Goshen, KY (October 16, 2015) – The sixth annual Hermitage Classic CDE and Fall Festival, October 16-18, officially began with the FEI 2* driving competition’s dressage phase on the grounds of Goshen, Kentucky’s historic Hermitage farm. The event has so far lived up to all promises of breathtaking landscapes, Kentucky southern socials, and, of course, the festival’s main attraction – world-class combined driving. Twelve-time USEF Four-in-Hand National Champion Chester Weber entered the dressage arena Friday morning with his dynamic KWPN team leading his carriage.
As Chester Weber went in to the Hermitage Classic’s FEI 2* opening phase of competition, he had a deep well of talent to draw from in his and Jane F. Clark’s team of KWPN bays. Weber brought Boris W, Danzer, Para, and Ultra, plus new talents Erik and Zeppelin Let’s W, to Goshen, Kentucky. “I used Zeppelin and Ultra in the lead, and Danzer and Boris in the wheel in the dressage phase,” Weber said.
His decision proved wise, as Team Weber’s results were nothing short of winning for the horseman dubbed ‘Mr. Dressage.’ Weber credited his team for their 40.82 points overall for the first-place position going into Saturday’s marathon: “The horses were great. I am very pleased with them all, and plan to drive the same team tomorrow.” Leading on a 74.5 percent overall, Team Weber will face the marathon questions of multiple world championship combined driving course designer Barry Hunter of Great Britain.
Questions, said Leslie Cashion of the Hermitage Classic CDE committee, that will demand drivers’ answers. “I think one of our toughest hazards in the marathon is the newest one, which is an actual tepee and totem pole. It presents an interesting and challenging element,” Cashion stated.
“We are excited for this year’s event to be bigger than ever and to be able to share the festival with the community,” said Cashion. “The Hermitage Classic CDE is growing bigger and reaching more people from farther away each year.”
As dressage concludes, Weber looks forward to driving into the marathon phase tomorrow, and maintaining his team’s strength throughout the entirety of the Hermitage Classic CDE. Team up with Team Weber and follow news, live posts, video and photo galleries, and preferred product reviews at www.chesterweber.com.
Lexington, KY (October 6, 2015) – ‘When it rains it pours,’ they say. Yet even the perfect storm predicted by local weather forecasters could not stand in the way of a historic twelfth USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship for Ocala, Florida horseman Chester Weber. Weber piloted his four matched bay KWPN geldings, co-owned by Jane F. Clark, in the Kentucky Classic CAI2* to defend Team Weber’s title.
Their performance says it all: First place (38.07) in Dressage, first place (145.92) in Marathon, and first place (3.00) in Cones.
Team Weber delivered clean and decisive victories across a spectrum of phases and weather conditions. The four-in-hand division opened under dark and rainy skies, necessitating the relocation of the tests from their traditional grass arena into the Rolex Stadium. A fresh combination of KWPN Dutch Warmblood veterans Ultra, Para, and Boris W, paired with rising star Danzer, didn’t miss a beat. The team delivered brilliant trot work and a confident rein back for the Ground Jury of Martha Hanks-Nicoli (USA), Marsoe LaRose (CAN), and Nikke Palsson (SWE). “It was exciting to have younger horses do so well,” said Weber. “Rolex Stadium had a nice feel.”
Despite a continuation of the inclement weather into Saturday’s Marathon, Team Weber performance remained unbeatable. They not only won over cross-country marathon but also posted the fastest times in their division on five of course designer Richard Nicoll’s seven obstacles. “The horses were very fresh in the cool, damp weather in Kentucky this past weekend,” Weber adds.
Team Weber added 107.85 penalty points after marathon kept them in the lead going into Sunday’s cones phase, where a single ball at cone 5 added just three penalties to an overall 148.92 score – and Weber’s unprecedented twelfth U.S. Four-in-Hand national title.
“I was pleased with the team; they worked well together,” Weber said. “I had Boris in the left wheel and Para in the right wheel. I have driven them a lot this way, but I haven’t really competed them in the cones phase; I was pleased with how they handled everything. Unfortunately, I had one down that I think Danzer kicked. He is inexperienced, so the way that the course was set up – having to drive between two cars – made him unsure. He lost his concentration, and dropped out of the contact. Besides that I was pleased. We drove to plan and it was pretty straightforward.”
After making history with his twelfth USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship, Weber continues train for future successes with his KWPN team.
Team up with Team Weber as they drive next to the 6th Annual Hermitage Classic on October 16-18 in Goshen, Kentucky. Follow news, live posts, video and photo galleries, and preferred product reviews at www.chesterweber.com.
Chester Weber, 12-time USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Champion (Picsofyou.com)
Lexington, Ky. – The 2015 USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Championship started out cold and rainy, but was warm and sunny for Sunday’s cones phase in the Rolex Stadium at the Kentucky Horse Park. The lovely day set the stage for Chester Weber to win his 12th USEF Four-in-Hand Driving National Championship title, leading the division from start to finish during the Kentucky Classic CDE. The field of four competitors demonstrated great driving throughout the competition and is looking strong heading into a World Championship year.
Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and his and Jane Clark’s team had a fantastic week, displaying great skill in all three phases. He had a different line-up at the championship, bringing a younger, inexperienced horse, Danzer, but the team of Dutch Warmblood geldings performed well. Their quest for a national title began on Thursday in the Rolex Stadium with their signature lovely dressage test. The Ground Jury of Martha Hanks-Nicoll (USA), Marsoe LaRose (CAN), and Nikke Palsson (SWE) rewarded Weber with a score of 38.07, putting him at the top of the leaderboard. A rainy marathon day did not pose an issue for Weber and his team, as they won the marathon phase with the fastest times in five of the seven obstacles on Richard Nicoll’s course. They added 107.85 penalty points to their score to remain in the lead heading into the final phase. In the cones phase, Weber and his team had another winning performance. They knocked a single ball at cone five on Nicoll’s course for 3.00 penalty points to win the championship with a score of 148.92.
“I was really pleased with the team; they worked really well together,” Weber said. “The two I had in the wheel (Boris W and Para) I have driven a lot in the marathon in the wheel, but I haven’t really competed much with them in the cones phase; I was really pleased how they handled everything. Unfortunately I had one down that I think Danzer kicked. He is inexperienced so the way the course was set up with the two cars there and having to drive between them; he was a little not sure what the cars were doing there and lost his concentration and dropped out of the contact. Besides that I was really pleased; it all drove really to plan and pretty straightforward.”
James Fairclough (Newton, N.J.), a veteran of the Four-in-Hand division, started his week off with a fluid dressage test with his mixed team of Warmbloods, putting him in fourth place with a score of 45.54. He climbed to second place following the marathon phase after driving efficiently and having the fastest times in two of the obstacles, collecting 116.00 penalty points. Fairclough and his horses had a strong cones performance, keeping all the balls up, but adding 4.94 time penalties to their score. He collected his 18th Reserve National Champion title with a final score of 166.48.
Allison Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) has mastered driving Four-in-Hand horses after switching from a pony team less than two years ago. She and Willow Star LLC’s Dutch Warmblood team performed a harmonious dressage test on Thursday to receive a score of 45.05. In the marathon phase Stroud struggled at obstacle six, but drove confidently overall on the tough track, adding 126.90 penalty points to her score. She had balls down at nine and 11B for 6.00 penalty points to finish in third place on a score of 177.95.
Misdee Wrigley Miller (Lakewood Ranch, Fla.) also began competing in the Four-in-Hand division less than two years ago, and made a change to her team for this competition, adding a horse she’s had for just two weeks. However, she and her Dutch Warmblood geldings laid down solid performances in all three phases. Wrigley Miller earned a score of 45.44 in the dressage test after executing a lovely test. On marathon day she and her horses easily answered the questions of the course, tallying 135.78 penalty points. Wrigley Miller had balls down following the tricky turns into cones nine and 15 for 6.00 penalty points in the final phase. She finished in fourth place with a final score of 187.22.
Lexington, KY (October 2, 2015) – 11-time U.S. National Four-in-Hand Driving champion Chester Weber of Ocala, Florida has set the stage for a chance at an historic 12th title. Weber finished first with a score of 38.07 in the opening FEI 2* Horse Teams Dressage phase of the 2015 CAI2* Kentucky Classic CDE in Lexington, KY.
“I was really pleased with my and Jane Clark’s team (in dressage),” said Weber, who is seeking his 12th National Championship with several new and younger horses in front of him. “It was exciting to have the younger horses do so well and the Rolex Stadium had a nice feel.” Inclement weather had moved the dressage phase from its traditional grass arena to the Rolex Stadium.
The Ground Jury of Martha Hanks-Nicoli (USA), Marsoe LaRose (CAN), and Nikke Palsson (SWE) rewarded Team Weber for their trot work brilliance and strong rein back with a decisive 38.07 score, establishing an almost 10-point lead ahead of closest (45.05) contender, Allison Stroud.
Weber, who earlier this year earned his second consecutive championship and congratulations from HRH Queen Elizabeth at CAI3* Windsor, is defending his title at Kentucky against one of the most exciting four-in-hand fields in recent memory. The lineup consists of 2015 Bromont International CAI2* champion and 2013 Kentucky Classic reserve champion, James Fairclough of Newton, New Jersey, as well as the reserve champion at Bromont, Live Oak International, Kingdom of the Sun and 2014 Kentucky Classic, Misdee Wrigley Miller of Lakewood Ranch, Florida, and Allison Stroud of West Grove, Pennsylvania, who was third at Live Oak International last spring.
The Four-in-Hand teams will face off on Saturday to match Marathon performances before title contention concludes on Sunday with the cones phase. Team up with Team Weber news, live posts, video and photo galleries, and preferred product reviews at www.chesterweber.com and its link to Facebook.
Ocala, FL (July 21, 2015) – Chester Weber returned to The Netherlands on July 16-19 for the Beekbergen CAI 3*, masterfully winning its Cones phase with the only fault-free performance of its division and finishing fifth overall among its international entries. The Ocala, Florida horseman demonstrated anew why he and his matched bay KWPN team are in the top ten of the Four-in-Hand FEI rankings.
The Beekbergen CAI 3* served as a World Cup qualifier for fellow driving four-in-hand competitors contending for the European Championships in August in Aachen, Germany. Beekbergen had more than 30 entries from nearly a dozen nations, including many of the same contenders Team Weber faced en route to the Individual Silver Medal win at the 2014 World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
“My cones team is technically nice to drive, and is a combination that I have a lot of experience with,” Weber said, praising his horses for delivering the only flawless effort in Cones at Beekbergen. The team included Weber’s 2014 WEG Silver medal-winning Uniek (aka Nick) and Splash, a pair of 16.2-hand bay KWPN geldings provided to Team Weber by Jane Forbes Clark.
It was after a strong performance at Beekbergen three years ago that Europeans began dubbing Weber “Mr. Dressage.” The 11-time U.S. National Four-in-Hand champion did not disappoint this year, turning in a 41.29 effort in Friday’s Dressage phase to sit third by just a three-point margin behind early leaders Ijsbrand Chardon and Boyd Exell.
By Sunday, the sole American entry in his division proved his mettle, handily executing a Cones test to 0.00 perfection and claiming a slot among the top finalists in a narrow and hotly contested points spread. Team Weber finished fifth (147.83) by a tenth of a point behind The Netherlands’ Koos DeRonde (147.73). Coincidentally, DeRonde was the former owner of Ultra, another of the stalwart KWPNs on Team Weber. The overall (136.76) winner was Australia’s Boyd Exell.
Team Weber will head next to Riesenbeck, Germany for the CAIO4* beginning July 30 to August 2 before returning to The Netherlands, September 2-6, for the CAIO4* in Breda. Team Weber will then head to the United States for the CAI2* Kentucky Classic on October 1-4 in Lexington. Keep up with Team Weber’s videos, photo galleries, and international competition results at www.chesterweber.com and via Facebook.
Lahden, Germany (June 26, 2015) – While Team Weber was making America proud with another top four-in-hand finish in Europe at the CAI3*-H4 World Cup Qualifier in Lahden, Germany, long-time partner in Team Weber’s drive to win – Cosequin® from Nutramax Laboratories, Inc. – was inking an agreement to continue as Official Marathon Carriage Sponsor for Chester Weber Combined Driving.
Throughout their 19-year history, Chester Weber and Cosequin have shared views from the top of leader boards at the world’s most prestigious CDEs, earned three World Equestrian Games Silver medals and 11 U.S. Equestrian Federation Four-in-Hand National Championships, and reached number one on the FEI world ranking for the sport.
Cosequin® has been part of the program for Team Weber’s equine athletes since 1996, and recently shared in his second consecutive victory at Royal Windsor and personal congratulations from HRH Queen Elizabeth. Weber’s most recent four-in-hand success was in the CAI3*-H4 World Cup Qualifier in Lahden, Germany on June 19-21, despite a large field of competitors and an exceptionally challenging marathon phase.
“The marathon was the highlight,” Chester Weber said. The team took reserve overall in Lahden’s final standings, including a strong second-place (37.22) in Dressage and third in Marathon.
“It was likely the longest, most difficult marathon of my career,” he added before praising his horses, including Uniek (aka, Nick), one of two 16.2-hand bay KWPN geldings provided to Team Weber by Jane Forbes Clark (the other being Splash). At Lahden, Nick competed for only the second time since Weber’s Silver medal triumph in Normandy at last year’s World Equestrian Games. “He had a great show and was steady from the first through last step,” said Weber.
Weber is grateful to Cosequin for providing him with products that help his team achieve such placings. “Para is 18 now and has been on Cosequin since 2006, and continues to look strong and go well,” he commented about the KWPN teammate. The Team Weber regimen includes Welactin® Equine, an omega-3 supplement designed to support overall equine wellness, and Cosequin® ASU Plus.
“I am a firm believer in keeping my horses on a program that includes Cosequin’s broad spectrum joint enhancer,” says Weber. “For teams to succeed at national and world levels, it’s necessary to have a sound and experienced group of athletes who show up for work eager to train. Keeping my horses on Cosequin means I can build a team with experience and, to gain experience, horses need to be ready to work every day.
“I recommend Cosequin to anyone interested in building great horses, because fit horses can perform, and the more they perform, the more experience they gain – it’s essential to develop veteran partners. From the start, one of my older horses showed such obvious improvement that it made me a believer in the product. I have seen the radiographs on some of my older horses improve after being on Cosequin, which doesn’t usually happen.
“I believe in Cosequin,” Weber concludes. “There is no question in my mind that it makes a horse’s career last longer, and I’ll continue to use Nutramax Laboratories’ products to keep my horses fit and healthy.”
The Cosequin logo will continue to emblazon the front of Team Weber’s marathon carriage as their 2015 European tour continues next to Beekbergen, The Netherlands, for the CAI3* July 16-19. Weber will next head to Riesenbeck, Germany for the CAIO4* on July 30 – August 2.
Cosequin formulas are designed to provide different levels of support depending upon a horse’s overall joint health and/or level of activity. Learn more at www.cosequinequine.com.
Follow Team Weber and the official Cosequin Marathon Carriage at www.chesterweber.com.
HRH Queen Elizabeth congratulating Chester Weber (Photo courtesy of Risto Aaltonen)
London, England (May 20, 2015) – It was a royal redux at England’s Royal Windsor CAI3* as HRH Queen Elizabeth again congratulated Chester Weber, of Ocala, Florida, on his second consecutive victory in the four-in-hand division. The 11-time USEF National Champion and three-time World Equestrian Games Silver medalist returned to the 2015 Royal Windsor Horse Show to defend the title he won there last May.
Fresh off the Live Oak International CDE win in March in the US, Team Weber, comprised of the horses owned by Chester Weber and Jane Forbes Clark, headed to Europe and to the top of the leader boards at the Royal Windsor.
But this year’s competition was no repeat of last year’s handy finish for Team Weber. Living up to his moniker, ‘Mr. Dressage,’ Weber won the opening dressage phase with a score of 36.22, but unlike the year prior, this past week’s competition saw Team Weber’s strongest competitors very close on the scoreboard, with Boyd Exell just fractions of a point behind with a score of 36.57. With just a smidge of a lead, Team Weber had their work ahead of them.
“We had to fight hard for this one. We were in a tight race with Boyd after dressage, and had a costly knockdown in marathon,” Weber said about the tense second phase, which saw Team Weber drop to third position, while a tightly executed 95.64 effort by Exell moved him into the top spot after Saturday’s Marathon. But not for long – Team Weber was now more “driven” than ever.
“I couldn’t let myself dwell on that. I knew we had to focus on bringing our A game into Cones,” Weber said. “And it worked. The horses were amazing. They really stepped up. Everything I asked them for they gave me.”
Weber’s win at last year’s Royal Windsor had marked a coming full circle 18 years in the making since he competed in the pair driving in its stadium in 1996. So what did accepting a second round of royal congratulations feel like? “It was very, very special. And well earned. Not just for me, but for the entire team behind these horses,” said Weber.
As for Team Weber’s own international combined driving calendar, their ambitions are set on the CAI3*-H4 World Cup Qualifier, June 19-21, in Lahden, Germany. The team will head next to compete at Aachen where they enjoyed a record-breaking victory last year. “Aachen is under a different, indoor driving and jumping format this year,” Weber explained, “so it won’t have as much impact on our plans.”
Team Weber had a success plan laid out for 2014 which unfolded with a string of history-making victories that included the first American entry to win the Four-in-Hand at CAIO4* Aachen, an 11th USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Championship, and an unprecedented record dressage phase score (30.89) for the sport at the Kingdom of the Sun CDE. Already their success formula for 2015 is coming to its fruition. Follow Team Weber on their 2015 European campaign at www.chesterweber.com and via Facebook.
May 17 2015 – The fifth and final day of Royal Windsor Horse Show 2015 saw an unprecedented number of people walk through the Windsor gates for their last chance to watch the equestrian extravaganza in the private grounds of Windsor Castle. The crowds were treated to a thrilling finale in the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix with last year’s champion Chester Weber retaining his title while Ireland’s Dermott Lennon also made a victorious return to the show to claim the CS13* Alltech Grand Prix in front of pack.
SHOWJUMPING: LENNON’S VICTORIOUS RETURN TO WINDSOR
Having not competed at Royal Windsor Horse Show for 10 years, Irishman Dermott Lennon’s return resulted in him etching his name in the prestigious event’s history books by winning the Alltech Grand Prix for the Kingdom of Bahrain Trophy. Partnering the consistent Loughview Lou-Lou, he thrilled the crowd with the kind of performance expected of a former World Champion.
“I’d watched [Britain’s] Yazmin Pinchen go and she rode a great round,” said Dermott. “My main concern was getting over the planks, but once I’d done that I was able to go.”
His tactics paid off and he was able to pinch back three seconds, holding on to the lead over eventual second placed Robert Whitaker [Catwalk IV] for Britain.
“I always love to come to Britain and win,” Dermott joked. “It’s a great and famous show with classes for every type and shape of horse I think.”
Home rider Laura Renwick secured her second win of the week by claiming the remaining three-star international competition of the show. Riding Rembrandt Blue, Laura set such a pace that, despite collecting eight seconds in penalties, she still managed to hold a lead over France’s Michel Hecart [Toupie de la Roque].
The USA’s Emma Heise rounded off a week of strong results with a win in the Royal Windsor one-star international Grand Prix riding Viper Vrombautshoeve Z. Based in Warwickshire with Olympic Gold Medallists Laura Kraut (USA) and Nick Skelton (GBR), Emma, who bettered seven rivals in the jump-off, has enjoyed her time at the iconic venue.
“I really like it here,” she said. “It’s been so interesting seeing so many disciplines and competitions we just don’t get in the US.”
Chester Weber
DRIVING: CHESTER WEBER WINS BACK TO BACK TITLES
In a dramatic finale to the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix, last year’s horse four-in-hand winner, Chester Weber from the USA – in second place overnight – coupled professional nerve with outstanding driving skill to retain his title with a back-to-back win.
Second last to go in the cones phase, it looked for all the world as if he would produce the first double clear; however, going just over the allowed time, he picked up 0.18 penalty. In the winning position and ready to take up the challenge, Boyd Exell from Australia drove smoothly and steadily to just past the halfway point on the course. Here his left wheeler slipped on a tight turn, temporarily affecting the steering and losing time. When a ball dropped further on he had to push hard for home; the penalties he accrued dropped him 2.5 penalties behind Weber.
“I’m elated,” Weber remarked. “It’s such a privilege to drive at Royal Windsor and my horses have been outstanding. The course designer here [Christian Iseli from Austria] is the hardest in the world but I have a good record with his courses. I knew if I could go clear the pressure would be on.”
In the pony four-in-hand, Bram Chardon proved himself a champion right to the end. The only competitor to drive the cones course within the allowed time, he had just one ball down to add a win in this phase to his first places in dressage and cross-country, finishing 20 penalties ahead of Tinne Bax from Belgium. Two times gold medallist with this team of grey Welsh ponies, two of which were bred in this country, this is his second time competing – and winning – at Royal Windsor.
“My aim was to finish with a double clear,” he smiled. “But we have had a wonderful event.” His father, Ijsbrand Chardon, finished third in the horse four-in-hands.
SHOWING: PONIES SHOW THE WAY
Kinvara Garner
It was ponies all the way on the final leg of the prestigious Royal Windsor Horse Show.
North-Wales based Kinvara Garner, 12, who was unable to compete last year because her father, Chief Steward Sebastian Garner, was taken ill, came back with vengeance. She took the coveted novice show pony title with the family’s home-produced 4-year-old Alonby Dauphin.
The show hunter pony went to another young lady on the verge of an exciting equestrian career. Alice Homer from Banbury, Oxon is only 11 but is already following in the footsteps of her famous showing family – her mother is Loraine Homer and her grandfather is the legendary showman David Tatlow. Having won her working hunter pony class aboard nursery stakes contender Lemington Nougat, she hot-footed it to another arena to win the 133cm class on Annandale Maria. Then she produced an electrifying performance in the Castle Arena to take her first Windsor Championship.
PONY CLUB MOUNTED GAMES: WIN FOR WALES
A fantastic fast-paced finale in the Daks Pony Club Mounted Games saw Wales vault to victory with England, who they had been battling it out at the top of the table all week, coming in a close second. As ever, the mounted games wowed the crowd with the five nations impressing the applauding audiences all week with their pace, agility and incredible skill in all of the races.
For more information and to view results, please visit www.rwhs.co.uk.
For more information, please contact Hollie Bostock, Revolution Sports + Entertainment
E: hollie@revolutionsports.co.uk, T: +44 207 592 1207.
Royal Windsor Horse Show takes place on 13-17 May 2015. Over 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the 72nd year of the Royal Windsor Horse Show which offers its audience astounding displays in the main Castle Arena, such as The Musical Ride from the Household Calvary and The King’s Troop Musical Drive, the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games and The Shetland Pony Grand National. As well as the equestrian competitions and activities, there are over 230 shops in the Shopping Village, with a wide range of goods for sale, from jewellery and fashion, to food and drink. HM The Queen has attended every year since it started in 1943 and it is the only time of the year that the private grounds of Windsor Castle are open to the public. Royal Windsor Horse Show is organised by HPower Group, also organisers of Olympia, The London International Horse Show www.hpower.co.uk.
Royal Windsor Horse Show’s official charity is the ABF Soldiers Charity. The show was first set up in 1943 by King George VI in order to raise funds for the war effort and has ever since continued to donate thousands of pounds to veterans and serving soldiers in need of help.
London, England (May 15, 2015) – Chester Weber’s 2015 European competition tour is underway, and he already achieved a win in day one. Fresh off his victory on US soil at the Live Oak International CDE, Weber headed to Europe and drove his team to the top of the leader board on Thursday at the Royal Windsor Horse Show in London, England, with a win in the dressage phase of Four-in-Hand combined driving. Weber seems to be well on his way to repeating last year’s impressive results, when he won the Four-in-Hand division at the Royal Windsor Horse Show and was personally congratulated by HRH Queen Elizabeth. Team Weber fans will be routing for the talented driver as he puts his skills to the test in the marathon phase and obstacle phase this weekend.
Weber, ranked number one in the 2014 FEI World rankings after a successful European campaign, is showing no signs of stepping back from success this year. Last year, he won the individual silver medal at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG). 2014 World Equestrian Games winner, Australian whip Boyd Exell, is currently in second place in the 2015 Royal Windsor Horse Show after the dressage phase, making for heated competition for the rest of the weekend. Weber’s Thursday dressage score was 36.22, while Exell is not far behind with 36.57.
Team Weber was a force to be reckoned with throughout 2014, with a string of victories including becoming the first American entry to win the Four-in-Hand at CAIO4* Aachen, defending an 11th USEF National Four-in-Hand Driving Championship and – true to Weber’s moniker, “Mr. Dressage” – setting an unprecedented record dressage phase score (30.89) at the Kingdom of the Sun CDE. After last year’s win at the Royal Windsor Horse Show, there is no doubt Weber and his team are hoping to repeat their previous success.
Follow Team Weber as they continue their European campaign at www.chesterweber.com and via Facebook – and of course, stay tuned to the Royal Windsor Horse Show to watch Weber vie for the overall champion title.
May 14th 2015 – The wet weather didn’t dampen the spirits of the spectators today at Royal Windsor Horse Show who were treated to an array of displays, including a winning performance from Olympic team gold medalist and Show favourite Team GBR’s Carl Hester.
DRESSAGE: CARL HESTER ON TOP FORM
Carl Hester and Nip Tuck members of the British silver medal team at the World Equestrian Games last year, led from the front to win the international grand prix at Royal Windsor Horse Show.
It was the third international win for the pair this year, albeit their score fell just half a percent short of their personal best scored in Barcelona in March.
“It felt like a personal best to me,” said Carl who owns the Dutch-bred gelding with Jane de la Mare. “I think that is the best he’s ever gone. Last year here he felt so green and this year he felt like a really experienced horse.”
The pair is now aiming for this year’s British team for the European Championships to be held in Aachen, Germany. “I was hoping that the ‘up and comings’ might get a go – we are getting more depth and riders available as tonight showed but I will be available if they need me” said Carl who trained almost half of the 12 strong class.
His pupil Fiona Bigwood came closest with her Danish-bred mare Atterupgaards Orthilia who ably demonstrated great natural lift in piaffe and passage. Fiona acquired the mare 18 months ago then last April suffered a serious fall that left her out of the saddle for six months.
“I had to put all the horses on the back-burner,” said Fiona who too was just short of a PB with the mare. Orthilia, however, was the first horse she got back on after her accident.
“She is the kindest horse ever – I love riding her and love her to bits,” said Fiona who is also aiming for a place on the team this year having won team silver at the WEG in 2010.
“My main goal is to try for a place for Rio next year but to be honest I take every show as it comes” she said.
Dutch rider Katja Gevers and her 15-year-old gelding Thriller took third place with their best score so far this year while British rider Alice Oppenheimer and Headmore Delegate, took fourth with a score just short of 70%.
“I would have liked to have made the 70% but he was a good boy and the spotlights do make it quite a spooky arena,” said Alice who trains the British-bred Delegate with Olympic gold medallist Charlotte Dujardin.
Packed stands are expected tomorrow night not only for the grand prix freestyle to music but also a rare chance to see a dressage Masterclass before the class with Carl Hester and Charlotte Dujardin.
Chester Weber
DRIVING: WEBER LEADS THE LANDROVER INTERNATIONAL DRIVING GRAND PRIX
Twenty-six horse four-in-hand competitors from ten nations took part in the dressage phase of the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix. Three of the top four steered smoothly through driving rain, keeping focus to record highly competitive scores.
In top spot is 2014 winner, Chester Weber from the USA, driving the team of warmblood bays he drove last year. In second place is the reigning indoor and outdoor world champion, Boyd Exell from Australia, who has claimed several previous titles here at Royal Windsor. Hot on his heels comes Netherlands’ most successful driver, Ijsbrand Chardon, who has more championships and world titles to his name than any other driver.
Fewer than 1-5 penalties separate first to third placings which will make for breath-holding competition in Saturday’s cross-country marathon. President of the Jury, Andrew Counsell, remarked, “There was little to choose between the top three – it was just a matter of loss of rhythm or a slight lack of suppleness here and there. They will have everything to play for on Saturday which will make an exciting day for spectators.”
SHOW JUMPING: INTERNATIONAL SHOW JUMPING IN A ‘UNIQUE’ SETTING
Britain’s Jordan Marshall, 17, claimed her first senior international win at Royal Windsor Horse Show riding Unique in the CSI1* Thames Speed Stakes. Inclement weather didn’t affect the mood of the competitive field, of which seven remained faultless.
Jordan Marshall riding Unique
The former successful pony rider was drawn late to go in the speed contest and finished with a huge four-second advantage over late-charging runner-up MacKenzie Ray (Audrey) and the former leader Emily Moffitt (Ferox B) of the USA.
Moffitt had better fortunes in the following St George Two-Phase, riding HHS Fafa. With the advantage of final draw, Emily snatched the lead from British long-time leader Sophie Tobin (Quite Cadiz).
The USA’s former Olympic gold medallist Laura Kraut and Thalis de la Rougue claimed their second national show jumping win of the week in the Land Rover Grades B and C Handicap. Meanwhile, Britain’s Mavis Spencer and Marchello, took the Olympic Star Spotters top prize, and her fellow countryman Max Routledge (Carus Royale) claimed the Grades A and B Jumping Competition.
SHOWING: DAY OF DOUBLES
For the second year running, Colchester-based breeder Lisha Leeman landed the in-hand coloured championship. Last year Kellythorpes Master Key took the hotly-contested title and this year’s star, also a two-year-old, was Kellythorpes Kinky Boots. The Showing section’s furthest-travelled competitor, John O’Groats-based Russell Skelton, took reserve with his two-year-old, Freckleton Unbelievable.
Across in the working hunter ring, Oxfordshire-based Libby Cooke took the overall title for the second year running with Douglas Reid-Scott’s victorious heavyweight, Harley Foxtrot.
Friday Highlights
The highly anticipated CSI3* Bahrain Pearl Stakes takes place in the Castle Arena at the start of the afternoon session, which is set to be an exciting competition. Great Britain’s Carl Hester returns to compete in the CDI3* International Freestyle Grand Prix competition taking place at 18:30 in the Castle Arena.
For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.rwhs.co.uk.
For more information, please contact Hollie Bostock, Revolution Sports + Entertainment
E: hollie@revolutionsports.co.uk, T: +44 207 592 1207.
Royal Windsor Horse Show takes place on 13-17 May 2015. Over 50,000 visitors are expected to attend the 72nd year of the Royal Windsor Horse Show which offers its audience astounding displays in the main Castle Arena, such as The Musical Ride from the Household Calvary and The King’s Troop Musical Drive, the DAKS Pony Club Mounted Games and The Shetland Pony Grand National. As well as the equestrian competitions and activities, there are over 230 shops in the Shopping Village, with a wide range of goods for sale, from jewellery and fashion, to food and drink. HM The Queen has attended every year since it started in 1943 and it is the only time of the year that the private grounds of Windsor Castle are open to the public. Royal Windsor Horse Show is organised by HPower Group, also organisers of Olympia, The London International Horse Show www.hpower.co.uk.
Royal Windsor Horse Show’s official charity is the ABF Soldiers Charity. The show was first set up in 1943 by King George VI in order to raise funds for the war effort and has ever since continued to donate thousands of pounds to veterans and serving soldiers in need of help.
