Otto Becker, Chef d’Equipe Germany

There is not much left to say: A fantastic team that did a super job! We had hoped to win because we had a good feeling, but now it has also become reality. That is something else again. I am very proud of all four riders.

Simone Blum

I simply can’t believe it. It was a fantastic day, a fantastic team and I am proud of us all. And my horse jumped brilliantly.

Laura Klaphake

It is a dream come true: First of all, because I was actually able to ride in the team, secondly because we won. My recipe for success? I always give my horse a kiss before we enter the ring.

Maurice Tebbel

That is the second time I have won a Nations Cup in succession. I can’t actually believe it yet. It wasn’t until the prize-giving ceremony that I actually started to realise it a bit.

Marcus Ehning

Once you have won here once, you want to win every year! Indeed, we have succeeded in doing so for the last three years. So we are simply happy! The young riders performed superbly.

Rodrigo Pessoa, Chef d’Equipe Ireland

Firstly, we are very happy to actually have the opportunity to compete here in Aachen! The CHIO Aachen is such a special event with such a fantastic atmosphere, with such an impressive stadium. We came so close to taking the title, so of course we are a little sad at only coming second. But the team definitely gave a super performance.

Rob Ehrens, Chef d’Equipe of the Netherlands

We had a very good first round and were rather unlucky in the second round. But ok, that is simply the sport! I am very proud of my team. Next time we will simply do a bit better, so that we win.

A childhood dream came true for the Rolex Grand Slam contender Niels Bruynseels today already: a victory at the CHIO Aachen. He achieved this in the STAWAG Prize.

Twelve 1.50 metre-high obstacles and 14 fences separated the Belgian rider, Niels Bruynseels, from fulfilling the long-cherished wish of finally winning a jumping competition during his fourth visit to the CHIO Aachen. The Course Designer, Frank Rothenberger, hadn’t made it easy for the riders: “It really was a difficult course for a speed competition,” the 34-year-old reported. “I was lucky because I was one of the last to go.” Then you can work out how much you have to risk. In Bruynseels’ case that was a mixed calculation. He didn’t want to risk everything. But on the other hand he knew that his ten-year-old Quaprice daughter, Lady Cracotte, is a horse that is fast by nature: “I have only had her for about three months. But she has won at least one class at each show so far. She loves going fast and she always wants to win!” Today, she did just that. None of the seven pairs who followed were able to beat the clear round in 61.48 seconds that had put the Belgian show-jumper and his horse into first place.

Lorenzo de Luca from Italy and the Irish-bred grey horse, Limestone Grey, came closest to his time (62.10 seconds). Marcus Ehning was pleased to take third place with Firth of Lorne. The stallion competed the last time here in Aachen four years ago, at the time under Katrin Eckermann, with whom he took a fall at a water fence in both the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup and the Rolex Grand Prix. The chestnut stallion was subsequently sold to the USA, but he returned to Germany a few weeks ago and to Marcus Ehning – who together with Funky Fred, with whom he came third yesterday in the Turkish Airlines Prize of Europe, now has a further fantastic sun of his Olympic gold horse, For Pleasure.

Talking about fantastic horses – Niels Bruynseels also raved about the quality of his Lady Cracotte. But when things get serious on Sunday in the battle to win the Rolex Grand Prix, where for him half a million Euros is at stake should he win the Major in Aachen after his victory in `s-Hertogenbosch, he will be placing his bets on his top horse, Gancia de Muze.

Born in Brazil, discovered in the USA, victory in Aachen – that is the short version of the success story of Yuri Mansur’s grey mare, Havana M. Today the pair celebrated their hitherto biggest victory in the second class of the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup 2018.

Yuri Mansur risked all today in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup at the CHIO Aachen 2018. He has competed at shows with his mare, Havana M, nine times to-date and she jumped clear in all nine. So, it was time to put it to the test. And that is precisely what the Brazilian rider did – selecting the shortest routes he only had one strategy today: Riding forwards! As Havana M flew over the finish line, the clock stopped at 62.91 seconds and Mansur was able to put a tick behind clear round number 10 as well as taking the lead, which he clung on to until the very end because nobody was able to catch him.

The pair won the competition, ahead of Marcus Ehning with the Westphalian-bred For Contest daughter, Mill Creek Filippa K – who incidentally already came third in round one on Tuesday – and Laura Kraut (USA) riding SFS Vincomte by Veni Vidi Vici. Fourth place was claimed by the winning pair from the first round, Daniel Deußer with Killer Queen. He was followed by Christian Ahlmann with the Westphalian-bred Cornado son, Cornwell.

Yuri Mansur discovered Havana M in an amateur’s jumping class in the USA. He did some research and found out that she was born in his home country, Brazil, and that she belonged to a friend of his. He bought the mare. Originally with the intention of selling her on pretty quickly. “But now she has jumped 10 clear rounds out of ten. She is getter more expensive all the time… Havana M has thus earned herself the right to stay a while with the Brazilian rider, who lives in the Netherlands.

Fingers crossed for Vitiki

Yuri Mansur fell yesterday with the stallion Vitiki during the jump-off of the Turkish Airlines Prize of Europe and the horse had to be brought to the clinic with an injury to his pastern. In the meantime, we have been updated on his state of health. Vitiki was successfully operated on today and has his leg in plaster so that it can heal.

“Vitiki”, the horse of the Brazilian show-jumper, Yuri Mansur, which injured its pastern bone yesterday after a fall, was operated on successfully this lunchtime. The stallion is back in the stable with his leg in plaster. The rider and horse owner would like to express their gratitude for all the assistance the horse was given and for the many kind wishes received.

In 2015, Guido Klatte Jr. was the first winner of Germany’s U25 Jumping Trophy of the Foundation of German Top Level Equestrian Sports, Prize of the Müter Family, at the Soers in Aachen. At the time, he won the final with Coolio – and now the two of them are on track to repeat their success.

Guido Klatte Jr. and the eleven-year-old Oldenburg-bred Coolio by Contendro were the first pair to go in the qualifier of Germany’s U25 Jumping Trophy of the Foundation of German Top Level Equestrian Sports, Prize of the Müter Family. They mastered the challenges of the 1.45 metre high course with a clear round in 60.21 seconds. Indeed, the duo set a benchmark that none of the following pairs was able to beat.

Not even Maurice Tebbel or Laura Klaphake, who have both been nominated for the German team in this evening’s Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup. Klaphake came second on the Holstein-bred Cracker Jack daughter, Camalita (0 faults/62.55 seconds). Maurice Tebbel ranked fourth with Camilla PJ by Calme (0/64.01). Richard Vogel, the winner of the qualifier in Balve, who rides for the Beerbaum Stables, squeezed his way into third place between the two of them with Solitaer (0/63.55).

It was a very special occasion for Guido Klatte being able to compete at the Soers: “It was always my childhood dream to have the opportunity to ride here,” the 22-year-old commented. Whereby he turned his back on riding for several years during his early youth. “I played football for a long time. Then the fascination got the better of me again! I have my family to thank for that.” For example, Coolio belongs to Guido’s sister, Victoria. But horses play a big role for the Klatte family overall, as one can see from Klatte’s reply to the question what is the programme for him next at the CHIO 2018: “I am riding another horse in the Sparkassen Youngsters-Cup later, which belongs to my other sister and after that another young horse that my cousin owns in the STAWAG Prize.” Furthermore, Guido Klatte Jun. is in the privileged situation to have his own shuttle service for his horses if he needs to travel abroad – as for instance in 2017 when he was able to qualify for the World Cup Finals in Omaha, the USA with his top horse, Qinghai, where he succeeded in finishing sixth. Namely, his father Guido Klatte Sen. runs a horse shipping agency. Hence, Guido Klatte Jun. is well-prepared for all eventualities.