2011 Press Releases

For Immediate Release
Date:  Sept. 11, 2011
Contact:  Martha Barbone
(610) 998-9500 / (610) 563-4270 cell / mbarbone1@verizon.net

Jimmy Fairclough holds on to win the
USEF National Championship at The Laurels

With a scant eight points in hand, the equivalent of two knockdowns and time going into the last phase of the USEF National Four-in-Hand Championship on Sunday, cones, Jimmy Fairclough, of Newton, NJ, said he felt no pressure. Considering it was Chester Weber, with eight consecutive championships to his credit, who was breathing down his neck, that attitude clearly reflected Fairclough’s confidence as the expert he is in the phase.

Weber, of Ocala, FL., one of the top four-in-hand combined drivers in the world, had to be on top of his game to win. “I wanted to do my best to drive as well as I can and try to put pressure on,” said Weber.  

Driven in reverse order of go, Weber tackled the tight course first and had a ball down. “I knew I had a little room so I wasn’t going to go crazy,” said Fairclough. In the end, Fairclough also had a ball down and time penalties but was able to keep his lead to win the title.

Fairclough won the very first National Four-in-Hand championship decades ago, before there was a trophy to engrave and has been Reserve National Champion 14 times. He is considering a well-earned retirement. “It’s been 34 years,” he said. “I’d like to go next year to the World Championships and the next World Games and then I think it’s probably it for me.”

He has represented the U.S. in almost every World Championship since 1980 and also acted as chef d’equipe for one. “It’s a lot of training, a lot of time and a lot of effort,” he said. “At some point somebody else has to take over.”

Fairclough, who has a new team and hasn’t competed since WEG last October, felt a little rusty before the Laurels. “This is the first time out for this combination,” he said of the horses he used on the marathon on Saturday. Fairclough, who with his family now owns the horses, Valentino, Coletto, Charlie Brown, Levin and Kavango, tried yet a different combination for cones, veterans Kovango and Charlie Brown in the lead and Levi and Coletto in the wheel. “I never tried Levi and Coletto in the wheel before,” he said. “It worked out.”

The 25^th annual Laurels at Landhope International Combined Driving Event, one of the most prestigious events of its kind, benefits the University of Pennsylvania New Bolton Center, the Large Animal P{roection Society, the Brandywine Conservancy and the Cheshire Land Preservation Trust.

The Laurels at Landhope cookbook, Combined Cooking, featuring recipes from the collections of Laurels committee members, along with quality Laurels at Landhope souvenir apparel, logoed polo shirts, visor caps and more can also be purchased on the web site, www.laurelscde.org.

For more information or results for other divisions, visit the web site, www.laurelscde.org or phone (610) 486-0710.

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For Immediate Release
Date:  Sept. 10, 2011
Contact:  Martha Barbone
(610) 998-9500 / (610) 563-4270 cell / mbarbone1@verizon.net 

Chester Weber falls behind Jimmy Fairclough at the  USEF National Championships at The Laurels

Making an uncharacteristic mistake on the marathon today, Chester Weber missed a gate in the third hazard to put him a little under eight points behind Jimmy Fairclough. In Sunday’s phase, the cones, each ball knocked down counts as three penalty points and, for going over the time allowed, penalties are also assessed. In effect Fairclough has a lead of two balls and a narrow margin of time. Weber, who has had mixed results in cones at The Laurels, will need to be on top of his game to garner his ninth consecutive National Championship.

Both drivers were pleased with their horses on the marathon despite the heavy going, but for Fairclough, who lost his long-time sponsor, Jane Clark, after the World Equestrian Games, it was particularly gratifying. “I haven’t driven anything since WEG and it’s the first time for this combination,” he said.

Fairclough, who with his family, now owns the horses, Valentino, Coletto, Charlie Brown and Kavango, needed to rearrange the team and didn’t know until he tried it, how they would respond. “I never used Coletto in the lead with Charlie Brown but I did today because I lost some of the other pieces,” said Fairclough. “It was a little choppy because I like to be smooth.”

It wasn‘t clear sailing for Fairclough as he had a glitch in the water hazard causing his team to take some stutter steps. “My whip got caught,” he said. “It cost me four or five seconds.”

Weber was disappointed but blamed no one but himself. “I had a gate backward in hazard #3,” he said. “We walked it that way. It was just a mistake and I have nothing to say except it was inexcusable.” He was very pleased with how well his horses went. “I thought the course was very heavy-going,” he said. “It was terribly hot and the whole Section E, you could be going downhill and the horses had to pull.”

Fairclough and Weber will determine their standings Sunday, at approximately 1 p.m., when they are scheduled to compete in cones. “Anything can happen,” said Weber. “We’ll drive the show until the end.”

The 25th annual Laurels at Landhope International Combined Driving Event, one of the most prestigious events of its kind in the U.S., is hosting the 2011 U.S. National Four-In-Hand Championship. Four entries in the division include three Americans, Chester Weber, James Fairclough and Josh Rector, who are eligible for the championship and one Canadian, Eugen Hug.

Tropical storm Lee, responsible for the torrential rain right before the event, impacted more than the competition phase. The grass parking fields were saturated leading to the cancellation of the Artists of the Laurels at Landhope preview party and show and the 25th Anniversary Extravaganza party. The terrier races will go on as usual on Sunday, the Barbone Street Jazz Band is scheduled to play Sunday and a commemoration ceremony honoring victims of 9/11 will be held at noon.

Kids Corner, with games, face painting and crafts, runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 4 pm.  The Trade Fair features a variety of vendors offering jewelry, art, antiques, collectibles, equine/canine inspired giftware, equine and equestrian equipment, elegant country-style apparel, farm equipment, carriages, and carriage appointments

Combined driving requires a unique partnership between horse or pony and driver that relies on training and trust. An offshoot of ridden three-day eventing, it features the elegance of dressage, the excitement of cross-country and a cones course, an intricate test of skill and precision. The competition begins at 8 am each day.  Dressage is held Friday, Marathon on Saturday, and Cones on Sunday.

Though The Laurels at Landhope show grounds cover 44 acres, the two competition arenas, extremely popular trade fair, exhibition area with two restaurants, and the Patron Tent all adjoin one another.  The marathon hazards, the highlight of the event, are adjacent and easily visible to spectators.

The Laurels at Landhope cookbook, Combined Cooking, featuring recipes from the collections of Laurels committee members, will be on sale, along with quality Laurels at Landhope souvenir apparel. The logoed polo shirts, visor caps, cookbooks and more can also be purchased on the web site, www.laurelscde.org.

Admission to The Laurels at Landhope CDE is $10 per car, which includes admission for all occupants. Tickets for the patron tent, which includes daily preferred parking and lunch Saturday and Sunday, are $150. For more information, directions or results for other divisions, visit the web site, www.laurelscde.org or phone (610) 486-0710.

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For Immediate Release
Date:  Sept. 9, 2011
Contact:  Martha Barbone
(610) 998-9500 / (610) 563-4270 cell / mbarbone1@verizon.net

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