U.S. Drivers Weber and Johnson Third in Nations Cup; Weber Achieves Personal Best at World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen
RELEASE: July 7, 2008
AUTHOR/ADMINISTRATOR: Joanie Morris
Lexington, KY – The U.S. duo of Chester Weber and Tucker Johnson equaled an
Chester Weber Drives to Third Place (Franz & Andreas Steindl)
American best on Sunday by placing third overall in the Four-in-Hand Nations Cup at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen.
Weber made a mistake at the very first cone and added some time faults in the final phase to finish the three phases in third individually, a personal best in Aachen, by less than a point on a score on 154.06.
“We had a bit of a rough day today,” said Weber after the cones. “I was third by less than a point. I had number one down, and I didn’t realize it. I knew I wasn’t going to make time, but I didn’t know I’d had the first one down. It was silly. I won’t make that mistake again.”
The third place finish behind The Netherlands and Hungary (on a score 317.33) sets the U.S. up well for the World Championships in Beedst, The Netherlands September 3-7.
“We look well prepared for the World Championships,” said Weber. “The Europeans know we’re alive. I think this matches the best we’ve been as a nation (in Aachen). As a nation we ended third less than a point behind Hungary. So that one point cost a lot.”
Johnson ended up eighth overall on a score of 163.27, and both drivers felt that the main purpose of this competition, as prestigious as Aachen is, is to prepare for the World Championships.
“We will be in good form the first week in September,” said Weber. “I feel good. The horses are all good. We’re going to try to do a little bit better than that in Beedst. The Netherlands look tough to beat but we saw last night that it was possible.”
ENDS
For more information please contact Joanie Morris at jmorris@usef.org. For complete results, please see www.chioaachen.de.