Chester Weber Makes History as First American to Win the Four-in-Hand Division at the CHIO Aachen
Aachen, Germany (July 21, 2014) – An exceptional season for Chester Weber became even more impressive as the 11-time US National Four-in-Hand Champion trumped the competition at Aachen, Germany to win the Four-in-Hand division at the CHIO Aachen. In the history making win, he and his team of KWPN geldings were awarded success in the CAIO4* competition after a heated competition with major contenders, continuing his legacy of undefeated success in 2014. The win marks Weber as one of only 10 Americans to win at Aachen, and the first ever to win the Four-in-Hand division at the prestigious show in the nearly nine decades that it has been in existence.
Kicking off the competition with a brilliant dressage score of 36.22, Weber and his team took an early lead at Aachen. Known for his prowess in the dresage phase, Weber was the only team to score below a 40, with Boyd Exell of Australia clocking in second with a 41. Excell would continue to push Weber, however, leading to a tight competition in the cones and marathon.
During the cones phase on Thursday, Weber went clear but added 0.66 in time penalties fto finish 6th. Exell had 3.00 penalties in the cones, but continued to chase Weber’s lead during the marathon. Exell proved the marathon to be his forte, finishing in the lead with a 91.63, but Weber was not to be outdone. With a score of 97.60 in the marathon, his total came to 134.48, giving him the win at Aachen and an incredible lead in to the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Normandy.
“Today was a big day for our team and what will be a highlight of my career,” said Weber following his success at Aachen. “I am humbled to drive such a wonderful group of horses, to work with such a fantasitc staff, and to have the best sponsor in the world. Our team continues to show their preparedness in dressage as we prepare ourselves for the World Equestrian Games.”
For more information on Chester Weber, his team, and their trek to Normandy, visit his website at www.chesterweber.com and follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Chester-Weber.