Jumping

Yuri Mansur fulfilled a lifetime dream on Wednesday evening with his victory in the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe. An interview with the Brazilian rider about his emotions, his sports partner Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm and the CHIO Aachen.

Congratulations on your victory. What was Wednesday evening like for you?

Yes, it was a really, really special day. It is every rider’s dream to win in Aachen. And now I have actually succeeded in doing so. That is simply fantastic and the best victory in my career to-date.

You were very emotional on that evening…

…yes, that’s right. I kept thinking about 2018, that was the last time I competed here in Aachen and my horse Vitiki injured himself in the jump-off in precisely this class. It took a long time before I was motivated and confident again in my sport. Today, the horse is top fit again and I have won exactly that class we had the accident in back then. That was a very emotional moment, which showed me how important it is to keep on going and carry on fighting. This victory is the proof for me, that if you don’t give up you can achieve all of your dreams.

Your sports partner in the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe was Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm. What makes this mare so special for you?

She is phenomenal and the most talented horse I have ever ridden. In spite of her young age, she simply puts in unbelievable performances. She is actually only nine, she doesn’t turn ten until September.

You have been coming here several years already, can you describe what makes the CHIO Aachen so special?

There are so many things. You simply sense the fantastic history of the show here. A fabulous team spends the whole year making this event better and better. We riders notice this and that is one of the reasons we all enjoy coming to Aachen.

Do you have a favourite place here on the grounds?

For me the best feeling in the world is when I ride from the warm-up area into the stadium. When you set off the crowd is really small and then you get closer and closer and are ultimately greeted by 40,000 cheering spectators. That is simply incredibly nice.

On the way you also pass by the legendary winners’ board. Is it a dream of yours to read your name on the board one day?

On Wednesday I fulfilled my dream of winning a class here in Aachen one day. Now I need a new dream (laughs). So I will do all I possibly can to make this dream come true one day.

He has already been one of the most successful show-jumpers in the world for years. After his Major victories in Geneva and at The Dutch Masters, McLain Ward now has the opportunity to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping at the CHIO Aachen. An interview with the 47-year-old, US American rider.

McLain, this week in Aachen is a very special week for you. You are the second person in history who has the opportunity of becoming a Grand Slam winner. Are you nervous?

Yes, it is exciting. It is a huge, historical challenge – but one that I have already got that close to achieving. Winning in Aachen is very special for every rider. With the Grand Slam title within my grasp it is going to be even more special.

You won both the Rolex Grand Prix in Geneva and in s‘-Hertogenbosch with HH Azur. Will she also be your partner on Sunday?

That is the plan. But it is a long week here in Aachen and I have to qualify for the Rolex Grand Prix first. Doing that is my top priority. But if all goes to plan this week, “Anni” (HH Azur, editor’s note) will be my choice for Sunday.

What makes HH Azur so special for you?

Oh, she is a real Queen for me, a wonderful warrior with a very big heart. She always gives me the confidence that I can risk everything in the decisive moment. She is simply a remarkable mare with an incredible physical talent. I have experienced so many memorable moments with her.

You mentioned how special winning here in Aachen would be for you. It is also a very special year for the Rolex Grand Slam. The series is celebrating its 10^th anniversary this year. How much has it changed the equestrian sport?

This series has raised our sport up to a fantastic level. The four Majors are among the most prestigious events in our calendar, every one of us riders wants to win at least one of these traditional classes in the course of his career. Which is why we all specifically align the plans of our top horses according to these shows and attempt to make sure they are in top condition when we travel to these competitions. As a result, the level of sport the four Majors offer really is unique.

So far only one person, Scott Brash (GBR), has triumphed in the Rolex Grand Slam. What makes it so difficult to win this series?

I think winning three or four of these Majors in one’s lifetime is difficult enough. But to win them back-to-back really is a huge challenge. The rider has to be fit, the horse has to be healthy. This requires incredible management and a fantastic team standing behind you. And then there are plenty of other world-class riders in every jumping class, who also want to win.

You have already celebrated so many victories in your career. But your name is still missing from the winners’ board in Aachen…

I have always wanted to make it onto the famous winners’ board here in Aachen. Perhaps I sometimes wanted it too much. The Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen is like a girl I am in love with, but whom I haven’t had a date with yet. But my name will be on it before we have reached the end of the board. (laughs)

There was a rider once, who tried to eternalise his name on the board himself …

Yes, I remember that anecdote from the year 2012, when Michael Whitaker wrote his name on the board with an Edding on the Saturday evening. And then on Sunday he did actually win the Rolex Grand Prix. That was the craziest coup I have ever experienced. I certainly haven’t got that courage and confidence (laughs).

The Swiss show jumping team rode to victory in the Mercedes-Benz Nations’ Cup 2023 – for the first time again after 21 years.  

The last time that the Swiss squad won the Mercedes-Benz Nations’ Cup in Aachen was in the year 2002 and the final rider of the team back then was Markus Fuchs with Tinka’s Boy. Now, 21 years later it was his nephew Martin Fuchs with Commissar Pezi, who sealed the victory for the Swiss team on a final score of four faults, ahead of the British team and the Belgians, both of whom finished on eight faults after both rounds. However, since the collective time from round two decides in the case of a tie, the representatives of this year’s CHIO partner country came second, because they were slightly faster than the Belgians.

The Swiss chef d’équipe, Michel Sorg, said on behalf of his team: “It is a dream come true winning the Nations’ Cup here in Aachen. It is the dream of all fans of this sport.” I have had so many chances to come here, but standing here today in the middle of the arena with the winning team was fantastic and I still haven’t really taken it in yet.” Of course, he had thought about the starting order carefully, he chose Steve Guerdat with Venard de Cerisy as the first to go because he is an “experienced, strong rider”, who fulfilled all the expectations set in him by jumping double clear.

The next to go was the also extremely experienced Niklaus Schurtenberger with his Holstein-bred mare, C-Steffra. They got off to a promising start by only knocking one pole in the first round. However, round two didn’t go well for the pair at all: 23 faults.

The next pair: Edouard Schmitz with Gamin van’t Naastveldhof, who came second in the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe yesterday. They picked up eight faults in round one – the scratch result. Then, they jumped clear. “After the first round I got kicked in the butt, which was exactly what I needed,” stated Edouard. He didn’t get any further, because Martin Fuchs exclaimed: “My dad kicked you in the butt!” Because he has been training the 23-year-old Edouard for six years already. Edouard laughed and nodded.

Martin Fuchs as the final rider – that was also well thought-out by Michel Sorg. Because it was all down to Martin Fuchs. If he stayed clear – victory. Four faults – Jump-off. Eight faults – still a jump-off, but without Switzerland. The pressure was no problem for Fuchs: “I had a really good feeling. He jumped super in the first round. Steve helped me warm up before the second round and he said just do everything the same as before, so I entered the ring with lots of confidence. But I was a little bit nervous on the last line…” But the ten-year-old Holstein-bred gelding, Commissar Pezi, didn’t let himself be distracted and also flew over the last Mercedes obstacle.

Tim Gredley, who rode for his country among others in 2006 at the FEI World Equestrian Games, aged just 20 at the time, spoke on behalf of the British team. He said he was delighted to have the honour of jumping with these guys, because it had been a long time since he jumped at that level. But that he now had a horse, namely the Belgian-bred stallion Medoc de Toxandria, who was suitable for top level sport. And that he wasn’t disappointed even if his scores of nine and six faults hadn’t counted today. “The team spirit was great and I was really happy to be part of the team!” His fellow team members comprised of Ben Maher with Dallas Vegas Batilly and Scott Brash with Hello Jefferson, both of whom jumped double clear, and Harry Charles with Romeo, who collected eight faults in the first round and then jumped clear.

Like the Brits, the Belgians picked up all their faults in the first round, whereby Nicola Philippaerts and his super mare Katanga van het Dingeshof jumped double clear. “We were a little unlucky in the first round,” analysed Koen Vereecke, who had saddled Kasanova de la Pomme this evening (four and zero faults). “The tension is slightly higher in the second round. They all jumped very good in the second round. Even if it didn’t suffice to win. Perhaps next time.” Because as Martin Fuchs summed up in a nutshell: “It is the coolest Nations’ Cup one can win, here in front of such a huge crowd!”

Unbelievable! Another start-to-finish victory for David Will at the CHIO Aachen 2023, this time with Zaccorado Blue in the STAWAG-Prize.

When David Will and the ten-year-old Holstein-bred gelding, Zaccorado Blue by VDL Zirocco Blue, crossed the finish line of the 1.50-meter jumping competition against the clock, the STAWAG-Prize, the clock stopped at 59.72 seconds. None of his following 34 fellow riders were able to match that time. Not even those who didn’t jump clear like Will. Hans-Dieter Dreher and his Selle Français gelding, Vestmalle des Cotis, came the closest with a clear round in 60.88 seconds. Third place went to the rider from Colombia, Roberto Teran Tafur and his Irish mare, Wakita, with whom he also came third in the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen yesterday. Today, the pair took 62.22 seconds to finish the course.

Two jumping classes, two start-to-finish victories – how does one do that? David Will: “Well, when you go first, you don’t know what is going to happen, so you have to risk everything.” Full risk, full gain. Will thinks a lot of the ten-year-old, Zaccorado Blue: “I have had him since he was about two. He is one of my best horses. But I don’t quite think he has reached his full potential yet.” That means he is a perspective 5-star Grand Prix horse. “That is the goal for the second half of the season,” confirmed Will.

His own goal is to hopefully qualify for the ROLEX Grand Prix on Sunday tomorrow in the RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia tomorrow with My Prins van Dorperheide.

David Will and his seven-year-old Holstein-bred gelding, Dax, were the first to go in today’s second class, the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup. As the last horse crossed the finish line, the pair were still in the lead.

The course designer, Frank Rothenberger, had built an alternative for the riders in today’s course in the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup: They could either ride parallel to the pond over Aachen’s double water jump or take the longer route with a wider turn into the final combination. David Will didn’t have think about which track he was going to take with his seven-year-old Holstein Dinken son, Dax, for long – the shorter route, of course! The clock stopped at 60.28 seconds. And because the pair’s ride looked so relaxed, nobody realised at the time how quick they really were. As it turns out, they crossed the finish line three seconds faster than the pair that came second – the French rider Megane Moissonnier and her Westphalian-bred mare Safira S Gold by Stakkato Gold. They took 63.67 seconds. Third place went to the Netherlands to Kim Emmen and the eight-year-old KWPN mare, Kandiama by Andiamo Z (64.55 seconds).

Other riders had also tried to ride the fast line, but many horses were still quite impressed by the two water obstacles and then the pond next to them. Dax doesn’t mind such things, says David Will: “This horse simply makes everything possible. He gallops into the Soers in Aachen, feels at home, jumps over a double water as if it were the most normal thing in the world. For his seven years, that’s really extraordinary.” This primal confidence is no surprise. Will reports further, “He’s a true family horse. He’s my brother’s, and we’ve had him since he was a foal.” Will is convinced that Dax has everything a jumper needs for the big sport. “He has absolutely the right attitude and phenomenal potential!”

The Brazilian Yuri Mansur won the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe on Wednesday evening under floodlight on a horse that he hopes will take him to the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

However, the jump-off was opened by a Swiss rider: Edouard Schmitz with Gamin van’t Naastveldhof. The 23-year-old and his eleven-year-old Belgian Chacco Chacco son put in a round that made it clear they would be hard to beat. Every turn forward, all obstacles in a smooth manner, 42.43 seconds – it can’t really go much faster than that, you thought.

But then Yuri Mansur and the only ten-year-old Brazilian mare Miss Blue-Saint Blue Farm came along and beat the Swiss rider’s time by another 0.16 seconds. However, he was to remain the only one. Neither Alain Jufer (SUI) on Dante MM nor the three German pairs in the jump-off, Philipp Weishaupt with Coby, Richard Vogel on United Touch S and Gerrit Nieberg with Blues d’Aveline, managed another clear round, let alone one that would have been faster than that of Mansur. As the last competitor, Martin Fuchs still had a chance to win on the Holsteiner gelding Conner Jei. They had recently won the Rolex Grand Prix of Windsor, among others. In fact, the Connor son also jumped clear and Fuchs did what he could to break the time, but it was not enough. After 42.78 seconds the time stopped for him. Third place behind Mansur and Schmitz.

Yuri Mansur later revealed that he and Edouard Schmitz had been in the placings together all winter. “But he was always better than me then.” Today it was the other way round. And his mare had the biggest share in that. “She is a phenomenon! Actually, she is only nine years old, she will only be ten in September. As a young horse, she hardly did anything. Less than a year ago, I was still riding her in 1.30-metre jumping competitions.” And now she jumps from success to success. Among others, the pair was part of the second-placed Nations’ Cup team in St. Gallen (SUI). Does it mean anything to him that he won here in Aachen with a horse bred in Brazil? Yes, but in a way it was also funny, because at the beginning of his career he had brought many horses from Europe to Brazil, “and now towards the end of my career they are coming back”. End of the 44-year-old’s career? “I have a plan. I still want to ride the Olympic Games in Los Angeles and I hope she will be my horse for that. But after that I want to concentrate on my children’s careers.”

Edouard Schmitz has been training with the Fuchs family, i.e. Martin Fuchs and his father Thomas, for six years. “It is not empty words when I say that I owe everything to these two,” said the Swiss. These words have a beautiful ring to them for Martin Fuchs. So he could easily get over the fact that he was “only” third today. “Sometimes one is better, sometimes the other. We push each other and spur each other on. I think that’s very good,” said Fuchs. The next chance for a rematch is sure to come!

The Irish rider, Daniel Coyle, won the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen in memory of Landrat Hermann-Josef Pütz, a 1.50-metre jumping competition in two phases on Wednesday afternoon – which came as no surprise to him.

After all, Daniel Coyle had saddled his best horse, Legacy by Chippendale Z. His 13-year-old Zangersheider-bred mare by Chippendale Z already proved that she is in top form last weekend in Rotterdam, when she came second in the Grand Prix. Today, there was no beating her. She sped around the second phase in the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen in 29.53 seconds and left France’s Simon Delestre with the KWPN stallion I Amelusina R (30.14) and the Colombian rider, Roberto Teran Tafur, with the Irish mare BP Wakita (30.74) in second and third place behind her. Daniel Coyle: “If I ride well, she jumps good. So, the pressure predominantly lies on me. But that is how it should be.”

Incidentally, it is the Irish rider’s first time in Aachen. “All of my friends were already here, at least to watch. I haven’t even been here as a spectator before. They always told me that it is a super show. But we visit so many fantastic shows that you don’t ever think you will be that impressed when you come somewhere new. But they have everything you can possibly imagine here: Wow!”

However, he is not placing his bets on Legacy for the Grand Prix, but on a young horse instead. “Normally I’d ride her in the Grand Prix, but not this week. I have a new horse that I want to bring on up to her level. That is why I will compete with him on Sunday. I hope that works out and he goes well. I haven’t had him long, only for six months. But he is making very promising developments.” He is talking about the 12-year-old KWPN stallion, Gisborne VDL by Zirocco Blue. What Coyle didn’t mention: He has already jumped clear with the grey several times in the Nations’ Cup for the Irish team. So, he has plenty of reasons for looking optimistically ahead to Sunday.

Exciting finale in the final of the German U25 Trophy of the Stiftung Deutscher Pferdesport, Prize of Family Müter! Five pairs in the jump-off, where it became clear: homebred is the best approach.

When a little filly by Mylord Carthago out of Online IX by Quinar Z was born at the Carstensen family’s Sollwitt stallion station in Schleswig-Holstein in 2014, Teike Carstensen, who was 15 years old at the time, was one of the first people to see the little grey lady. She was given the name Greece. When the mare did her first jumps, Teike sat in the saddle. When Greece went to her first competitions, she did so as well. And now, nine years later, the two of them were able to celebrate their victory in the final of the German U25 Trophy of the Stiftung Deutscher Pferdesport, Prize of Family Müter, in the Aachener Soers. It is guaranteed that this will not be the pair’s last shared victory. Teike Carstensen’s boss Stefan Johannsen, for whom she is employed as a rider, secured the mare for Teike together with investors.

A total of five pairs had reached the jump-off, three remained clear a second time. With a courageous ride, in which even outsiders could see how well the two know each other and how much they trust each other, Teike Carstensen (24) and Greece jumped to victory with a good second ahead of the competitors. The pair needed 39.80 seconds.

The clock stopped at 40.84 seconds for the duo in second place, Bundeswehr sports student Sönke Fallenberg in the saddle of his Westphalian Congress daughter Chakira TF. The two share a similar history as the winning pair. Chakira was also born in the Fallenberg family’s stable and made her way up under the 21-year-old Sönke Fallenberg. Their journey has already taken them to the European Championships for Young Riders. And the Soers is already familiar terrain for Sönke. If he has his way, it won’t stop at participating in the U25 Tour. When asked what his long-term goals are, the answer came without a hint of hesitation: “Championships!”

When he said that, an approving nod came from his two colleagues on the podium. Besides Teike Carstensen, this was the equestrian Pia-Luise Baur from Baden-Württemberg. In the saddle of the ten-year-old KWPN gelding Iscayo by Biscayo, she jumped into third place in 43.63 seconds. The 24-year-old has already laid the foundation for being able to return to the Soers one day by acquiring her successful horse from today herself.

The Wednesday at the CHIO Aachen 2023 kicked off with the Prize of Handwerk, a 1.45-metre competition against the clock. The winner Marc Dilasser from France couldn’t have been more overjoyed.  

Marc Dilasser headed the field of 42 participants in the Prize of Handwerk after knocking 0.12 seconds off the best time. He had saddled the 13-year Selle Français gelding, E2K Abricot Ennemmelle by Quaprice Bois Margot. “As you can see he is a bit wild (laughs),” Marc said about his mount and laughed. “He is a little lion and I love him to bits! He has already won so many classes at big shows. He is a fighter and so clever!”

Dilasser has known E2K Abricot Ennemmelle since the chestnut horse was five and brought him up to top competition level himself. It is the second time Dilasser has competed at the CHIO Aachen, but he has never actually won a class up until now. So, he was delighted after his triumph: “Riding here is simply a dream! I told my groom that I can tell my small sons now that I won in Aachen. Okay, it wasn’t the biggest class, but nevertheless a victory in Aachen!”

Laura Kraut, the Olympic team silver medallist from Tryon, and her speed specialist, Haley by Quality Time TN, narrowly missed that victory. They had led the field on a time of 59.53 seconds until Dilasser and E2K Abricot Ennemmelle notched up a time of 59.41.

Maurice Tebbel and his Hanoverian-bred Quasimodo van de Molendreef son, Quasi Top, were delighted at coming third today after already ranking second in the STAWAG Opening Jumping Competition yesterday. Tebbel said how happy he is to be back in Aachen after a year’s break. Hardly surprising, after two placings under the top three after the first two classes.

In 2017, the Belgian rider Gregory Wathelet won the Rolex Grand Prix for the first time in Aachen with Coree. Today, he won the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup with a young horse that apart from the colour also has a lot of other things in common with that fantastic grey mare.  

We are talking about the eight-year-old Cornet Obolensky daughter, Flagship de Hus. The French grey mare sped round the course with Gregory Wathelet to take the victory in a time of 34.44 seconds in the 1.45-metre two-phase competition, which is the first leg of the Sparkassen-Youngsters-Cup. Second place went to Jens Baackmann riding the eight-year-old Holstein-bred gelding, Lorenz by Livello, the pair crossed the finish line in 35.39 seconds. The just seven-year-old Hanoverian-bred stallion, Cornet XL, who descends from Cornet Obolensky, came third.

Grey mare, sire Cornet Obolensky, owner Nybor Horses – that rings a bell… That’s right, all of the above-cited key data about Gregory Wathelet’s aspiring young horse, Flagship de Hus, also applies for his first Rolex Grand Prix winner, Coree. And as far as the quality is concerned – Flagship de Hus came ninth in the World Jumping Championships for Young Horses in 2022, and today she prove that she also feels at home in the magnificent setting of the Aachen Soers. Gregory Wathelet raved: “She is a real fighter! It her first time here, but she wasn’t overwhelmed by it at all, which I am very glad about. She was very focused and carefree in the jump-off – and she is fast! I am very proud of her!”