Boyd Excell (AUS) the new World Champion driving four in hand Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Lexington - Kentucky 2010 © Dirk Caremans |
Johnson S Tucker (USA) Cones driving competition Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Lexington - Kentucky 2010 © Dirk Caremans |
Johnson is the second four-in-hand driving medalist in the history of the U.S. team, and he led teammates Chester Weber (who was the first U.S. individual medalist, winning individual silver in 2008) and James Fairclough to the team silver medal (330.92). This is the second team silver medal this trio has won at the World Equestrian Games. (The first was in 2002.)
IJsbrand Chardon (NED) Cones driving competition Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Lexington - Kentucky 2010 © Dirk Caremans |
Exell closed out these World Games as the only Australian gold medalist. “I know it sounds like a cliché to say this, but it hasn’t really sunk in yet,” said Exell, who drove these championships with a broken left hand, suffered in a riding accident the week before they began.
In 2008, Exell won the individual bronze medal at the Driving World Championships, behind Chardon and Weber. “To get five horses and all the people and your equipment just right for one weekend is a huge task, and we’ve been trying to do it for 10 years. You get to the point where you can do it regularly, like we have, and then you have to be lucky to win.”
Individual medals driving : 1 Boyd Exell, 2 Ijsbrand Chardon, 3 Tucker Johnson with Mr Steve Eliott and Mr Aden Connolly Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Lexington - Kentucky 2010 © Dirk Caremans |
Johnson, 46, said again that this would be his final world championship, that he is retiring from international competition.
“I won’t change my decision. We’ve all three been doing this for a long time, and it’s time for me to move on,” Johnson said. “This felt good. Not everyone gets a chance to end something on such a high note. It was a grand end to a lot of experiences.”
Team medals driving : 1NED, 2 USA, 3 GER with Mr Steve Eliott and Mr Aden Connolly Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games Lexington - Kentucky 2010 © Dirk Caremans |
“Our program and our team—along with the program at the U.S. Equestrian Federation—all came together for this medal here,” said Fairclough.
“It’s been a whole group effort, and you feel like the whole nation is behind you here,” said Johnson.
Weber believes that the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games will have a lasting effect on driving in the United States. “There’s a future of driving in the U.S. because of these games,” he said. “Having the WEG here really got us going, and now, with Tucker leaving, Jimmy and I are looking forward to being the foundation of our team in the future.”
The attendance on this final day of the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games was 38,682. The total 16-day attendance was 507,022.
No comments:
Post a Comment