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United
States Drivers Make History With Team Silver Medal Win
at 2002World Equestrian Games
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Jerez
de la Frontera, Spain – September 21, 2002 – The United
States Drivers made history winning the team Silver Medal in the
Four-In-Hand Driving World Championship on Saturday at the 2002
World Equestrian Games in Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Until now
the best finish for a U.S. Four-In-Hand team at a World Championship
was fourth in 1984 and 1986.
All
three drivers on the U.S. team went clear in Saturday’s concluding
Cones phase finishing with a three-phase score of 286.52 penalties.
The Netherlands won the Gold scoring 275.01 and the Bronze went
to Germany with 291.54.
James
Fairclough of Newton, NJ, driving a team owned by Jane Forbes
Clark, was the first to go for the U.S. team and set the tone
by having a double clear. Fairclough had bad luck in the first
two phases and really wanted to go clear to help the team.
“It
was nice to go clear and take the pressure off the other guys,”
said Fairclough. “I had a little bad luck the first two days
and was the drop score. I’m really glad I was able to do
this for them. I have been trying for twenty two years to get
a Four-In-Hand medal. It’s nice to finally have one to hang
on the wall.”
By the time Chester Weber of Ocala, FL drove his team in the cones
phase, the Gold Medal was already won. A clear go by Weber would
clinch the Silver for the U.S., but Weber also wanted the U.S.E.T.
Four-In-Hand Championship title which was to go to the top U.S.
finisher at these World Championships.
“I
knew I could go clear,” said Weber. “I wanted to do
well for the team, but I also wanted to win the National title.
It was between Tucker and me and although we are friends on the
ground, we fight in the carriage. It was great to be on this team
though we are all such good friends.”
Weber finished fifth with a score of 143.33.
Tucker
Johnson of Hobe Sound, FL, driving a team he co-owns with Mr.
and Mrs. James L. Johnson was the final driver for the U.S. The
team medal had already been won, but in fourth place and with
the top three yet to go, an individual medal was still a possibility
as was an unprecedented sixth USET Four-In-Hand Championship.
Unfortunately, the order stayed the same and Johnson finished
fourth, clinching the USET title with a score of 143,19, but the
team medal was still very special.
“This
medal was very meaningful for us and for driving in the States,”
said Johnson. “The United States Equestrian Team (USET) made
a huge effort to support driving and that made a difference. I
was a little disappointed in my performance in Dressage and Cross
Country. I know I have a better World Championship performance
in me.”
Ijsbrand
Chardon of the Netherlands won his third World Championship Four-In-Hand
title with a score of 134.30. Christoph Sandmann of Germany had
half a time fault, but his score of 136.07 was still good enough
for the Silver. The defending World Champion Tomas Eriksson of
Sweden dropped a ball and incurred five penalties, but stayed
in third for the Bronze with 140.67.
Comprehensive
coverage of all World Equestrian Games competition is available
on the USET website at www.uset.org.
The United States Equestrian Team is a non-profit organization
that selects, trains, equips and finances equestrians of the highest
possible standard to represent our country in major international
competition, including the Olympic Games and the World Championships.
To accomplish this, the USET seeks out and nurtures the development
of talented athletes - riders, drivers and horses - and provides
the support and guidance they need to help them attain their fullest
potential. For more information on the USET, please call (908)
234-1251, or visit USET ONLINE at www.uset.org
.
