The USA’s only representative at the FEI World Driving Championships dropped one place, from third to fourth, after today’s marathon, but with the cones phase to come on Sunday, he still has a chance for a medal.
Chester Weber in the marathon. (Photo courtesy U.S. Equestrian)
Australia’s Boyd Exell continues to lead individually at Pratoni del Vivaro, Italy, with a total of 150.14 penalties after scoring 116.01 in the marathon, where Chester added 118.36 penalties to his dressage score for a total of 159.88
Michael Brauchle of Germany sizzled to win the marathon with 107 penalties for a total of 156.18, as the Netherlands’ Ijsbrand Chardon moved up to third and brought his team into first place. His score was 157.47, adding in 114.49 from the marathon.
“This year I won the marathon at Royal Windsor and Valkenswaard and that was good for me. I’m a young man and I have a lot of strength and my horses fight for me and with me. It’s a big plus for me in the marathon when my horses have fun–big fun,” said Michael, who is posing a big threat from his vantagepoint in second place overall so far.
“My right leader is Djamilo (Jamie) and he’s a brilliant marathon horse. He knows his job; he’s been doing this for four years. I bought him as a young horse, and we have worked together for a lot of years and make a good team together. I think we also put Germany in a good place now,” Michael commented.
Boyd, the defending champion, was sixth in the marathon and will have to hustle in the cones to keep his place, as the three others are so close behind him.
Boyd Exell in the marathon. (Photo courtesy FEI)
Chester, who was ninth in the marathon, noted, “The course was hilly up and down oted, “The course was hilly up and down and it was really a nice challenge. There are a lot of shows where we’ve driven the same track so many times, and that experience can be invaluable, but when you come to a competition like here in Pratoni, and this was a really new feeling and test, and you really had to be a clever driver and know where your strengths are and what you can and can’t do.”
With two newer combinations debuting in their first world championship, in both Amadeus and Julius V, the pair strengthened the team’s overall score with their agility and responsiveness to the questions asked along the track.
“I felt like the first four obstacles were really strong,” mused Chester, who was on the USA’s gold medal team at the 2018 world championships during the World Equestrian Games in Tryon, N.C.
“They handled it really well. I lost a little bit of pressure on the leaders after the fifth obstacle, but this team is a little inexperienced and completely new leaders from Tryon and they showed a lot of promise today,” he explained.
“We’ve been working really hard at home to try and get them faster and certainly what I saw in the first four obstacles is the talent we need for the future and standing on another podium.”
In the team competition, the Netherlands has 311.58 penalties after taking over the lead from Germany, which has 314.85. Belgium is in third with 335.20. The U.S. has no team because Misdee Wrigley withdrew shortly before the championships due to health reasons. Only two drivers are required to make up a team, though most countries have three drivers and a drop score.
Click here for the individual standings