Newsletter World Four-in-Hand Driving Championship

GMB new main sponsor

Besides Rabobank, a second name has been added to the list of main sponsors to the FEI World Four-in-Hand Driving Championship that will take place from 3 until 7 September 2008 in Gelderland’s Beesd.

The Betuwe ground, roads and water construction company GMB has joined its name to this international event-taking place at the grounds of Mariënwaerdt Country Estate in Beesd. GMB has more than 40 years of professional experience in its field. With GMB, the organizing committee of the WC Four-in-Hand will have all the expertise at their disposal in making sure that the show grounds will be in an optimal condition for the World Championship. GMB has already begun with the preparations of the grounds at Mariënwaerdt: the stadium, the warming-up area and the participants’ camping grounds are partly being fitted out.

“GMB will ensure that the grounds where the competition takes place will be kept in super condition” explained grounds owner Frans Baron Van Verschuer  “Our grounds are of clay and when there is heavy rainfall they can become very soggy. GMB is already at work preparing the ground so that the terrain is equal for all participants in the competition sections. Both the participants area and the warming up area are being prepared in such a way that no matter the weather conditions the WC can go ahead.”

(Photos: Marie de Ronde-Oudemans) Last week, parts of the show grounds of Heerlijkheid Marienwaerdt were being ploughed and prepared for re-seeding. In some places the clay was turned over to a depth of two metres with enormous machines. In the week after the country fair has finished, sowing of the fields will start. All these activities are going ahead to create perfect conditions for next year’s world championships.

The countdown has started!

Only 12 months and 27 days! The countdown for the FEI World Four-in-Hand Driving Championship in Beesd, The Netherlands, from 3 until 7 September has started. Ticket sales have opened, the preparation of the grounds has begun, the staff is at full strenght, the sponsors are getting in contact so we can get ourselves ready for this fabulous equestrian festival in the splendid atmosphere of Mariënwaerdt Country Estate. Let’s go for it!

Hotel information

From this moment on, you can reserve hotel rooms at the official WC hotel Golden Tulip in nearby Zaltbommel: please find enclosed the reservation forms. The four star Golden Tulip hotel in Zaltbommel is located about 15 km from Mariënwaerdt Country Estate. It has 109 luxurious rooms, all with en suite bath and shower, tv, mini-bar and telephone. During weekends, one can see the latest films in the professional cinema. One can enjoy delicious food in Brasserie Olivier, in the a la carte restaurant ‘de Cantecler’ or in the very pleasant Bommel Bar.

Official WC kick-off at the Country Fair

From Wednesday 15 until Sunday 19 August 2007, Mariënwaerdt Country estate will be enjoying its annual Country Fair; this year’s theme is 'Deliciously Country’. At the opening day of the Country fair on Wednesday 15 August, there will be the official kick-off for the World Four-in-Hand Driving Championship that takes place from 3 until 7 September 2008. Six famous four-in-hand drivers will give visitors to the Country Fair an unusual little taste of the World Championships by holding an exciting mini-marathon. At 14.00 hours, Koos de Ronde, Theo Timmerman, Mark Weusthof, Edwin van der Graaf, Ton Monhemius and Hans Heus will compete with each other in the grounds of  Heerlijkheid Mariënwaerdt. The four-in-hand drivers will do a short circuit with four marathon obstacles designed by the WC course builders Arjan Brink and Johan Jacobs. During the mini-marathon visitors will be told all the ins and outs by triple World Champion and candidate for the title for 2008, Ijsbrand Chardon and the experienced announcer Pam van Geloven. On Friday 17 and Saturday 18 August, visitors to the fair can also enjoy a carriage driving spectacle during the annual basic competitions organized by the local driving club Waal & Linge .

World Four-in-Hand Driving Championship 2008 Foundation

P.O.Box 2930
NL-1000 CX Amsterdam
The Netherlands
Telephone 0031(0)20-4655446
Fax 0031(0)20-4651640
E-mail info@wkvierspannen.nl