Chester Weber in the marathon on Saturday (From the @Windsorhorse on Twitter)
Windsor, England - Chester Weber from Florida, USA took the top spot in the fiercely contested horse four-in-hand class at Royal Windsor after an edge-of-the seat final phase. Weber, who last competed – and won – here with a horse pair in 1996, posted a smooth and accurate dressage test with his perfectly-matched bay KWPNs, earning him the early lead by some five points over six-times IDGP winner, Boyd Exell from Australia. Weber’s secure, but slower-than-some drive in the marathon gave him fourth place in this section and put him less than 3-penalties ahead of Exell; this meant he could afford no mistakes in the final cones phase. Exell gifted him a little more breathing space by picking up three cones penalties – Weber, however, did not need it. He finished with a flourish, driving one of only three double clears in this class and putting a smile on his face that competed with the bright sunshine.
“I am so pleased,” he said. “This really means a lot to me – to win at Royal Windsor is particularly special.”
Along with the rest of the Show, the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix played out under near cloudless skies making perfect underfoot conditions through all three phases. 32 competitors from 13 nations, including six competitors from GB, gathered to do battle in horse four-in-hands. In a class traditionally dominated by men, this year saw the greatest number of women four-in-hand drivers at Royal Windsor – a record four coming from Germany, USA and GB. Highest placed was Mareike Harm from Germany, who has been driving horse four-in-hands competitively for less than five years – she turned in an extremely impressive performance which will make for future interest.
Along with the rest of the Show, the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix played out under near cloudless skies making perfect underfoot conditions through all three phases. 32 competitors from 13 nations, including six competitors from GB, gathered to do battle in horse four-in-hands. In a class traditionally dominated by men, this year saw the greatest number of women four-in-hand drivers at Royal Windsor – a record four coming from Germany, USA and GB. Highest placed was Mareike Harm from Germany, who has been driving horse four-in-hands competitively for less than five years – she turned in an extremely impressive performance which will make for future interest.
The 15 horse pairs also represented a good mix of nations, the win for the second year running (and third time overall) going to Ireland’s Barry Capstick, with his half-brother chestnut and grey KWPNs. He led from start to finish, his 10-penalty lead in dressage making his position unassailable. 2012 horse pairs IDGP winner, Harrie Verstappen from the Netherlands, with his trademark skewbald KWPN mares, challenged hard in the marathon winning this phase and reducing Capstick’s lead by 5-penalties but the Irishman’s superior cones round clinched a secure win. Another regular Royal Windsor competitor, Amely von Buchholtz from Argentina took third place.
In the 11-strong pony four-in-hand class – competitors coming from the Netherlands, Germany, Belgium, Hungry, USA, Austria, Ireland and the home nation – it was an all-the-way win for one of Holland’s top pony drivers, Jan de Boer who claimed the red rosette last year too. Great Britain’s Sara Howe stormed round the marathon to win this phase and secure her second place overall ahead of Martin Thiemann from Germany.
See full results at hoefnet.nl.