First-class sporting prelude at the CHIO Aachen 2025 in the Prize of Sparkasse! The Albert-Vahle-Arena was festively decorated, the circle raked and the athletes were ready. However, it became clear that even clear favourites are not unbeatable.

Today, the compulsory and technical tests were on the agenda for the vaulters. In the compulsory test every athlete completes a set programme. In the technical test the exercises are predefined, but they can be performed in whichever order desired.

The first big surprise at the CHIO Aachen 2025 was the performance of the favourite of the men’s competition, Quentin Jabet. The French vaulter was unbeatable in the vaulting circle in Aachen in 2023 and 2024. However, this year he “only” lies in fourth place in the interim results with an average score of 8.187. The reason being that the horse he originally wanted to compete with couldn’t take part, but Jabet definitely wanted to defend his title. So, he placed his bets on Goldjunge, lunged by Jacqueline Schönteich, Goldjunge is not actually a stranger to Quentin. Because the 17-year-old gelding already carried Jabet to victory in the World Cup Final in Basel. But in Basel Quentin only had to complete a technical test, not a compulsory test. The 22-year-old revealed that the pair have never taken part in a compulsory test together before. Not a good starting position when the competition is as tough as at the CHIO Aachen. But everything could change in the freestyle tomorrow that starts at 4.30 p.m.

The 20-year-old, Bela Lehnen, winner of the Prize of the Best 2025, is currently heading the field in the men’s competition. The vaulter from Cologne is one of the most promising German aspiring talents. He had to take a break last season after sustaining an injury. Now he is back on the scene again! He came third in the compulsory test with Formel 1 D.C., lunged by Alexandra Knauf, and won the technical test. His current score is 8.332 points. The Dutch vaulter, Sam Dos Santos on Hero, lunged by Emy Dos Santos is close at his heels on a score of 8.320. The four-time Aachen winner, Thomas Brüsewitz, performed the best compulsory test with William II Z (Lunged by Maik Husmann). After coming fourth in the technical test, he currently lies in third place with a score of 8.306 before the freestyle competition.

Kathrin Meyer dominates in the ladies’ competition

In the ladies’ competition the titleholder and World Cup winner, Kathrin Meyer, is once again on course for victory. She came second in the compulsory test and first in the technical test with Capitain Claus OLD, lunged by Gesa Bührig. That sufficed to take the lead on an average score of 8.315.

Alice Layher is close at her heels with Candy, lunged by Daniel Zembrot  (8.254). The trio did it precisely the other way round: First in the compulsory test, ahead of Meyer, and second in the technical test. A German athlete currently ranks third after the first day, namely Alina Roß with Baron R, lunged by her father, Volker Roß (8.139).

Cologne on course

Team Norka of VV Köln-Dünnwald once again put in a top performance in the compulsory test of the groups on Ecuador, lunged by Alexandra Knauf: Not one of their scores was under 8 and their interim combined score is 8.238. That gives them a huge lead over the team from St. Hubertus Herne on Balou, lunged by Stefan Lotzmann, which notched up an average score of 7.222. The Swedish group, SVEA with Elversoes Galantic and their lunger, Daniela Fiskbaek, currently lies in third place (6.910).