud moment for Weber and his amazing team of horses.  “We will compete at Beekburgen and Caen to hone our skills,” said Weber, “then will return to the US in September to prepare for the National Championships in Kentucky.”  Weber also added that all of the horses are training well, and that the 2013 summer tour is an important stepping stone for them on the way to the end goal of the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

Weber’s winning team for this European season is made up of his own Para, Senate, Horus du Bois, and Boris W, as well as Splash and Uniek, owned by Jane Clark.  Together, these horses showed their amazing power, grace and synergy both in Aachen and at the Saumur CAI-A4 in June, where Team Weber and Clark maintained a wire-to-wire lead to take the win.

As one of America’s most driven and decorated competitors, Weber continues to be a driving force behind American four-in-hand combined driving, and promotes the sport wherever he goes by bringing in the ribbons. For more information on Weber and his combined driving team, visit their website at www.chesterweber.com.

For more information contact:
Chester Weber
chester@chesterweber.com
www.chesterweber.com
1-352-895-1139

*Featured/Spotlights, Driving

Exell Secures Sixth Aachen Victory, Takes the Lead of FEI World Cup Driving Qualification Standings

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Boyd Exell secured his sixth win in CAIO Aachen today. (Photo: Rinaldo de Craen/FEI)

Reigning World Champion Boyd Exell (AUS) has won the prestigious CAIO Aachen (GER) for the sixth time in his career and has taken the lead of the FEI World Cup Driving qualification standings.

Koos de Ronde (NED) became the runner up whereas the leader of the individual standings before the marathon Chester Weber (USA) finished third. The Dutch team won the gold medal for the seventh time in a row.

Fifth consecutive win

Exell finished second behind Chester Weber in the individual and team dressage. Although Australia did not field a team, the team dressage and cones were compulsory for all individual competitors. Exell secured a score of 34,80 penalty points in the dressage test with the beautiful black horses owned by the Hungarian Támas Vincze and drove a double clear round in the cones course. The difference with dressage winner Chester Weber was only 2,41 points before the marathon in which the competitors started in reverse order of merit.

The marathon footing had become heavy because of the rain during the previous night and on the morning before the competition, but all 25 drivers and their horses finished without severe problems. The Australian was the first to last starter and wisely decided to stick to his plan. By setting top scores in the majority of the eight challenging obstacles, he gradually overtook the overnight leader. By the time both drivers had crossed the finish line, they knew Exell had won Aachen for the fifth time in a row and for the sixth time overall in his exceptional career as a four-in-hand driver.

Second place for De Ronde

Reigning World Cup Champion Koos de Ronde had started off well by placing fourth in the dressage with his matching team of KWPN-geldings. The Dutchman has a reputation for being a double clear cones driver which he confirmed in Aachen. He scored one of only four double clears and moved up to third place. Despite his successful performance, he had some doubts before the marathon and was not sure he would be able to close the gap that separated him from Weber and Exell. But the Dutch driver gave it his all in the last phase of the individual competition finishing second in the marathon and overtaking Chester Weber, for whom he often acts as a marathon navigator when he does not compete himself.

Personal best

Chester Weber proved worthy of his nickname Mr Dressage by winning the test. Driving his team to a personal international best of 31.2, Weber dominated the world-class field. Following this record score in the individual dressage, Weber also won the team dressage finishing on 38.21 points. Weber’s winning team was made up of his own Para and Senate, as well as Splash and Uniek, owned by Jane Clark. Together, the four horses were able to demonstrate their amazing power, grace and synergy.

Weber left all the balls in place in the cones course but collected 1.19 penalties for exceeding the time allowed. In the marathon however the American was unable to keep up the necessary high speed in the obstacles and finished third individually.

Mixed fortunes for Michael Brauchle

This was not a great CAIO Aachen for German team member Michael Brauchle. The 2008 and 2011 marathon winner was admitted to hospital on Thursday with suspected appendicitis. This fortunately turned out not to be the case as he had most probably suffered from acute food poisoning. During the individual cones competition, the bit of Brauchle’s right leader horse broke and the 23-year-old driver was eliminated. He was however able to compete for the German team in the marathon and the cones on Sunday. Because of his elimination, Brauchle was first on the heavy marathon going which was lucky for him. While the footing was still solid, Brauchle set the fastest times in six obstacles and at the end of the exciting marathon day, which was attended by numerous spectators, his score remained unbeaten.

New Course Designer

German O-Course Designer Dr Hartmut Kaufmann was in charge of the courses at Aachen for the first time in his career. The 64-year-old former driver has been building courses for over 20 years and was also the course designer at the FEI World Four-in-Hand Driving Championships in Riesenbeck (GER) in 2012. Kaufmann and his team of 10 assistants changed the stability constructions of the obstacles after a test with several world-class drivers last April. Kaufmann listened to the advice of the drivers and made the necessary changes, which resulted in a very nice marathon for the horses, drivers and spectators.

Team competition

The team competition was won by the Dutch reigning World Champion team consisting of Koos de Ronde, Theo Timmerman and IJsbrand Chardon, for him this was not the best Aachen experience. Because of several injuries, the four-time World Champion started without three of his top horses and was twice the drop score. Koos de Ronde and Theo Timmerman were however very strong and secured the gold medal, much to the satisfaction of national coach Harry de Ruyter.

The German team, led by Georg von Stein, finished second ahead of the Swedish team. Double World Champion Tomas Eriksson competed for the 30th and possibly last time in Aachen this year as he has unfortunately not been able to find a sponsor to help him to continue the sport.

After taking the sixth place in dressage, lady driver Georgina Hunt-Frith recorded the second best individual result, taking 10th place in the overall standings with her impressive team of beautifully turned out black KWPN geldings.

World Cup qualification

CAIO Aachen was one of the 14 outdoor competitions held in Austria, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, The Netherlands, and Slovenia which serve as qualifiers for the indoor FEI World Cup Driving. The top ten drivers after the last competition will qualify for the series 2013-2014 season, which starts in Hannover (GER) on 17 October.

Quotes:

Boyd Exell (AUS): “I decided not to try to win the marathon, but to try to win the event. It was a very heavy course, but my horses were 110%. I decided to stick to my game.”

Koos de Ronde (NED): “The difference between the first and the last competitor in the marathon was huge. That is why it was very difficult to accelerate; the footing in the obstacles was very heavy. But with Nietje and Santana in the wheel of my team, I was able to drive as planned and I could give it all.”

Chester Weber (USA): “The team was fabulous to drive and it is humbling to sit behind them as they are like poetry in motion. I truly believe they are the best dressage team in the world.”

Individual results CAIO Aachen 2013:

1. Boyd Exell                  AUS    118.46
2. Koos de Ronde NED    124.81
3. Chester Weber   USA    125.78
4. Georg von Stein GER    135.15
5. Theo Timmerman       NED    136.93

Complete individual results here.

Team results CAIO Aachen 2013:

1. The Netherlands          262.84
2. Germany          270.11
3. Sweden             286.77

Complete team results here.

By Cindy Timmer

Media Contacts:

Grania Willis
Director Press Relations
Email: grania.willis@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 142

Malina Gueorguiev
Manager Media Relations
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
Tel: +41 787 506 133

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, JRPR

Weber Breaks Record at 2012 CAIO Aachen and Shares the Win for the Prize of the Martello Immoblienmanagement

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Weber’s individual dressage score of 33.54 set an Aachen record and put him in the lead during the first and second phases of the CAIO Aachen. (Photo courtesy of Franz Steindl)

Aachen, Germany (July 16, 2012)  – The 2012 CAIO Aachen was a rollercoaster of ups and downs for US driver Chester Weber, who with a team of horses owned by himself and Jane Forbes Clark is competing on the European tour this summer with his sights set on the World Championships in Reisenbeck.  Despite an excellent start, Weber met with a string of unfortunate events combined with moments of brilliance during his tour at Aachen, from record-breaking dressage scores to his horse putting a leg over a trace and an emergency in his immediate family.

Weber began by putting in his now trademark dressage test during the individual competition, scoring only 33.54 penalty points in the opening phase.  In so doing he broke the Aachen record and secured himself a comfortable lead going into the cones.  The Ground Jury unanimously put Weber in first place, an excellent sign as this same jury will serve during the upcoming FEI World Championships in Riesenbeck next month.  Weber also took home another accolade in the dressage arena when he tied with Australian driver Boyd Exell during the first phase of the team competition.  The tie awarded both drivers the Prize of the Martello Immoblienmanagement.

Continue reading Weber Breaks Record at 2012 CAIO Aachen and Shares the Win for the Prize of the Martello Immoblienmanagement →

*Featured/Spotlights, Competitions, Dressage, Driving, Events, FEI

Four-in-a-Row for Exell

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Boyd Exell (AUS) won the prestigious CAIO Aachen for the fifth time in his career. ©Rinaldo de Craen/FEI

Aachen (GER), 8 July 2012 – Boyd Exell, the reigning FEI World four-in-hand and four times FEI World Cup Driving champion, has won the prestigious Driving competition in Aachen (GER) for the fourth consecutive time. Added to his victory in 2003, Boyd’s name is now on the leader board in Aachen five times. The Dutch team also continued their dominance and won the nations competition for the sixth consecutive time.

Mr Dressage
It wasn’t until the marathon though, which was the final phase for the individual rankings, that it became clear that Boyd Exell would win again. US driver Chester Weber was in a very comfortable lead after a superb individual dressage test. Weber set an Aachen-record score of 33.54 penalty points in the opening phase. The Ground Jury, which consisted of the same judges as the Ground Jury at the upcoming FEI World Championships in Riesenbeck next month, unanimously put Weber in first place. Weber, who is known as ‘Mr Dressage’ at the moment, was very pleased with his team of horses, two of which are owned by Jane Clark. Weber also posted the winning dressage scores at the CAI-As in Live Oak (39.42) Lähden (36.35) and Altenfelden (36.86) this season.

Continue reading Four-in-a-Row for Exell →

Competitions, Driving, Events, FEI

Exell Continues Success Story in Aachen

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Four times Aachen winner Boyd Exell continued his success story at Aachen © FEI/Rinaldo de Craen.

Aachen (GER), 17 July 2011 – Top driver Boyd Exell (AUS) has continued his amazing success story in Aachen. Crowned World Champion at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky last year and winner of the FEI World Cup Driving Final for the third consecutive time in Leipzig in April this year, the Australian has won this year’s prestigious CAIO Aachen for the fourth time in his career. Boyd first won Aachen in 2003 and was unbeatable in 2009, 2010 and now in 2011.

Five competitions
The CAIO in Aachen consisted of five competitions for all drivers this year; the first dressage test (FEI Test 8a) counted for the individual classification, the second dressage test (FEI test 6a) counted for the team classification and was also compulsory for individual drivers like Boyd Exell and Chester Weber (USA). The first cones competition counted for the individual classification, the marathon counted for both the individual and the teams and today’s final cones competition counted for the teams and was again compulsory for the individuals.

First dressage
Boyd Exell had a head start in the first dressage test, which was driven in the pouring rain in the Aachen driving stadium on Wednesday. Boyd drove his team of black geldings owned by Támas Vincze from Hungary to a winning score of 35.97 penalty points. After a great start, Exell’s left wheeler horse became very excited during the latter part of the test, but this did not prevent Exell from getting the best score of the day. First into the arena, Chester Weber the USA put down a very solid test with his two new leader horses Splash and Uniek.

Continue reading Exell Continues Success Story in Aachen →