Aachen, Germany –The CAIO4*-H4 Nations Cup competition concluded on Sunday at CHIO Aachen with the cones phase. Under the guidance of Chef d’Equipe Ed Young, the U.S. Driving Team of Chester Weber and  Allison Stroud finished in seventh place. Weber was the top-ranked American, earning third. The Netherlands maintained its dominate two-phase lead to take the Gold medal in team competition. Germany placed second and Belgium finished in third.

Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and his and Jane Clark’s team of KWPN geldings began the competition with a lovely dressage test on Thursday to put them near the top of the leaderboard in second. Weber boldly took on the Dr. Wolfgang Asendorf–designed marathon course on Saturday, accumulating 120.06 in penalties, and placing fifth in the marathon. Weber put on a masterclass in the cones phase Sunday, leaving all the balls up and adding only 2.56 in time penalties to his total for a score of 160.96. He finished an extremely close third behind IJsbrand Chardon (NED), who placed second on 159.24. Boyd Exell (AUS) maintained his dominate individual lead throughout the three phases to take the victory on a total of 148.15.

Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) had a respectable dressage test with Willow Star LLC’s team of KWPN geldings in her CHIO Aachen debut on Thursday for a score of 56.93. In the marathon, Stroud gained valuable experience and took her time through the obstacles, adding 186.31 penalties. Stroud had an unfortunate early end to competition in the cones phase, as she was excused for an error on course.

Complete results

Further information on driving at CHIO Aachen

The U.S. was represented at CHIO Aachen this week in dressage, eventing, and show jumping. The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team earned the Silver medal on Saturday in the Lambertz Nations Cup. Thursday evening the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping tied for the Silver medal with France in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup. Find out more on USEFNetwork.com.

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