Ocala, Fla. — The Advanced Four-In-Hand National Championship and the inaugural USEF Combined Driving Youth National Championship came to a thrilling close this weekend at Live Oak International. Chester Weber captured the Advanced Four-In-Hand National Championship title, while Sarah Batstone-Roberts made history by claiming the first-ever USEF Combined Driving Youth National Championship title with her Chincoteague Pony gelding, Winston.
Advanced Four-In-Hand National Championship
Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) delivered a masterful performance across all three phases of competition to claim the Advanced Four-In-Hand National Championship title at Live Oak International. Weber and his experienced KWPN string set the tone from the outset, posting a dressage score of 32.99 to establish an early lead.
Weber maintained his command through the demanding marathon phase heading into the final day. On the closing day of competition, the combination navigated the cones course to complete the championship on a final score of 159.35, securing the national title.
"Everybody asks if it gets easier, and I think that if you take yourself seriously, you focus on each competition just as much as you did on the previous one,” said Weber after winning his 23rd Advanced Four-In-Hand National title. “We try to always focus on winning national championships and performing in international matters — that's the mission and vision of our organization. Showing up here and being able to dominate this was an important deal for us, and we have high hopes for what can happen in Aachen at the World Championships this summer."
Team Weber's Four-In-Hand team throughout the weekend consisted of:
-
Amadeus (Talos x Lion's Dana International)
-
Julius V (Bocellie x Talina)
-
Kadora (Manno x Zadora)
-
Nico Teusje C (Cizandro x Adjudante Teusje C)
-
Despardo (Desperados x Mabella)
Jimmy Fairclough (Newton, N.J.) and his Dutch Warmblood team put in a competitive effort throughout the weekend, ultimately finishing in second place with a final score of 205.98. Fairclough's team competing over the weekend included Lothario I & S (Emilano x Fabiola), Hendrik (Manno x Boukje), Magic Boy (Eebert x Cristina Burga), Kallee (Delviro x Curiosa), and Kirando (Delviro HBC x Miranda).
USEF Combined Driving Youth National Championship
The inaugural USEF Combined Driving Youth National Championship concluded on a high note with the cones phase at Live Oak International, producing a memorable and historic moment for the sport. After three phases of competition, Sarah Batstone-Roberts (Ocala, Fla.) and her own 2007 Chincoteague Pony gelding, Winston, claimed the first-ever Youth National Championship title.
Batstone-Roberts entered the weekend with strong dressage marks and took over the championship lead from Ben Riesse during Saturday's marathon phase. The pair added 41.55 penalty points to their dressage score to hold a total of 99.2 entering the final day. On Sunday, Batstone-Roberts and Winston turned in a clean cones round to preserve their lead and seal the championship on their final score of 99.2.
Ben Riesse (Mount Airy, Md.) and his own 2013 Norwegian Fjord mare, Isla, who had led after the dressage phase with a score of 57.56, finished in a close second place on a final score of 106.96. Felicity Demitry (Geneva, N.Y.) and her own 2015 Dutch Harness Cross mare, High Hopes Fancy, rounded out the podium in third place with a total score of 114.50. Dakota Soethe-Auer (Churchville, Md.) and his own 2013 Dutch Harness Horse gelding, Special Forces, earned fourth on a score of 126.92.
Stay Connected
Keep up with U.S. driving by following USA Driving on Facebook and US Equestrian on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, and Instagram. Use #USADriving.