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Sensation in Rolex Grand Prix

03.07.2022 18:00

Gerrit Nieberg risked all today in the Rolex…


Gerrit Nieberg risked all today in the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen, a risk that his much more experienced colleagues didn’t dare take. His reward: He achieved what his famous father didn’t manage to do in spite of all his achievements: He won the Rolex Grand Prix. But even after the prize-giving ceremony he still couldn’t quite believe it.

 

Two difficult rounds in the Rolex Grand Prix 2022 had taken their toll. Ultimately, five riders reached the jump-off: McLain Ward (USA)‘ with HH Azur; last year’s winner the contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Daniel Deußer with Killer Queen, the only rider in history who has won the Rolex Grand Slam to-date, Scott Brash (GBR); Nicola Philippaerts (BEL) with Katanga van het Dingeshof and Gerrit Nieberg with Ben.

 

Ward was the first to go. He already rode to victory early this week in the Turkish Airlines – Prize of Europe and in the RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia with Contagious. Today, he placed his bets on his “old friend”, the 16-year-old BWP-bred mare, HH Azur. The two put in an amazingly fast round, but unfortunately the pole fell at the last oxer before the finish line.

 

Then came Daniel Deußer and Killer Queen. The Soers roared, last year’s winners were greeted with rhythmic applause. Deußer set off and stuck to his trusted concept – he didn’t rush, simply relied on the scopey canter of his mare and didn’t risk picking up any jumping faults. His strategy worked. They jumped clear in a time of 41.60 seconds. The crowd exploded. Deußer only pointed one finger in the air, it was too early to celebrate yet, he knew that. Because Scott Brash was the next to go.

 

He certainly set the pace with his Hello Jefferson. The rather small BWP-bred gelding is extremely nimble. He jumped with unprecedented power and seemed to start galloping before he had even landed. The clock stopped at 39.24 seconds. Nobody thought anyone could beat the time.

 

Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga van het Dingeshof courageously tried their hardest. His mare drew on all her possible resources. Especially when the turn before the last but one vertical didn’t quite fit and the mare catapulted herself over it. But all of the poles stayed in place. And the time? 39.92 seconds, second place up until now.

 

What would Gerrit Nieberg do now? The commentator greeted him with the words: “So Gerrit, it is a good day to write history!” But nobody really thought the 29-year-old could pull off this feat. Would he merely try to ride home clear? Or would he try to beat Scott’s time? After the first obstacles it seemed like he’d opted for a steady clear to take fourth place. The fifth obstacle in the jump-off was a double with a bush a few metres in front of it. Gerrit Nieberg calmly took the route that none of his fellow colleagues had dared take, namely in front of the bush. That saved him a few metres and a few canter strides. He came out of the turn and found the ideal take-off and his Ben jumped over the fence with ease. In flow they simply changed their direction and took a tight turn to the vertical that had almost sealed Nicola Philippaert’s fate. Then, Nieberg and Ben changed gear and sped to the last obstacle, the Rolex oxer. The crowded stands got louder and louder, but the pair hadn’t reached the finish line yet. But Ben flew over the last fence effortlessly. The clock stopped at 38.63 seconds. An incredible victory! The 40,000 spectators went wild, they shouted, whistled, stamped and clapped. Gerrit Nieberg took off his helmet and greeted his Aachen crowd with a broad smile. What a triumph!

“I asked my colleague during the warm-up whether I could do the turn to the double. And he said okay you can do it. So I did it and it was good.” That’s what one calls a total understatement. “It is still all unreal, everything. I didn’t expect it to happen, it is a dream come true for me today. It was great, an amazing feeling.” But he sees the fact that he has achieved something his father never managed to do differently: “My father achieved much more.”

 

And his father was also responsible for bringing the winning horse, Ben, to their stables. The  Westphalian-bred gelding was seven when he joined them four years ago. He was considered to be very difficult, Gerrit’s mother, Gitta, reported. But her husband saw potential in the gelding and bought him. Together, the Nieberg family managed to win over the gelding’s trust in order to achieve top performances. As we saw today, it was obviously worth the effort!

 

Scott Brash had mixed feelings: “Whether I am happy or disappointed? Both! I am absolutely delighted with Jefferson. He was amazing, he did everything I asked of him and more. Unfortunately, we didn’t win because of this guy here to my right. He makes it harder and harder for me. I thought about taking the inside turn to the double. I thought I’d do in the jump-off, but when Daniel didn’t go inside and he is really good at that, I thought about it again and when I came over the jump and saw the turn to the oxer, I thought, no. I knew if Gerrit would go inside he’d win, and he did it and did it very well. He really deserved to win today.!”

 

Of course, l Nicola Philippaerts would have also preferred to win, but he was above all delighted with the performances of his mare, with whom he among others previously won team bronze with at the European Championships in 2021: “She is very special. She gives everything in the ring. She is very scopey, very careful. I think there is a room for improvement upwards, but she needs to gain a bit more experience and then I hope to have the chance to give it another shot in the Rolex Grand Prix 2023…

 

 

Fast, faster, Wilm Vermeir in the Röwer & Rüb Prize

03.07.2022 15:53

The Belgian rider, Wilm Vermeir, competed at the…


The Belgian rider, Wilm Vermeir, competed at the CHIO Aachen for the first time this year. And he has certainly achieved some fantastic results. Especially with his speed specialist, Linguini de la Pomme, who once again left her fellow colleagues trailing behind in the Röwer & Rüb Prize.

 

Wilm Vermeir competed in four classes with the eleven-year-old BWP mare, Linguini de la Pomme, in Aachen, he won three of them and came second once. He also came second with the Belgium team in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup with his top horse, IQ van het Steentje. His debut in Aachen couldn’t have gone better!

 

Wilm Vermeir and Linguini de la Pomme won the Röwer & Rüb Prize today with a clear round in the 1.45-metre-high speed class in a time of 58.43. Brazil’s Olympic gold medallist of 2004, Rodrigo Pessoa finished second with Venice Beach on a time of 58.78 seconds. Close at his heels: Ashlee Bond and Donatello (58.96).

Exell? Chardon? Exell! Head-to-head race between the four-in-hand drivers in the Prize of the Richard Talbot Family

03.07.2022 15:17

Since 2017 the Australian driver, Boyd Exell who…


Since 2017 the Australian driver, Boyd Exell who lives in the Netherlands and the Dutch driving sport legend, Ijsbrand Chardon, have been taking it in turns to win the Prize of the Richard Talbot Family. Last year it was Chardon’s turn. So, this year the ball was in Exell’s court. Even if Chardon undertook everything possible to stop him from winning. The Dutch driver claimed the victory in the Boehringer Ingelheim Nations Cup. And the final obstacle driving class, the Baron and Baroness of Buchholtz Prize went to Switzerland.

 

An exciting final day for the four-in-hand drivers! The obstacle driving competition, the Baron and Baroness of Buchholtz Prize, decided the outcome of both the Boehringer Ingelheim Nations Cup and that of the Prize of the Richard Talbot, the individual classification. The best four-in-hand driver in the cone driving class was Jérôme Voutaz from Switzerland.

 

The combined individual classification was exciting and ultimately went to the Australian driver, Boyd Exell, again. He had already gone into the lead after the dressage, but he had to temporarily hand over the top ranking to his archrival, Ijsbrand Chardon, after the Marathon yesterday. However, when absolute precision was called for again, Exell was slightly better today. He secured the overall victory after finishing second in the cone driving class, whereas Chardon had to make do with 13th place today. Exell’s final score was 158.32 minus points, Chardon clocked up 166.48 minus points. Third and fourth place went to two German drivers: Christoph Sandmann (168.68) and Georg von Stein (169.08).

 

The latter were both mainly responsible for German taking second place in the Boehringer Ingelheim Nations Cup, this time they were less than two points behind the Dutch team, who are unbeaten since 2007! The Dutch team scored 335.920 minus points, Germany finished second with 337.760. Third place went to the Belgian team on 377.540 minus points.

 

In addition to Ijsbrand Chardon, the Dutch team comprises of his son Bram and Koos de Ronde. The German trio was rounded off by Mareike Harm at the side of Christoph Sandmann and Georg von Stein. Belgium was represented by Dries Degrieck, Glenn Geerts and Sam Gees.

Cathrine Dufour’s dream comes true in the Deutsche Bank Prize

03.07.2022 13:53

The Danish dressage rider, Cathrine Dufour’s weekend in…


The Danish dressage rider, Cathrine Dufour’s weekend in Aachen couldn’t have gone better. The crowning glory today was her triumph in the Deutsche Bank Prize and the connected honour that she had thought was actually reserved for a different rider.

 

Cathrine Dufour and the just ten-year-old Westphalian-bred gelding, Vamos Amigos by Vitalis claimed the victory in the Deutsche Bank Prize 2022, the Grand Prix Freestyle of the CDIO Tour on a score of 88.375 percent. Dufour took part in five classes this weekend and won all five of them. “It is a huge dream to perform like that in 5 classes with 2 different horses,“ a visibly emotional Dufour commented and stressed that a big team stands behind her, who are all co-responsible for this success. She had never dared to dream that her name would be engraved on the winners’ board at the entrance to the Main Stadium of the Soers one day: “I thought it was only Isabell’s (Isabell Werth) name that was going to be written on that wall.” The theme that Dufour chose for her new freestyle music, which celebrated its premiere today in Aachen, fits in well with this: the soundtrack of the film “Warriors”. Dufour: “It sort of describes what it is like to fight your way to the top, the  daily struggle and then to go on to ride the freestyle in Aachen.”

 

Two horses that both won every class they have competed in, Vamos Amigos and Bohemian – Cathrine Dufour is in a luxurious position and she knows that too. But she was quite sure who her number one is: “Cassidy!”, her meanwhile 19-year-old, long-standing companion on the way into top sport. But she wouldn’t choose between her current top horses, Bohemian and Vamos Amigos. Also not with regards to the imminent World Championships in Herning. She won’t decide who she rides there “until the very last day”.

 

It was the third time the best German pair came second this weekend: Frederic Wandres and Duke of Britain. The pair achieved a further personal best, this time with a score of 83.880 percent. “It has been an amazing week from day 1 through to today,“ he stressed. It is a dream come true to be so successful with all three horses (in addition to Duke of Britain, also Bluetooth in the CDI4* and with Quizmaster in the Small Tour). And to be placed next to these world-class riders next to me.”

 

The other world-class rider Wandres was referring to a further Danish rider: Daniel Bachmann Andersen, who came third with Marshall-Bell on a score of 82.985 percent. 2022 also proved to be a special event in Aachen for Daniel Bachmann Andersen, not only because this is the best placing he has ever achieved in the Deutsche Bank Prize, but also because Marshall-Bell had actually been sold and had left his stables. But then, fortunately, the new owner decided to bring the gelding back to his trainer at least until the World Championships in Herning. Daniel Bachmann Andersen said: At the moment it hasn’t really sunk in yet, sitting here and after our journey, I am so proud and happy about the development over the days since we have been here. We grew back together and it worked out well. We changed a few things in the training. A little bit less of this, more of that. This experience has strengthened me and I am really proud.” And he will also make use of this opportunity in the future too, because even if the Austrian U25 rider, Nicola Ahorner, will ride Marshall-Bell in future, he will be at their side to train them.

Frederic Wandres was awarded the PIAFF Prize in memory of Liselott Schindling for the most successful dressage rider throughout the whole show. The “Dressage Champion of Aachen” is determined by adding up the results of the three CDIO competitions. As winner of all three classes, Cathrine Dufour won this title and thus also the bonus of EUR 15,000 that is donated by the Liselott Schindling Foundation to promote the dressage sport.

 

 

Christian Graf von Plettenberg: The voice of the Soers says “Goodbye”

03.07.2022 13:01

  For 31 years, he has informed the…


 

For 31 years, he has informed the crowd at the Aachen Soers from the judges Tower passionately and with expertise. Today, we will be hearing the voice of Christian Earl of Plettenberg from the last time in the Main Stadium during the Rolex Grand Prix.

Do you remember your first appearance at the CHIO Aachen?

Of course. It was in the year 1991. Commentating in this huge stadium in front of so many people was a nerve-wracking moment. And this positive excitement has remained until this very day. It is a very special feeling every day to return here, to take my seat in the Judges Tower on the first day and switch on the microphone.

What makes the CHIO Aachen so special?

It is the overall package: The stadiums, the atmosphere and an audience that is unique in the world in terms of inspirational enthusiasm. That was the case back then and it is still is today. Because in all the years that I have been on board, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein has done one thing incredibly right. The show has taken the general developments of the sport into account and integrated these into its concept. There was and is no better event in our sport. This is also the reason why everyone who has anything to do with the equestrian sport dreams of riding in Aachen at least once in their life.

When did you notice that your voice is a special gift?

I don’t consider my voice to be a special talent, for me it is more like a fantastic gift. I have never found my voice anything special and it amazed me for a long time why so many people find what I do so good.

How did it come about that you started working as a commentator?

In my case it came about because I failed in a different area. It was always my major aim to compete in Aachen one day. But I didn’t succeed in doing so. After I had abandoned that hope at some point in time, several show organisers from shows that I previously used to ride at approached me and asked if I would like to work as a commentator. So, that’s what I did and gradually it progressed. In 1985, when Hans-Heinrich Isenbarth, my later mentor on the microphone and fatherly friend, heard that he showed me the ropes from then on. I learned a lot in that time and I am still extremely grateful to him for that and for the fact that it was through him that I ultimately came to Aachen.

How much preparation is involved in the task in the Judges Tower?

Hans Heinrich Isenbarth once told me: The secret of a good commentator is no less than perfect preparation. In my case, I initially filled out index carts, later a file so that I was always up-to-date. Gratefully prior to the CHIO Aachen, we commentators also receive a flood of information. That is also something that makes Aachen so unique. The background information we receive from the organisers, carries us commentators through the show.

Has anything ever gone wrong in spite of that?

Of course. Over the course of such a long time, situations have repeatedly arisen where one would have preferred not to have said something or would have said it differently in hindsight. But that isn’t often the case and it is to a certain extent what makes our responsible job so unique: We talk live and you can’t correct that afterwards.

Can you remember a special situation where you really had to improvise?

That what spices up the commentator’s charisma. Merely reading out names and results is not really difficult. But we also have to be able to react to unforeseeable situations ad hoc. That is what makes our task so exciting. We commentators are primarily responsible for the crowd. Even a storm, something we experience again and again from time to time in Aachen, can even be fun in the Judges Tower, if one manages to entertain the crowd during the interruption.

Which moment at the CHIO Aachen has moved you most?

There are moments every year that particularly move me. That might be the performances of younger, still inexperienced rider, who is making his debut here in Aachen and who puts in fantastic performances. The World Equestrian Games in Aachen in the year 2006 particularly spring to mind here. The atmosphere in the Main Stadium was unprecedented. I really struggled to keep my voice under control through to the last moments. It was very emotional.

There is of course going to be a CHIO Aachen next year. Will you be here?

Perhaps not on-site, but I will definitely follow what goes on in Aachen from a distance. I am now looking forward to being able to spend more time with my family and I look back on many exciting, moving moments, friendly encounters with wonderful people and unique horses with great gratitude. It was a lovely time.

Mirka Nilkens distinguished with the “Silver Camera”

02.07.2022 23:32

The equestrian sport has many facets, it tells…


The equestrian sport has many facets, it tells exciting stories and it can be incredibly emotional. The “Silver Camera”, which pays tribute to the best equestrian photo of the year, proved this once again on Saturday evening.

What are the characteristics of a good photo? The motif? The quality? The mood? A first-class jury have to answer this question every year, because the organisers of the CHIO Aachen, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV) traditionally confers the “Silver Camera” for the best international equestrian sport photo of the year. 86 photographs had been submitted, but only one could win. This year the former national trainer of the Dutch show-jumpers, Rob Ehrens; last year’s winner, Diana Wahl; Andreas Müller (CEO Media House Aachen) and member of the ALRV Board, Birgit Rosenberg selected the winner and the runners-up. “The quality of the photos is outstanding. It wasn’t easy to make a decision,” stated Birgit Rosenberg. Ultimately, Mirka Nilkens’ entry convinced the first-class jury. Her photo that captured an exceptional moment during a prize-giving ceremony at the Aachen Dressage Youngstars in 2021, particularly stood out among the submitted photographs  due to its perfect interplay between emotions and technique. Second place went to the photographer from Aachen, Andreas Steindl, who was able to capture an intimate moment at the end of an eventing competition. Andrea Rodriguez came third with a unique occurrence between a dressage horse and pigeons.

The “Silver Camera” is awarded by the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein and was initiated by the artist, Wolfgang Lamché. The prize was presented on Saturday evening by the ALRV Supervisory Board member, Peter Weinberg. The winner received prize money to the value of 2,500 Euros, second place picked up 1,000 Euros and third place 500 Euros.

Six horses + two riders + one driver = A fast-paced race in the CHIO Cup

02.07.2022 23:32

When the sun goes down behind the jumping…


When the sun goes down behind the jumping stadium at the Aachen Soers on Saturday evening, things get loud at the Soers. Because then it is time for the CHIO Cup, the combined eventing, jumping and driving competition which calls for fast horses and good teamwork.

 

The Australian/Brazilian team comprising of the eventing icon Andrew Hoy (AUS) and Creevagh Cooley for the solid obstacles, Rodrigo Pessoa (BRA) with Venice Beach for the show jumping and Boyd Exell with his team Bajnok, Barny, Conversano Poker and Mad Max had the fastest horses and the best coordination this evening in the CHIO Cup. They asserted themselves against their fellow colleagues with a clear round in 150.33 seconds.

 

Second place went to the purely Belgian trio comprising of Lara de Liederkerke-Meier on Hooney d’Arville, Wilm Vermeir with Linguini de la Pomme and the winning driver of the schwartz Prize today, Glenn Geerts. After picking up six faults their final score was 160.90 seconds.

 

Great Britain, Mexico and Switzerland claimed third place together. Rosalind Canter put in a well-versed performance over the solid obstacles with Zenshera, Nicolas Pizarro and Mento took over the show jumping part and Jérôme Voutaz paced through the ring with his team Belle du Peupe, Fee Des Moulins, Non Stop du Padoc and Valerio. They crossed the finish line clear in a time of 161.17 seconds.

The FUNDIS Prize – a floodlit highlight with Cathrine Dufour and Bohemian

02.07.2022 23:29

The last purple streaks in the sky, a…


The last purple streaks in the sky, a full-house in the Deutsche Bank Stadium, a floodlit arena and dancing horses – the FUNDIS Prize – the pinnacle of a long dressage day at the CHIO Aachen 2022.

 

Thanks to one pair in particular: The Danish rider Cathrine Dufour and her Westphalian-bred gelding, Bohemian. The pair demonstrated the beauty of dressage once again tonight with their “Les Miserables” freestyle – in spite of mistakes in the tempi flying changes. The tour in trot and the pirouettes were a pure joy to watch and the satisfaction the trusting, light contact and the dynamic action of the twelve-year-old Bordeaux son were unprecedented. Their performance was rewarded with a score of 84.120 percent and first place from all of the judges.

 

The performance of the Spanish rider, José Antonio García Mena and his Westphalian-bred Sorento by Sandro Bedo also received thunderous applause. The chestnut horse that was formerly schooled by Isabell Werth notched up a score of 77.865 percent.

 

Third place went to the Belgian rider, Laurence Vanommeslaghe with the KWPN-bred gelding Edison v. Johnson (76.225 percent).

WOTAX goes to Wandres

02.07.2022 22:06

Frederic Wandres is experiencing the weekend of his…


Frederic Wandres is experiencing the weekend of his life at the CHIO 2022. Whenever he rides into the Deutsche Bank Stadium, he leaves it with a top placing. The WOTAX Prize, the Intermédiaire I, was no exception.

 

As was the case in the Prix St. Georges, Frederic Wandres and the ten-year-old Hanoverian-bred gelding Quizmaster by Quasar de Charry put in the best performance in the Small Tour in the Deutsche Bank Stadium today. They secured themselves the victory in the WOTAX Prize, the Intermédiaire I, on Saturday evening with a score of 75.382 percent.

 

Four of the five judges had placed them at the top of the class. Only the Swiss judge at H, Hans Voser, awarded Ingrid Klimke and her Westphalian-bred stallion, Freudentänzer,  a clearly higher score than Wandres. The son of Klimke’s Grand Prix stallion Franziskus notched up a score of 73.412 percent. Hans Voser had awarded the pair 75.147 percent. Third place went to the Spanish dressage rider, José Antonio García Mena with the just eight-year-old Trakehner Nautilus by Connery, who were awarded exactly 71 percent.

Cleverness triumphed in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup Final

02.07.2022 21:45

The last ones shall be first was the…


The last ones shall be first was the case in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup. Great Britain’s speed specialist, Scott Brash, was the last to go in the jump-off of the Final and left his nine fellow competitors trailing behind him with his Kannan daughter. His prize? A top horse for the future.

 

Because, in addition to the prize money, the winner in the Final of the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup snapped up a foal with the exquisite pedigree Cash x Quidam de Revel. But we will have to wait for that story. The immediate future belongs to his eight-year-old Selle Français mare, Hello Vittoria. Brash is certain about that.

 

Anyone, who watched the Kannan daughter in the jump-off of the Final in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup today, knows what he means. As fast as lightening and extremely well-versed for her age, Hello Vittoria sped through the turns and crossed the finish line in a time of 40.08 seconds, snatching the victory away from the also French-bred Uto Kervec daughter, Extase Ste Hermelle and Belgium’s Nicola Philippaerts. The pair had been in the lead until then with a time of 40.67 seconds. Third place went to the best seven-year-old horse, the OS stallion, Chad Blue PS by Chacco-Blue under Patrick Stühlmeyer. Here the clock stopped at 42.02 seconds.

 

When asked about Hello Vittoria, Scott Brash raved that he has been riding her since she was a five-year-old. “She is fantastic and such a clever mare! She is very, very careful, she loves her job and I think she is going to be a really good horse for the future.”

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