Chester Weber Sets Record With Fifth Consecutive Win of the USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship

By Sarah L. Evers

It was a “typical day” at the office for Chester Weber as he went out and captured yet another USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship, his fifth in a row. Yet, Weber, of Ocala, FL, had some top-notch competition to challenge him as two previous five-time winners sought to win their sixth title. Both Tucker Johnson of Hobe Sound, FL, and James Fairclough of Newton, NJ, have accomplished what Weber has done, but neither has had the reign that Weber has maintained over the past five years.

This year’s championship took place September 7-9 at the Laurels at Landhope CDE in West Grove, PA. All of the drivers in the advanced division traveled the same course, and during cones, only one driver made it through clean (Jennifer Matheson of Aiken, SC, with her pony Dannyloo, who won the Advanced Single Pony division) around designer Jamie O’Rourke’s difficult course. Driving the combination of Rolex W, Boy W, Senate, Jamaica and Parava, Weber ended cones with two balls down and six points in penalties to end with a final score of 122.59, which was still far ahead of the competition.

The second and third spots were much closer, so it seems the real competition was for the reserve championship, which went to Fairclough with a score of 145.83. Johnson was not far behind in third with 146.22.

The three drivers are no stranger to top competition, or to competing against each other, or with each other, for that matter. All three competed on Team USA at the 2006 FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Aachen, Germany.

The recently married Weber was thrilled with this year’s win, and the fact that he has become the first driver to ever win the event five times in a row. “It was a big goal of mine for the whole year to break that sort of record, and I was able to do it handily,” he said. “I think I have a really spectacular group of horses.”

He was happy to be able to return Senate back to the team since the horse sustained an injury during the 2006 WEG. Weber also attributed his success to his work with Koos De Ronde, who he describes as one of the best marathon drivers in the world. Weber, who believes his team excels in dressage, has been working with De Ronde since November to improve his marathon, and it showed in this year’s scores. “The marathon team is starting to get really good,” he said. His immediate plans for the team include the new Lexington Combined Driving Classic in Lexington, KY, October 5-7.

For more information, contact Joanie Morris at (859) 225-2052 or e-mail jmorris@usef.org.

Photo Credit: Chester Weber and WEG by PhelpsPhotos.com