Beesd, The Netherlands – The marathon phase of the World Four-in-Hand Driving Championship 2008 turned out to be a very exciting spectacle. Nearly 40,000 driving fans turned out to watch the action and the beautiful course included all types of obstacles, including water fountains. The marathon in Beesd is one of the most impressive in the world.

US driver Chester Weber, the dressage winner of this Championship, was very focused and motivated on the marathon and was determined not to lose too many points to the marathon specialists. He succeeded ¬– Weber drove a clear marathon, and did not give one meter away. His team was foot perfect until the very last obstacle.

Weber was 13th in the marathon and is in second position overall after the first two phases. The final phase, the cones, concludes tomorrow. Weber's score of 133.65 is only 2.46 points behind Dutch driving legend Ijsbrand Chardon, meaning the difference is less than one ball. Excitement is guaranteed for tomorrow’s competition for the title of 2008 World Champion.
Sweden’s Tomas Eriksson, World Champion in 1990 and 2000, won the marathon, ahead of Jozsef Dobrovitz from Hungary and Dutch driving icon Ijsbrand Chardon whose performance is closely followed by his many enthusiastic fans.

Weber’s teammate, Tucker Johnson, drove a marathon full of action; especially in the two large water obstacles. Johnson showed his strength and accuracy by galloping full speed through the gates. Johnson was 23rd in the marathon and is in 17th place overall in the individual standings. Tucker is 26.62 points away from the top drivers but his chance of moving up in the standings are wide open if he drives a clear round tomorrow. Johnson is aiming for a top ten placing in Beesd.
The third US driver, James Fairclough, was eliminated in the marathon after an incident at obstacle six. He knew both his teammates had finished well and he drove his team back to the stables. His strength is in tomorrow’s cones competition where he will hopefully make a significant contribution to Team USA’s result.

Team USA lies in fourth place after the first two phases on a score of 291.5. The Netherlands is in the lead on 273.7, ahead of the marathon specialists from Hungary (284.3) and the cones driving experts from Switzerland (290.7). The difference between the teams is tight and this promises excitement on the last and decisive day of the World Four-in-Hand Driving Championship 2008.

The next World Champion will drive towards his medal in between the cones tomorrow and Weber’s individual chances are looking good.

For complete results, please see: http://www.hoefnet.nl/home/site/uitslagen/c9e6a530a18ecde8b75c148da1bed475, for more information please contact Joanie Morris at [email protected].