Aachen, 03. July 2008

Chester Weber wins the TIME-SHUTTLE Prize
American victory in the first discipline of the overall classification

America claimed victory in the first driving competition at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen (June 27th - July 6th). The 33-year-old Chester Weber and his four-in-hand team won the TIME-SHUTTLE Prize, followed by the Dutch driver Ijsbrand Chardon and Tucker Johnson from the USA.

Chester Weber, who has already competed at five World Championships, claiming team silver in 2002, lives in the sunny State of Florida. He had harnessed his horses Grumus (an 11-year-old gelding by Grusus), Jamaica by Cambridge Cole (17), Rolex W by Larriz (11) and Senate by Balmoral (11). He already qualified to drive in World Cup competitions at the tender age of 18. He took the lead with a score of 77.2 percent.

In his role as one of the favourites, the 19-time Dutch Champion, Ijsbrand Chardon, drove his team into second place. The 47-year-old from AC Den Hoorn, who had harnessed the horses Argus, Isovlas Paganini, Isovlas Tango and Zidane, scored 75.7 percent. Chardon, a father of four, has won the individual World Championship title twice and took the silver medal in the individual classification at the World Equestrian Games in Aachen. Third place also went to the United States of America and was claimed by Tucker Johnson with a score of 72.2.

The best German driver was Ludwig Weinmayr, who finished ninth. The 47-year-old from Fischbachau, Bavaria, came 19th at the FEI World Equestrian Games, Aachen 2006. He has competed at three World Championships to-date.

Opening hours of the CHIO Aachen 2008 ticket sales:
Thursday, 03.07.2008 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday, 04.07.2008 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, 05.07.2008 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, 06.07.2008 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ticket hotline: +49-(0)241-917-1111