17 May 2015
Windsor: Second Windsor win for Weber
In a dramatic finale to the Land Rover International Driving Grand Prix, last year’s horse four-in-hand winner, Chester Weber from the USA - in second place overnight - coupled professional nerve with outstanding driving skill to retain his title with a back-to-back win.
Second last to go in the cones phase, it looked for all the world as if he would produce the first double clear; however, going just over the allowed time, he picked up 0.18-penalty. In the winning position and ready to take up the challenge, Boyd Exell from Australia, drove smoothly and steadily to just past the halfway point on the course. Here his left wheeler slipped on a tight turn, temporarily affecting the steering and losing time. When a ball dropped further on he had to push hard for home; the penalties he accrued dropped him 2.5-penalties behind Weber.
“I’m elated,” Weber remarked. “It’s such a privilege to drive at Royal Windsor and my horses have been outstanding. The course designer here [Christian Iseli from Austria] is the hardest in the world but I have a good record with his courses. I knew if I could go clear the pressure would be on.”
In the pony four-in-hand, Bram Chardon proved himself a champion right to the end. The only competitor to drive the cones course within the allowed time, he had just one ball down to add a win in this phase to his first places in dressage and cross-country, finishing 20 penalties ahead of Tinne Bax from Belgium. Two times gold medallist with this team of grey Welsh ponies, two of which were bred in this country, this is his second time competing – and winning – at Royal Windsor.
“My aim was to finish with a double clear,” he smiled. “But we have had a wonderful event.” His father, Ijsbrand Chardon, finished third in the horse four-in-hands.
