WEG: Official Horse Deals Coverage Week 2

Driving for the USA, Mike McLennan and his team mike a sharp left hand turn as they negotiate the Walnut Hill obstacle at number 4.

Riding for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Abdulla Al Sharbatly surprisingly incurred eight jumping penalties riding his own, 'Seldana di Campalto', but went clear riding the other three horses to claim the FEI World Championship Individual Silver Medal.

Rodrigo Pessoa was heavily backed to claim a second World Championship. Rodrigo got off to a bad start by having one fence down over the big 1.55m track riding 'HH Rebozo'. A further eight penalties riding Philippe Le Jeune's Vigo D' Arsouilles. saw the 1998 Champion out of the medals with 12 penalties.

As we saw four years ago in Aachen a talented Belgian horseman took out the World Championship title. Forty nine year old professional, Philippe Le Jeune rode 'Vigo D' Arsouilles' to take Team Bronze and tonight Philippe rode four fault free rounds to claim the World Championship title. Vigo is by Nabab de Reve, the horse he rode to Team Bronze at the Jerez World Championships in 2002. Philippe rode all horses beautifully and it was a pleasure to watch. He is a deserving World Champion.

Eric Lamaze's 'Hickstead' was the most successful horse in the competition, ending on zero penalties after the four rounds. The final four ride off course this year was bigger than we have seen in the past, due apparently to the fact that there were too many clear rounds at Aachen four years ago. Certainly the course was tougher, but all four riders rode well. Also this year if there happened to be an equality after the 16 rounds of jumping, the result was to be determined by the leader in the standings after the four qualifying rounds. It was not needed. Lamaze had a fence down on Sharbatly's "Seldana di Campalto and one down plus a time penalty riding Rodrigo's 'HH Rebozo' to take the Bronze medal with nine penalties.

Phillip Le Jeune was last to go riding Eric Lamaze's 'Hickstead'. In this photo, the horse seems to be looking at Philippe with a "who are you" look in his eye. "I was very concentrated and did not want to impose my style on the other horses", commented Le Jeune. "I was just going to ride them the way they wanted to go",; and he did.

"I love animals more than people; my life is my horses". Before all the congratulatory hugs, Philippe has a moment with 'Vigo'.

Australian Para Dressage Team Member, Grace Bowman rode a good Grade II Freestyle today aboard, 'Kirby Park Joy' for a score of 67.85% and 13th place in a very strong competition.

Germany's Georg van Stein is pictured driving his team through the Walnut Hill Obstacle at number 4. Just like Eventng used to be, cross country day is divided in to several phases including roads and tracks. Phase E, the actual obstacle course was 8.49 kilometres. After the dressage and Marathon phases they are in seventh place with 164.11 penalties.

Driving for France, Stephane Chouzenoux heads into the Walnut Hill obstacle with a good deal of help from the navigator and the groom, who help to balance the vehicle. they are going at a fair pace as they go through the timed obstacles. They go through an electronic timer as they enter and then break the beam as they exit. Stephane is in 15th place heading in to the final phase with 174.52.

Driving for The Netherlands, Theo Timmerman guides his team through the Stone Garden obstacle at number 5. They are in fourth place after the two phases with 148.79 penalties.

US Driver, Joshua Rector's leaders are really paying attention as they head in to the obstacle Squirrel Grove at number 6. They are in 22 place heading in to the final phase.

No guessing what direction this team is heading. Sweden's Fredrik Persson heads in to the Squirrel Grove Obstacle at number 6.

Internationally successful US driver, Chester Webber came in to the Championships at short odds. Equal second after the dressage phase, with 35.97 all did not go well on the marathon course.with the grooms having to get off the vehicle twice due to some difficulty with the harness. Each time the groom has to get off to assist the team, a penalty of 10 is added to the score. Webber and his beautiful Team are in ninth place on 159.92 with plenty to do tomorrow.

Gary Stover, one of the six Drivers for the USA powers out of an obstacle chasing the finish line.

Australia's Gavin Robson did not have the best start, but when he got going he drove Larry and Marilyn Denny's beautiful team of chestnut Dutch Harness horses with great skill. Based in Ohio, Robson is obviously popular as he was cheered all the way around the course.

Polish Driver Piotr Mazurek's leaders look very attentive as they make their way from one obstacle to another.They are in 16th place at the end of the spectacular Marathon day.

This shot of successful German driver, Christoph Sandmann demonstrates a sense of speed and power and amazing control. The Marathon is really thrilling to watch. After the Marathon Sandmann is in sixth place with 151.18..

Well known and successful Dutch driver, Koos de Ronde's team looks to be working in perfect harmony through the second obstacle, The Head of the Lake. They are in seventh place after the dressage and marathon phases with 153.56.

US Driver, James Fairclough guides Jane Clark's team through the water obstacle, The Head of the Lake at number 2. They finished day two of the Driving Championship in 13th place with 169.86.

Australia's Boyd Exell and team are really making a splash as they power their way through the water obstacle at number 2. Boyd finished the course in the third fastest time of the day and holds the lead going in to the final phase with 130.52.

US driver, Casey Zubek's leaders are really paying attention as they head in to the maze like first obstacle, The Kentucky Horses.

Swiss driver, Ulrich Werner's leaders lead the way and the wheelers, especially on the near side really put an effort into pulling. They are in 14th place after the Marathon day with 168.57.

The speed and agility and degree of training are very very impressive on Marathon day. German driver, Ludwig Weinmayr encourages his team to gallop through the last obstacle, number 8, The Spring.

Sweden's Tomas Eriksson urgers his team to make a big effort at the last obstacle. Eriksson is in fifth place after the dressage and marathon phases with 149.82.

Voice is a big part of driving and the horses respond well to verbal instruction. US driver, Tucker Johnson is clearly using his voice to urge his team across the line. They are in third place going in to the final phase with 147.06 penalties.

Despite Dutch Driving Champion, Ijsbrand Chadon's carriage being vandalised overnight, he an the rest of his team put in a supreme effort to come home with the best Marathon run today. They are in second place on 132.24, less than two penalties behind Boyd Exell.

It does seem a stranger thing to do, but it is very impressive and requires great talent and training, Nicholas Andreani from France took the Bronze Medal in the Male FEI World Vaulting Championship.

Kai Vorberg from Germany adopted a Military theme for his Freestyle today and it was good enough for Silver in the FEI Male Vaulting Individual Final.

"We have lift off"! Switzerland's Patric Looser adopted a Space theme for his Individual Freestyle. He performed well to claim the FEI Male world Vaulting Championship.