18 July 2016, Aachen, Germany – The Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen in Germany is one of the three equestrian Majors that form the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, and is one of the most prestigious grand prix on the international circuit.
Re-live the excitement of the four-day competition at the world’s leading venue, as the finest riders compete for the prestigious Rolex Grand Prix title.
Please find below a short copyright free news film, presented by Rolex.
The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
Aachen, Germany – The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team had solid performances throughout the Lambertz Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover, the team of Katherine Bateson-Chandler, Shelly Francis, Arlene “Tuny” Page, and Steffen Peters garnered the Silver medal with a total score of 437.139. Saturday’s final placing also clinched the inaugural FEI Nations Cup™ series title for the U.S. Germany had a dominant performance in the eight-nation field, taking the top three places in the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Special and earning the Gold medal with a total of 492.598. Denmark finished with the Bronze medal on a total of 430.418.
“I could not be more proud of our team here in Aachen,” said Dover. “It’s great when you consider that there are some of the best countries in the world selecting their teams for the Rio Olympic Games here and our team placed second, a team who included our traveling reserve and other super combinations that are not on our Olympic team. I am so proud that of all of them they stepped up to the plate.”
Coming into this sixth and final Nations Cup event in the 2016 series, the U.S. needed to secure a placing ahead of Sweden, who was four points ahead of the U.S. on the leaderboard, to secure the title. Dover was extremely pleased with this weekend’s outcome. “We set a goal right from the beginning to win this series. Winning the first event in Wellington was exciting, but we anticipated that win. At Odense we had a nice showing with some of our greener combinations. Then going on to Compiègne, we thought, ‘Yes, we have a strong chance’, but when we won that it really got me excited and planning. After a second-place finish at Rotterdam the idea was to come to Aachen and place second or third and beat Sweden, but to actually place second with this group, that was really exciting.”
In Thursday’s CDIO5* Grand Prix, Peters (San Diego, Calif.) and Four Winds Farm’s Legolas 92 anchored the U.S. team with an excellent test, receiving a score of 77.324% from the Ground Jury of Maribel Alonso (MEX), Susanne Baarop (DEN), Stephen Clarke (GBR), Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode (NED), Peter Holler (GER), Thomas Lang (AUS), and Gary Rockwell (USA) to finish in fourth place. Francis (Loxahatchee, Fla.) and Patricia Stempel’s Doktor demonstrated their partnership with a steady test to score 72.200% for 12th place. Page (Wellington, Fla.) and her own Woodstock had a consistent test, marred only by a mistake in the two-tempi changes, scoring 68.971% to finish in 23rd place. Bateson-Chandler (Wellington, Fla.) was the first down centerline for the U.S. aboard Jane Clark’s Alcazar and had a solid test, aside from issues in the piaffe and collected walk, to post a score of 66.314% for 32d place.
The U.S. Team put forth a determined effort in Saturday’s CDIO5* Grand Prix Special to earn the Silver medal. Peters and Legolas 92 were the final ride of the day and they did not disappoint with impressive piaffe and passage work and lovely canter half-passes. The Ground Jury of Maribel Alonso (MEX), Stephen Clarke (GBR), Eduard de Wolff van Westerrode (NED), Peter Holler (GER), and Gary Rockwell (USA) rewarded the pair with a score of 76.627% to put them in fourth place.
Peters was very pleased with the maturity Legolas 92 exhibited, stating, “The first huge relief was when we came in, the announcer said a few things about Legolas, and he did not react whatsoever and that is the exact reason why we were here. I still felt like at Rotterdam, in the Grand Prix, that we were still a little on edge during the first minute of our test, but now he has proven that he can deliver for the team and this is exactly what the plan was. He did the piaffe movements very nicely, as well as his changes, and did beautiful canter pirouettes. Thursday and today the judges gave him a really high mark for his collected walk and that is a gigantic accomplishment. It’s those little things that most people who don’t know Legolas that well don’t appreciate, but I am just stocked about those tiny little things.”
Page and Woodstock had a much improved performance in the Grand Prix Special, producing an accurate and rhythmical test. They nailed their tempi-changes and demonstrated lovely passage work, scoring 71.451% to finish in 13th place.
Francis and Doktor gave another consistent performance to help the U.S. Team. They demonstrated solid piaffes and executed brilliant passage work. Francis and Doktor scored 70.647% to finish in 17th place.
Bateson-Chandler withdrew Alcazar from the Grand Prix Special following a case of colic on Friday.
The top 18 individuals, including Francis, Page, and Peters, will move forward to Sunday’s Grand Prix Freestyle.
The U.S. is also being represented this week at CHIO Aachen in dressage, driving, and show jumping. On Thursday evening, the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping tied for the Silver medal with France in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup. On Saturday afternoon, the Land Rover U.S. Eventing Team finished in sixth place in the CICO3* Nations Cup. The U.S. Driving Team is in second place after the first phase, competition continues Saturday with the marathon phase, and concludes on Sunday with the cones. Find out more on USEFNetwork.com.
Germany’s Christian Ahlmann on course. Photos: Equinium Sports Marketing.
In a nail-biting double round class that had the packed Main Stadium on tenterhooks, Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Christian Ahlmann, and Marcus Ehning rode four faultless rounds to keep the challengers from France and the USA at bay, ultimately securing Germany’s win in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup.
The first round saw clears from the USA and German Teams, leaving them tied for first going into the second round (of the four riders for each team, the highest faulted rider is dropped from the calculations). France finished the first round with just 4 faults, and the close race set the crowd on edge for round 2. Two clears from Christian Ahlmann and Marcus Ehning put Germany in striking position for the win, while the USA’s McLain Ward had an unusual 12 fault round that left the pressure on Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ following clear rounds from Lucy Davis and Laura Kraut.
The crowd of nearly 30,000 was silent as Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum piloted Fibonacci 17 over the course, and exploded in excitement as the pair flew over the final Mercedes-Benz vertical without fault. With Ludger Beerbaum still to go, Germany’s victory was well in hand as Beezie Madden and Cortes ‘C’ set onto the field. A clear round from her would tie the USA and Germany for first, but an unfortunate single fault at the Deutsche Bank water jump dropped America into second, where France’s fault free second round left them tied with the USA.
Germany’s jubilation was so pronounced at having won Aachen’s Nations Cup for the first time since 2008 that they seemed to forget that their fourth member, Ludger Beerbaum, had yet to go. As he and Casello rode onto the pitch, there was flurry of movement from Aachen’s tractors and ground crew to set up for the awards; no doubt they were eager to see Germany crowned. To the amusement of the crowd the announcer kindly asked the crew to allow Beerbaum to finish, while he and Casello waited patiently for their turn. Despite the round being inconsequential for the Nations Cup standings, the decorated German rider still needed to complete the course as Aachen’s CHIO is the final qualifier for the German Olympic Team.
Anabel Balkenhol and Juan Matute Jr. Triumphant in Friday’s Dressage Competition at the CHIO Aachen 2016
Germany once again dominated in the second leg of the CDI4, the Grand Prix Special, following an impressive performance in the Grand Prix CDI4 earlier in the week. Anabel Balkenhol and 16-year-old Hanoverian gelding Dablino FRH rode a precise and fluent test to score a 75.471 and top the class. Hubertus Schmidt and the Trakehner stallion Imperio 3, who were victorious in the Grand Prix with a 76+ percent, finished second on 74.157.
Earlier in the day, Spain’s Juan Matute Jr and Quantico Ymas took top honors in the Under-25 Grand Prix, demonstrating all of the poise and elegance required for international Grand Prix competition and finishing on 71.349. Second place went to Belgium’s Laurence Roos and Fil Rouge with 70.558, and Germany’s Florine Keinbaum and Doktor Schiwago 3 ended on 70.4558 for third.
Wesel District Top Quadrille Championships
The Deutsche Bank Stadium’s dressage arena was filled with the sounds of pop and rock and roll music Friday afternoon as the Prize of the Handwerk Quadrille Championships showcased exceptional choreography, harmony, and style of its 6 competing teams. With an overall score of 19.5, the Wesel District Team, comprised of Lisa Behr, Sina Doller, Nathalie Overmann, and Petra Wolf, claimed victory with upbeat music and intricate pattern. Their closest challenger and second place finisher was the Aachen District, finishing on a 18.3.
In the Quadrille Championships, each team consists of four horse and rider pairs who perform a medium level Freestyle routine to individual choreography and music. It is an interesting and well received aspect of the CHIO Aachen, and emphasizes the overall theme of teamwork that is prevalent throughout the CHIO.
Lamaze Does It Again in the Prize of the North Rhine-Westphalia Press release courtesy of CHIO Aachen
What a week for Canada’s Olympic gold medallist, Eric Lamaze and his Hanoverian mare, Fine Lady. First the pair won the Turkish-Airlines Prize of Europe on Wednesday, then they rode to victory in the Prize North Rhine-Westphalia, proving their incredible speed.
In the second round of the jumping competition, the pair was almost four seconds faster than the rest of the field. However, as far as Saturday’s Rolex Grand Prix is concerned, his fellow competitors can breathe easy as Fine Lady is already on the way to Rio: Lamaze confirmed Friday that he will be riding Fine Lady at the Olympic Games. He would never have imagined that himself when he took over the mare from the German squad member, Holger Wulschner, in 2014: “We actually thought she was a good reserve horse for me for 1.50 metre speed competitions. But then I jumped her in the bigger classes now and again as well. And whatever we demanded from her, she delivered. I don’t know if one can call it scope. But she really is bold! And when she has the right ground speed, she can jump anything.”
Laura Kraut Wins the Stawag Prize for the USA Press release courtesy of CHIO Aachen
Before the course was rebuilt for the Mercedes Benz Nations’ Cup, the STAWAG Prize, a competition against the clock, was held in the Main Stadium. Laura Kraut from the USA, the 2008 Olympic team gold medalist, reached the finish line in the fastest time, after knocking almost a second of her closest rival’s time with the Holstein-bred gelding, Confu.
She was followed by the two Irish riders, Jonathan Gordon with Fellini and Cian O’Connor with Calisto. Felix Haßmann and Cayenne of Germany finished fourth, while the team World Champion of 2010, Janne-Friederike Meyer, came fifth with Chuck and Christian Ahlmann was right behind her in sixth place with Cornado II.
Aachen, Germany – Members of the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team performed in the Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup at CHIO Aachen Thursday, which served as their final Nations Cup competition prior to the Rio Olympic Games. Led by Chef d’Equipe Robert Ridland, the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team of Lucy Davis, Laura Kraut, Beezie Madden, and McLain Ward put in valiant efforts in a very competitive field to tie with France for the Silver medal on four faults. Germany won the Gold medal on zero faults, posting seven clear efforts over two rounds of competition.
“We planned our European tour as preparation for the Olympic Games and there is no better or harder place to compete than here at Aachen,” said Ridland. “We are very pleased with where our riders are. We have done five Nations Cups in Europe and we have been second four of those times. We feel confident. We came here for the preparation against the best in the world and we got it.”
With the U.S. drawing first in the order, the pathfinders for the U.S., Ward (Brewster, N.Y.) and Sagamore Farm’s Rothchild, had the undesirable job of being the first combination around the course. The pair posted a foot-perfect clear round over the Frank Rothenberger-designed course, and set the tone for brilliant round-one performances. Davis (Los Angeles, Calif.) and Old Oak Farm’s Barron and Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.) with Old Willow Farms, LLC’s Zeremonie followed suit with clear rounds of their own, allowing Madden to sit out round one as the U.S. had secured a round-one total of zero faults. The U.S. entered round two tied with the home nation of Germany, also on zero penalties. Close behind the leading nations, there was a three-way tie between France, Great Britain, and Belgium, who all sat on four faults.
Round two proved to be a nail-biter down to the last ride. Ward was not able to duplicate his round-one success, putting 12 faults on the board. With Germany’s first rider going clear, the pressure was on the rest of the U.S. to deliver. Both Davis and Kraut again marked flawless rounds, but were matched by their German counterparts. France was also able to post three clear rounds to put them on a two-round total of four faults, leaving no room for error for U.S. anchor combination Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.) and Abigail Wexner’s Cortes ‘C’. The pair started the round strong, but had a foot down in the water at fence six, sealing the second-place tie with France.
Laura Kraut and Zeremonie (Shannon Brinkman Photo)
“It was a memorable day for me at Aachen for sure,” said Kraut, who won the STAWAG-Prize aboard St. Bride´s Farm Confu earlier in the afternoon. “The Nations Cup course was very fair. There are a lot of horses here that are going to the Olympics, so I think it was built to be difficult, but not take a lot out of the horses. Overall it was a brilliant design. Zeremonie has grown up so much in the course of these European observation events. I am honored to have been named as an alternate [to the U.S. Olympic Show Jumping Team] and I think the mare proved today that she’s ready to step up if needed.”
The U.S. is also being represented at CHIO Aachen in dressage, driving, and eventing. Following day one of team competition for dressage and driving, both U.S. teams lie in second place. Find out more on USEFNetwork.com.
Germany’s Hubertus Schmidt and the Trekhener stallion, Imperio, proved their regality in the Deutsche Bank Stadium during the first day of dressage competition at the CHIO Aachen, demonstrating elegance and power in the first leg of the CDI-4* to score a 76.043% and top the class. Fresh off a recent injury, the pair is on the long list for the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
In fact, all of the top placers in the CDI-4* are striving for a place on the German Olympic team: the two-time World Cup bronze medallist, Jessica Bredow-Werndl, came second with Unee BB (74.90). Anabel Balkenhol and Dablino came third with a score of 74.486 ahead of Fabienne Lütkemeier with D’Agostino (73.814) and Jenny Lang-Nobbe with Loverboy (72.700). The competitions in Aachen will ultimately decide who will represent Germany in Rio.
Michael Eilberg and Woodlander Farouche Claim Victory in Prize of the VUV Prix St. Georges
Rain and clouds could not dampen the first dressage competition of the CHIO Aachen 2016, which proved to be a battle of superstars and rising talent. Whereas the so-called Small Tour doesn’t usually attract a lot of attention at other shows, in Aachen’s Deutsche Bank Stadium one can admire the stars of tomorrow in these competitions. Wednesday’s Prize of the VUV – Vereinigte Unternehmerverbände Aachen – was no exception.
The elegant chestnut mare Woodlander Farouche, under the guidance of Michael Eilberg, put in a beautiful test to achieve a score of 76.368 percent, proving her mettle in the FEI levels. The British Hanoverian mare (Fuerst Heinrich x Woodlander Dornroschen) was the World Champion of the Five and Six-year-old Dressage Horses at the 2011 and 2012 World Breeding Championships in Verden, and has clearly hit her stride in the Prix St. Georges.
Jessica Bredow-Werndl and Unee BB. Photo: Equinium Sports Marketing
The 9-year-old Hanoverian gelding Santiago, piloted by German 2012 Olympic Team Silver medalist Dorothee Schneider, took reserve honors with a score of 75.263. Santiago was previously the winner of the Nuremberg Burg Cup Final, similar to the German Championships of the Young Dressage Horses.
The third and fourth place finishers were also German Champions as young horses. Third place went to the seven-year-old stallion, DSP Belantis, with the five-time Olympic gold medallist Isabell Werth (73.895 percent). Belantis placed second at the World Championships for Young Dressage Horses in 2016.
Hubertus Schmidt and Escolar rode to fourth with a final score of 73.895%. The 7-year-old stallion showed experience and maturity beyond his years in the hands of the German Olympic Team Gold Medalist, and was also crowned the German Champion title twice as a 3-year-old and 4-year-old.
Sixth and seventh place also went to Germany: Suppenkasper with the team World Champion, Helen Langehanenberg (72.921 percent) and Geraldine with Ingrid Klimke (71.553). Incidentally, the latter, who is the daughter of the most successful dressage rider of all time, Dr. Reiner Klimke, is not only competing in the dressage arena in Aachen, but also in the DHL Prize of the eventers.
World Champion Exell Heads the Field Following Prize of the Fa. Horsch, der Entsorger
As usual, the CAIO of the four-in-hand drivers, the Prize of Fa. Horsch, Der Entsorger, kicked off Wednesday with the dressage in the Driving Stadium. As with the dressage riders, accuracy, elegance and obedience are demanded of the masters of the carriages. After the first of three disciplines – the Marathon, the cross-country course of the drivers, and cones phase follow – the Australian driver, Boyd Exell, who has, among many other titles, already won the CAIO Aachen five times in the past, heads the field. Exell is namely also a many-time World Champion and World Cup winner and as the first driver ever was additionally distinguished by the FEI with the “Reem Acra Best Athlete Award” in 2015. In 2016, he is on course to claim his sixth victory at the Soers. The mode of the driving competition is similar to that of the eventing: the winner is the participant who has collected the least minus points after the final competition. After the dressage, Exell will set off on the Marathon course with 34.05 minus points.
The Dutch driver, Ijsbrand Chardon, is close at his heels on a score of 40.83 minus – a familiar situation for himself and Exell; they are more or less permanent rivals – whereby Chardon succeeded in securing the title in the World Cup Final this year after beating Exell. It is going to be exciting to see how the duel at the Soers ends this time round.
The American driver, Chester Weber, currently lies in third place, who was the first American to win in Aachen ever in 2013. His interim result is 43.33 minus points.
The best German driver after the dressage is Christoph Sandmann in seventh place (51.46).
Traditionally dressed Swedish dancers and a painted Norwegian Fjord. Photos are property of Equinium Sports Marketing, LLC.
Aachen, Germany (July 13, 2016) – The king and queen of Sweden paraded into the main stadium of the CHIO Aachen Tuesday evening in grand style, accompanied by the Royal Fire Brigade of Malmo and a phalanx of mounted guards from the Swedish Royal Stables. Following a welcome to the participating nations, presented by Icelandic ponies and their riders bearing flags, Her Majesty Queen Silvia delivered the inaugural speech, officially declaring the CHIO Aachen 2016 open. With a roar of approval from the crowd the Opening Ceremony was underway, a spectacular showcase that highlighted the unique history and culture of Sweden and the equestrian roots of the CHIO Aachen.
Sweden, as the partner nation of the CHIO Aachen, presented a fabulous tribute to its equestrian, cultural, and musical traditions to a packed house at the Aachen Soers Main Stadium in a dazzling spectacle to set the mood for the week’s competition. Beginning with the middle ages, where knights from Sweden and Germany went to battle and Vikings rode again over the international show jumping field, the ceremony also included a display of midsummer songs and dances, the presentation of the Dalecarlia Horse, Wangen Trotters Quadrille, a presentation of Swedish competitors, a tribute to the storybook characters of Astrid Lindgren, and the musical stylings of both ABBA and pop sensation Mans Zelmerlow, who concluded the evening with an impressive concert framed by a spectacular sunset.
Earlier in the week, the Prize of the Sparkasse was presented to the top FEI vaulters, and a spectacular showcase of music and equestrianism took place in the Deutsche Bank Stadium. Dubbed Pferd & Sinfonie, or Horse and Symphony, the show featured equestrian exhibitions ranging from wild west rough riders, dressage quadrilles, jumping, vaulting, and breed presentations all set to the sounds of a live orchestra, playing above the arena. In addition to traditional classical pieces, the concert set horses dancing to the tunes of mainstream movies and music including ABBA, The Pirates of the Caribbean, Forrest Gump, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Superman, and The Lion King.
The Klimkes’ pas de deux
Tuesday’s early mix of sun and clouds persisted throughout the day and into the Opening Ceremonies, and the first show jumping contests were held in the main stadium beginning with the STAWAG Eroffnungsspringen, a 1.45m open jumper class which was topped by Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano aboard his 11-year-old gelding, Kentucky v. Neerhof Z. The pair rode to a lead of almost four seconds over Germany’s Maurice Tebbel, the former Junior European Champion. German Olympic candidates Ludger Beerbaum, Daniel Deusser, Christan Ahlmann, Marcus Ehning, and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum used the STAWAG Open Jumping class as a warm up.
Spain’s young talent led in the second class of the day, the Spakassen Youngster’s Cup. Featuring 7- and 8-year-old horses jumping 1.40m, the class served as a qualifier for the Sparkassen Youngster’s Cup Finale, to be held on Saturday, July 16. Sergio Alvarez Moya of Spain and the 8-year-old French bred mare Unicstar de l’Aumone proved unbeatable, securing the win with a lead of two seconds. The electric atmosphere and international caliber competition of the CHIO was a true test for the young horses, giving them experience towards future competition.
The CHIO Aachen continues Wednesday and Thursday:
Wednesday, July 13, 2016
Main Stadium:
Prize of Handwerks – 1.45m Jumping Competition at 11:30am
Prize of Europe, presented by Turkish Airlines – 1.55m Jumping competition with jump off, Qualifier for the Prize of the AachenMunchener and Rolex Grand Prix (Grand Prix of Aachen) at 1:45pm
Prize of StadteRegion Aachen – 1.50m two phase jumping competition at 5:30pm
A bridleless dressage presentation set to the music of Forrest Gump
Deutsche Bank Stadium:
Prix St. Georges at 3:30pm
Grand Prix de Dressage CDI 4* at 6pm
Driving Stadium:
Prize of Fa. Horsch, Der Entsorger FEI Dressage Test 11
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Driving Stadium:
Prize of Martello Immobilemanament FEI Dressage Test 8 at 10pm
Deutsche Bank Stadium:
Prize of Family Tesch – Grand Prix CDIO Nations Cup Qualifier at 10am
Main Stadium:
Prize of Familie Muter – Deutschland’s U25 Sprinkpokal der Stiftung Deutscher Spitzenpferdesport Jumping Competition at 12:30pm
Sparkassen Youngsters Cup 1.40m Finale Qualifier at 2pm
STAWAG Prize – 1.50m Prize of the AachenMunchener Qualifying competition at 4:30m
Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup Round 1 Team Jumping Qualifier at 6:30
Mercedes-Benz Nations Cup Round 2 Team Jumping Qualifier at 9:50
Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named the U.S. Driving Team for CHIO Aachen. The CAIO4*-H4 division of CHIO Aachen will take place July 13-17, 2016, in Aachen, Germany. Ed Young will serve as Chef d’Equipe for the team.
The following combinations will compose the U.S. Driving Team for CHIO Aachen (in alphabetical order):
Allison Stroud (West Grove, Pa.) and Willow Star LLC’s Anesco 4, a 2005 KWPN gelding; Antonio, a 1999 KWPN gelding; Enzo, a 2009 KWPN gelding; Olando, a 1996 KWPN gelding; and Ulco, a 2001 KWPN gelding
Chester Weber (Ocala, Fla.) and his own Amadeus, a 2005 KWPN gelding; Boris W, a 2006 KWPN gelding; Para, a 1997 KWPN gelding; and Jane Clark’s Splash, a 2003 KWPN gelding; and Uniek, a 2001 KWPN gelding
05 July 2016, Aachen, Germany – Elite performances and highly competitive show jumping will return to Aachen in July, as the world’s finest riders compete in the first equestrian Major of the year.
Considered by many to be the most breathtaking equestrian show in the world, CHIO Aachen attracts a record attendance of passionate supporters, with over 400,000 spectators across 10 days of exhilarating competition.
CHIO Aachen offers competition in five equestrian disciplines, including show jumping, dressage, eventing, driving and vaulting, with the Rolex Grand Prix, the highlight of the competition, on Sunday 17 July.
Designed by the legendary course designer Frank Rothenberger, the course for the Rolex Grand Prix at Aachen is widely acknowledged as one of the most demanding for equine athletes, testing horses and riders to the limit of their skill and talent. Crowds in excess of 40,000 are expected to watch Rolex Testimonee Steve Guerdat tackle this challenge and attempt to maintain his position as the live contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
THE ROLEX GRAND SLAM OF SHOW JUMPING
Created jointly in 2013 by CHIO Aachen, CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ and CHI Geneva, the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping rewards the rider who wins the Grand Prix at each of the shows, amounting to three Grands Prix in succession.
The Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen has been won by some of the most famous names in the sport, including father and son team Nelson and Rodrigo Pessoa, alongside Rodrigo’s fellow Rolex Testimonees, Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, Eric Lamaze and Scott Brash. The year 2015 was momentous for the international world of show jumping, as Brash won the pinnacle of equestrian sporting achievement. Aachen was the second Major in his path to writing history, before lifting the prestigious trophy in the atmospheric grass arena at Spruce Meadows.
This year all eyes will be focused on leading Swiss rider and current Olympic champion Steve Guerdat, who is following in the footsteps of Brash by winning at CHI Geneva in December 2015. Guerdat will be looking to continue his quest in challenging for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping at Aachen to firmly establish his own place, alongside Brash, in the ranks of equestrian legends.
EQUESTRIAN TESTIMONEES SET TO COMPETE AT AACHEN
To be the very best, an athlete must be able to deliver repeatedly under pressure. As the world’s leading makers of timepieces, this is something Rolex understands perfectly.
Rolex has developed particularly close partnerships with a handful of the very best riders in the world – its equestrian Testimonees. These men and women are notable not only for their exceptionally high levels of achievement, but also for the virtues of horsemanship and sportsmanship.
They must be patient and persistent, as well as courageous, resilient and quick thinking. It is these qualities that turn a rider into a horseman, qualities found at the heart of every Rolex Testimonee.
Many of Rolex’s Testimonees are set to return with their leading horses this year, to compete for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.
Two-time individual gold medal winner and Canadian sporting hero Eric Lamaze will be ready to challenge Guerdat. Having won the Rolex title here in 2010, he will be hungry for further success. Rolex Testimonee Scott Brash is expected to return in 2016 to defend his Rolex Grand Prix title, alongside the ‘first lady’ of German show jumping Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who will be looking to repeat her 2005 victory at Aachen.
Kent Farrington will be eager to continue his winning form at the end of 2015, with victory in the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final at CHI Geneva. Rolex’s youngest Testimonee, Bertram Allen, French rider Kevin Staut and Brazil’s Rodrigo Pessoa have also all entered their world class horses to compete for the esteemed Rolex Grand Prix trophy.
Rolex’s iconic dressage Testimonee, the World and Olympic gold medallist Isabell Werth has won Aachen’s dressage Grand Prix a breathtaking 11 times, and is set to return again in 2016 to compete in the magnificent 20,000 seater Deutsche Bank stadium.
AN OPENING CEREMONY LIKE NO OTHER
Rolex has sponsored the Grand Prix at Aachen since 1999 and are proud to continue their enduring partnership with this iconic and emblematic event.
More than 160 horses and around 500 active participants are expected in the impressive main stadium on 12th July for the official opening ceremony. There will be plenty of surprises, spectacular stunts and impressive show elements in the fascinating floodlit atmosphere of the stadium that holds a crowd of 40,000. “Forget everything you know about the CHIO Aachen opening ceremonies to date. This year’s ceremony will be better than ever,” said Show Director Frank Kemperman.
Aachen, Germany (June 30, 2016) – International Grand Prix dressage rider and trainer Katherine Bateson-Chandler has been named to The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team with Jane F. Clark’s Alcazar to compete in the FEI Nations Cup competition at the World Equestrian Festival CHIO Aachen in Aachen, Germany. Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar previously represented Team USA at the CDIO3* Odense Nations Cup competition in Odense, Denmark this past May.
The CHIO Aachen Nations Cup, to be held July 12-17, is the final FEI Nations Cup dressage competition for the 2016 year. The United States currently holds the top ranking among the 14 total nations vying for the winning spot. Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar will be joined by teammates Shelly Francis on Doktor, Arlene Page on Woodstock, and Steffen Peters on Rosamunde to complete the roster. Robert Dover will lead the group, serving once again as Chef d’Equipe for The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team.
“I am honored and thrilled to represent the USA as a member of the Nations Cup team at this competition,” Bateson-Chandler expressed. “My favorite thing is to be part of a team – there is nothing else like that feeling of camaraderie. It’s so fun to be able to support your teammates.”
Bateson-Chandler trains with U.S. Olympian and Developing Dressage Coach Debbie McDonald during the winter months in Wellington, Florida and travels to Europe each summer to compete and train with British Olympic Gold Medalist Carl Hester. Bateson-Chandler and Alcazar, a 10-year-old KWPN (Contango x Polin, Ferro) gelding, have been finessing their Grand Prix performances with competitions in Denmark so far this summer, including the Odense Horse Festival sponsored by ECCO and the Aalborg Dressage Event.
When not competing on the international stage, Bateson-Chandler offers training and coaching services through her business KBC Dressage. Her worldwide Grand Prix experience ensures that her students – both human and equine – have the competitive edge necessary for success in the dressage ring. KBC Dressage offers training, lessons, clinics, and prospect selection for clients. For more information about Katherine Bateson-Chandler, visit www.kbcdressage.com.
Lexington, Ky. – The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team and The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team, along with three individual athlete-and-horse combinations, for CHIO Aachen, taking place July 12-17, 2016. Robert Ridland will serve as Chef d’Equipe for the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team and Robert Dover will serve as Chef d’Equipe for The Dutta Corp. U.S. Dressage Team.
The following athletes will compose the Hermès U.S. Show Jumping Team:
Lucy Davis (Los Angeles, Calif.)
Kent Farrington (Wellington, Fla.)
Laura Kraut (Royal Palm Beach, Fla.)
Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, N.Y.)
McLain Ward (Brewster, N.Y.)
