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The Silver Camera goes to Eric Knoll

The equestrian sport has many faces. The equestrian…


The equestrian sport has many faces. The equestrian sport tells exciting stories and: The equestrian sport can be incredibly emotional. The award ceremony of the “Silver Camera” in the Main Stadium at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, certainly proved that on Saturday evening (July 21st), during the course of which the best equestrian photo of the year was selected.

Of course, there could only be one winner. The French photographer Eric Knoll convinced the jury– comprising of Juan Matute Guimón (dressage rider, Spain), Andreas Müller (Executive Director Zeitungsverlag Aachen), Erich Timmermanns (Director Advertising & PR Sparkasse Aachen), the photographer Michael Strauch and the ALRV Chairman Frank Kemperman – with his entry. His photo shows the show-jumper Philipp Weishaupt together with his horse jumping over an obstacle in the Grand Palais in Paris during the international equestrian show “Le Saut Hermès”, stood out among the 116 entries submitted in total. Knoll already came third in the “Silver Camera” competition last year.

Second place went to the photographer from Aachen, Luz Müller, Annette Dölger from Braunschweig came third. The prizes were awarded by Thomas Pennartz, Executive Director of the Rheinische Sparkassen & Giroverband in Düsseldorf, and Wolfgang Mainz, member of the Supervisory Board of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV).

The famous media prize for the best equestrian photo of the year is conferred annually for the best equestrian photo by the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. together with the Sparkasse Aachen and the Rheinische Sparkassen & Giroverband. First prize receives prize-money to the value of 2,500 Euros, the first runner up receives 1,000 Euros and the second runner-up 500 Euros.

CHIO Aachen: Fast, faster, Lavazza

Six teams comprising of one world-class show-jumper, eventer…


Six teams comprising of one world-class show-jumper, eventer and four-in-hand driving team apiece – are the protagonists that compete against each other in the Lavazza Cup. The winners in 2018 were a German/French trio with an Olympic gold medallist in their midst.

 

Michael Jung got the ball rolling with Chocolat, he passed over the baton to Denis Nielsen with Taquadriga and once he had crossed the finish line of the show jumping course, Jung took to his legs and jumped onto the carriage of the French driver, Benjamin Aillaud, who let his four horse power machine gallop at full pace across the ring. With a total time of 147.35 seconds Team Six took over the lead from Team One, comprising of Ingrid Klimke with Parmenides who sped over the natural obstacles, the Swiss show-jumper Alain Jufer with Casinjo Ex Z and his fellow countryman, Jerome Voutaz, who steered his carriage through the Soers. Their end result: 152.67 seconds. Third place went to the eventer Andreas Ostholt with Pennsylvania, the show-jumper Emanuele Gaudiano (ITA) with Herco van het Overlede Goed and the four-in-hand driver Chester Weber (USA).

CHIO Aachen: Double victory for the Stephex Stables in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup Final

In the first competition of the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup 2018,…


In the first competition of the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup 2018, Daniel Deußer with Killer Queen was a nose ahead of his work and stable colleague from Stephex Stables, Lorenzo de Luca (ITA), the Italian show-jumper came second with Evita van’t Zoggehof. In the Final, Luca turned the tables round.

 

Eleven pairs reached the jump-off in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup, ten of them jumped clear in this round too. Amid a full house, the best riders in the world delivered a thrilling final till the last minute with the crème de la crème of aspiring four-legged youngsters. The Italian rider Lorenzo de Luca and the eight-year-old Belgian Sporting Horse mare, Evita van’t Zoggehof by Golden Hawk reached the finish line in a time 39.21 seconds, which seemed to be an unbeatable result. But the fiercest rival from his own yard, Daniel Deußer was still to go with the BWP-bred mare, Killer Queen. And they really gave their best! But in the end it didn’t suffice: 39.77 seconds, which meant second place. After de Luca, two further pairs succeeded in cracking the magic 40-second mark in the jump-off: Christian Ahlmann with Cornwall and Martin Fuchs (SUI) with Karel VDB. But they couldn’t quite catch de Luca either. Ahlmann came third with the Westphalian-bred grey stallion in a time of 39.90, Fuchs finished fourth (39.97).

 

Lorenzo de Luca reported later that it had been a very difficult course for the young horses. But that it also proved the quality of the young horses in the way they coped with a water ditch and the huge arena. Lorenzo de Luca has been riding Evita since the beginning of 2018 and he thinks very highly of her. He definitely wants to keep her. “Today’s victory was especially nice for everyone involved because the breeder saw the mare in action for the first time.”

 

Talking about breeders – both Evita and her stable mate, Killer Queen, come from a good line. Evita’s grand dam, the Selle Français mare, Fragrance de Chalus by Jalisco, for instance also produced the stallion Mylord Carthago, who is also well-known in Aachen (Pénélope Leprevost/FRA) as well diverse other international sporting horses and graded stallions. Killer Queen’s dam, Derly Chin de Muze, competed at the Olympic Games in London with the Canadian show-jumper, Eric Lamaze, in 2012. And not only these two horses have famous ancestors. Christian Ahlmann’s stallion, Cornwall, is a son of Marcus Ehning’s Championship horse, Cornado NRW.

CHIO Aachen: Oranje drivers excel in the Prize of the schwartz GmbH

There is no way past the Dutch team…


There is no way past the Dutch team at the CHIO Aachen 2018. The four-in-hand drivers from the neighbouring country claimed all three top places in the Marathon competition, the Prize of the schwartz GmbH today and are still in the lead in the Nations Cup.

 

Koos de Ronde is a strong Marathon driver and he did his reputation justice today by finishing on a score of 110.77 minus points. Second and third place went to the father/son duo Bram and Ijsbrand Chardon. Whereby achieving a score of 113.54 minus points, the junior beat his father again. Ijsbrand Chardon’s score was 114.98 minus points. Yesterday, after his victory in the obstacle driving competition, Bram Chardon had explained that he was well-prepared for the challenges of today’s Marathon competition in Aachen – the first in his life. He certainly had promised too much there.

 

The Netherlands are heading the field in the team classification with 312.80 minus points, ahead of Germany (329.140) and Belgium (334.010). Georg von Stein was the best German driver in the cross-country test today, finishing in fourth place on a score of 115.74 minus points. Michael Brauchle came ninth (118.72). Mareike Harm was the strike result (16th/132.88).

 

In the overall classification of the Prize of the Richard Talbot Family, Boyd Exell is still in the lead with his broken ankle. He wasn’t quite as quick in the Marathon as usual, but nevertheless succeeded in coming seventh. As to whether he was in pain, he answered: “You don’t feel pain in the Marathon!” Only the tough carries belong on the carriages!

Ijsbrand and Bram Chardon are close at his heels in the individual classification. At least the father has got the trousers on here. Boyd Exell interim score is 152.13 minus points, Ijsbrand Chardon’s is 157.87 and Bram Chardon’s is 159.14.

 

Today’s Marathon of the Prize of the schwartz GmbH was not only a challenge for somebody with a broken foot! Mid-summer temperatures demanded excellent condition and there were so many spectators on the track this morning that for the first time ever ticket sales had to be stopped. The drivers are in agreement here: Aachen is in a class of its own! The many spectators makes it more difficult for the horses to concentrate. As Michael Brauchle put it, whose team was handicapped by injuries: “It doesn’t suffice in Aachen to drive 80 percent. One has to give 100 percent here!”

CHIO Aachen: Jeanine Nieuwenhuis claims the victory in the Prize of the Liselott and Klaus Rheinberger Foundation for the Netherlands

All good things come in threes for Jeanine…


All good things come in threes for Jeanine Nieuwenhuis, who won the Freestyle of the U25 Tour in the Prize of the Liselott and Klaus Rheinberger Foundation.

 

The Dutch dressage rider Jeanine Nieuwenhuis and her 13-year-old KWPN gelding, TC Athene, were already victorious at the European championships in Rotterdam and Amsterdam. But they had never competed in Aachen before. The first impression? “I rode in and thought: ‘Wow, that is different to anything I have done before!’” Obviously, the 23-year-old had to get over the initial shock of it all, because she improved from competition to competition. She came fourth in the Intermédiaire II for the Nations cup with TC Athene, in the Short Grand Prix they finished second and today in the Freestyle the pair won with a score of 78.075 percent.

 

Second place went to a regular guest from Spain: Juan Matute Guimon. He and his 15-year-old Hanoverian-bred Don Diego Ymas were awarded a score of 76.515 percent. When the 20-year-old rode at the Soers for the first time, he was just 16 years old. As such he knows what he is talking about when he says: “It was super! As always! It is always a pleasure to ride here.” Aachen was as brilliant as ever, but he saw room for improvement in his performance today: “I have a new freestyle routine that I rode for the first time here. So, the timing with the music wasn’t quite ideal yet.” But you must have already ridden it in training?! “No, never.” Absolutely cool! But he and Don Diego Ymas have been a harmonious team for years. “We know each other inside out. That helps of course!”

 

The best German rider, who finished third, was Lisa-Maria Klössinger with Daktari. Achieving a score of 76.30 percent, they were pipped at the post. Lisa’s answer in response to the question how her ride was can’t be quoted, only described – a wide grin and thumbs up.

 

Jil-Marielle Becks and Damon’s Satelite, who even surprised herself by winning the Intermédiaire II and the Short Grand Prix, came fourth today on a score of 75.10 percent.

Richard Vogel with a master plan to his childhood dream in the U25 Jumping Trophy

Obviously, it is the dream of almost every…


Obviously, it is the dream of almost every horse-fan to ride in Aachen one day. But only very few pursue their dream as ambitiously as Richard Vogel, who won the Final of Germany’s U25 Jumping Trophy of the German Top Level Competition Sport Foundation in the Prize of the Müter Family today.

 

The trials for Germany’s most talented under 25-year-old show-jumpers were staged In Mannheim, Wiesbaden and Balve. The best of them were allowed to compete at the CHIO Aachen this weekend. The starter list includes names that have already proven themselves in top international sport, such as Laura Klaphake and Maurice Tebbel for instance, who both rode for the winning team in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup on Thursday evening.

 

But not even they had a chance against the 21-year-old Richard Vogel today with the ten-year-old Hanoverian-bred Solitaer. The professional rider from Ludger Beerbaum’s stable sped across the jump-off course with his grey horse in an unbeatable time of 41.25 seconds and left the two European Championship team silver medallists of the Young Riders, Cedric Wolf with Cho Chang J (who also claimed silver in the individual classification of the European Championships) and Justine Tebbel with Light Star, trailing behind him.

 

Richard Vogel’s success was anything else but coincidental. “I have prepared for this jumping competition all season with Solitaer. Each time I rode him, I had Aachen in mind,” the rider who comes from Baden-Württemberg stated. “It was a new experience for me to go to shows with the aim of preparing for a certain goal rather than just to win – that is one of many things I have learnt from Ludger Beerbaum.”

He already dreamt about riding in Aachen one day as a small child. His deceased mother came from a horse-loving family. He rode at his first German Championships on a horse that descended from the breeding stock of his grandfather. Richard’s father supports his passion, but didn’t actually ride himself. However, Richard’s uncle does and he knows Philipp Weishaupt, so he was able to put his nephew into contact with the Beerbaum Stables. Richard introduced himself and was able to stay. At the time, he had already completed his training as a professional rider. Before that he left school a year before taking his A’ Levels – to the distain of his family. “In that respect I am quite stubborn. I simply knew that this is what I want to do!”

 

Now Richard has achieved his goal for the year. “So I can go back to normal everyday life now. It was down to the generosity of my boss, Ludger Beerbaum that I was able to compete here. At a show for four days with just one horse – that is like being on vacation.” It is not just any old horse either, Solitaer was bred by Dietrich Schulze, the deceased husband of Ludger Beerbaum’s long-standing sponsor, Madeleine Winter-Schulze. Richard: “He was definitely keeping his fingers crossed for me up above.” It certainly helped!

Quotes Lambertz Nations Cup

Isabelle Werth I am completely happy today. After…


Isabelle Werth

I am completely happy today. After my first day in Aachen, we analysed everything closely. Yesterday, we changed over a few things. After that I was very pleased with Emilio in the training and in the warm-up. I was very surprised on Thursday and I was so sorry for Emilio. I wasn’t awake enough and not sensitive enough to hear what he was saying. That was totally my fault. Today, I was delighted with him. We felt very safe and didn’t make any big mistakes. I didn’t expect to stay in front until the end of the competition. Perhaps it is because it is my birthday today (laughs). And I had support from my colleagues. We were indeed very happy to win the Nations Cup.

 

Helen Langehanenberg

I already thought on Thursday that is the best we can do, but obviously not. I have only been riding again for three and a half weeks, our last test was in February. Maybe sometimes a break helps (laughs). I enjoyed the test today. I had a super safe feeling today and everything was really easy. I am completely happy.

 

Dorothee Schneider

I am very happy with our performances so far. I had mistakes in the changes yesterday and today even without the rabbit (laughs). He started very well in the piaffe passage tour today. My horse extremely fit at the moment!

 

Jessica von Bredow-Werndl

I am sitting here with one laughing and one crying eye. I am namely looking forward to the freestyle tomorrow so that we can proved that we can do really good piaffes. However, the communication between Dalera and I didn’t go too well. We really got into trouble in the piaffe and that costs us lots of points! It was Dalera’s first Grand Prix Spécial in her life too, because she is still very young. But I think she has enjoyed the atmosphere here in Aachen so far, she has been very cool. I am proud of her!

CHIO Aachen: Lambertz Nations Cup goes to Germany, role reversal among the favourites

The first part of the Lambertz Nations Cup…


The first part of the Lambertz Nations Cup of the dressage riders, the Grand Prix ended completely differently to all expectations: the USA in the lead, ahead of Germany. But after the Grand Prix Spécial in the MEGGLE Prize, the German dressage world was back in order. Especially for Isabell Werth.

Emilio’s birthday gift to his rider Isabell Werth was 79.128 percent in the MEGGLE Prize, the Grand Prix Spécial, which is simultaneously the second competition in Lambertz Dressage Nations Cup. Two reasons for joy for the most successful dressage rider of all time! Helen Langehanenberg came second with Damsey after scoring a personal record in the Spécial of 79.021 percent, followed by the American rider, Kasey Perry-Glass with Dublet (78.787 percent).

The two further German team riders, Dorothee Schneider with Sammy Davis Jr. and Jessica von Bredow-Werndl with Dalera BB, came sixth (76.404) and seventh (76.255) respectively. That meant that no one could take the victory in the Lambertz Nations Cup away from Germany. With a total score of 464.251 they asserted themselves against the USA (459.371) and Denmark (444.106). Things certainly didn’t look like they were going that way at first.

Because in the Grand Prix, the normally strongest German pair, Isabell Werth with Emilio, had a disastrous day and ultimately landed in 17th place, which left the path clear for the USA. Incidentally, after puzzling for a long time Isabell Werth has it seems found the reason for Emilio quitting his duties yesterday: “I had changed the bit on the double bridle. It was a totally normal bit, but stronger than the baby bit I had ridden him with up until now. He was offended by that.” In the meantime, the trust has been reinstated. Nevertheless Werth said: “I feel very guilty and I am so sorry for Emilio that I didn’t listen to what he was trying to tell me!” But the Westphalian-bred Ehrenpreis son has obviously already forgiven his rider: “Emilio was back to his normal self today and we are a team again!” After her misfortunate Grand Prix performance, Werth had to ride as the 12th pair today, so she hadn’t expected to stay in front until the end. “My colleagues lent me some support there. That was obviously their birthday present for me,” grinned the from today onwards 49-year-old.

It would only have been fair if her colleagues did help her since last year she did her fiercest rival Laura Graves (USA) the same favour last year. Namely, the MEGGLE Prize was staged on July 22, last year – Laura Graves‘ birthday – and she managed to beat Werth for the first time. Now Laura Graves has to do her homework, like Werth did after the Grand Prix. Namely, today it was her Verdades who had a bad day. He finished eleventh on a score of just 74.085 percent.

Helen Langehanenberg was amazed at her second place with the Hanoverian-bred Damsey FRH: “I already thought on Thursday that is the best we can do, but obviously not. I have only been riding again for three and a half weeks, our last test was in February. Maybe sometimes a break helps (laughs). I enjoyed the test today. I had a super safe feeling today and everything was really easy in spite of the heat.” What a comeback for the team European Champion who only gave birth to her daughter, Finja, four weeks ago and who was nominated for the team by national coach, Monica Theodorescu, only one week ago!

The American dressage rider, Kasey Perry-Glass, also put in fantastic performances here at the CHIO Aachen with the Danish gelding, Goerklintgaards Dublet. Two judges actually had placed her first. Perry-Glass and the elegant dark bay horse competed in Europe for the first time in 2016 and their performances were very popular here. Her appearance at Aachen in 2017 were however rather disappointing. But this year she even managed to leave the European Championships bronze medallist, Cathrine Dufour and Cassidy, behind her. And people say dressage is boring…

CHIO Aachen: DHL Prize goes to Krajewski after a roller-coaster of emotions, New Zealand take the team victory

After the first two competitions in the DHL…


After the first two competitions in the DHL Prize, of the Eventing Nations Cup at the CHIO Aachen, all signs indicated that it was going to be a success across the board for Germany. However, today’s cross-country course brought several surprises with it – especially for Julia Krajewski.

 

Before the cross, Julia Krajewski was at the top of the rankings in the individual classification with both horses and was in the lead with the team in the Nations Cup. The national coach of the German Youngsters had to set off on the track with her team horse first, the four-star winner Samourai du Thot, who was lying in second place in the individual classification at the time. He mastered the first obstacles of the cross-country course without any difficulty. Then all of a sudden at obstacle 16a of the SAP Complex the journey was over. Sam ran out – not once, not twice, but indeed three times. “I don’t know what happened,” said a clueless Krajewski. “He is very intelligent and if he wants to do something he does it. I have to have him one hundred percent on my side.” Wasn’t that the case today? “I had a very good feeling when I set off, but somehow or other we lost each other en route. We will analyse what happened afterwards.”

 

For the German team, Sam’s elimination was bitter. And as Julia Krajewski explained later: “Then, we had bad luck on top of the misfortune.” Because Kai Rüder’s Colani Sunrise refused to leave the start box for 40 whole seconds, last year’s winning pair Ingrid Klimke and SAP Hale Bob OLD also had a run-out on the first element of obstacle 16 and Andreas Dibowski had a disastrous ride in the jumping yesterday. The team ultimately finished fifth.

 

The Nations Cup went to the team from New Zealand comprising of Tim Price with Cekatinka, who also came third in the individual classification, Clarke Johnstone with Balmoral Sensation, Sir Mark Todd with Kiltubrid Rhapsody and Blyth Tait with Havanna, ahead of the teams from France and Sweden.

 

The two-time Olympic individual gold medallist, Mark Todd, summed up his impression of the course after his ride as follows: “It is a difficult course to go fast. There might be 1 or 2 riders who stay in the time. My horse jumped very well. It is a tricky course with difficult jumping efforts, it is twisty, up and down. But the going is absolutely perfect, the cut grass makes the horses want to jump. A big compliment to the organisers.“

 

Individual Classification

 

Mark Todd’s estimation of how many riders would stay in the time proved to be very precise. Only one rider succeeded in reaching the finish line clear within the time: the Australian Christopher Burton with the Oldenburg-bred mare, Quality Purdey. After the dressage and jumping the two of them ranked fifth, but thanks to their clear round in the cross-country, they worked their way up to second place. Burton: “My horse did a super job. I simply love her.“ He too confirmed that obstacle 16a was the most difficult fence. But hats off to Rüdiger Schwarz he is a brilliant course designer.“

 

The reason why Julia Krajewski’s day not only brought a lot of frustration, but plenty of joy too, is called Chipmunk – a ten-year-old Hanoverian-bred horse. The gelding has claimed three victories in four competitions in 2018 (all at three-star level) as well as a second place. The third victory came today. For his rider the first challenge involved putting the disappointment with Samourai du Thot behind her so she could concentrate on her next ride. “I know that they are both totally different and just because it didn’t work out with the one, that doesn’t mean I wouldn’t be successful with the other one,” was what she was considering before she set off with Chipmunk. What are Chipmunk’s qualities? “He simply always wants to do everything right. He is a very honest, genuine horse. His attitude is as if he wants to say, ‘Let’s go, let me do everything, all is well!’” But Krajewski was aware before the start, that Chipmunk had never jumped such a technical and challenging course before. Nevertheless “Chip” proved once again that one can rely on him. And after he headed for the last obstacles in the Main Stadium after a solid round, 25,000 people cheered him and his rider enthusiastically. It was extremely touching. Especially after experiencing such a roller-coaster of emotions. “I definitely needed the lap of honour to get myself together again,” stated Krajewski. “It is absolutely fantastic cantering into the stadium here and being carried by the crowd and feeling that he would do anything for me…”

 

Chipmunk wasn’t quite inside the time. But after a super dressage test, the pair had such a big lead in the individual classification that they secured the victory on a score of 26.10 minus points. Chris Burton finished the overall competitions with Quality Purdey on his dressage result of 26.70 minus points. Tim Price ranked third with Cekatinka on a score of 30.30 minus points.

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