Of course, nothing beats the live experience, when the best riders in the world compete at the most famous showgrounds in the world from May 29^th-31^st. However, the public TV stations are coming to the aid of those people, who can’t make it to the World Equestrian Festival Aachen 2015 personally, because ARD and WDR are offering comprehensive coverage.

There is going to be an excellent line-up of athletes: For example, the top 30 show-jumpers will be almost completely represented in the battle to win the Rolex Grand Prix that is endowed with one million Euros in prize-money. They will be saddling their best horses. The number one in the world rankings, the Scottish rider Scott Brash, will be competing alongside Ludger Beerbaum, Daniel Deußer, Marcus Ehning and Christian Ahlmann from Germany. Penelope Leprevost, Kevin Staut and Simon Delestre will be representing France. And the reigning Olympic gold medallist from Switzerland, Steve Guerdat, has also confirmed his participation. Frank Kemperman, Chairman of the organising company, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV) is looking forward to his compatriots: “Of course, the World Champions also want to head the rankings at the World Equestrian Festival,” the Dutchman said with a grin.

Prize-money to the value of almost 1.4 million Euros is at stake in the three disciplines jumping, dressage and driving. The world class sport will be accompanied by top class transmission times on TV. ARD and WDR will be broadcasting almost seven hours of live coverage from Aachen. “Aachen is the global capital of the equestrian sport. As a long-standing TV partner of the ALRV, WDR is looking forward to transmitting the images of the World Equestrian Festival at the Soers at the end of May to all interested equestrian sport fans all over the globe,” commented WDR Sports Director, Steffen Simon.

There will also be additional broadcasts in the scope of news programmes and reports as well as coverage by the WDR Studio Aachen. “The transmission times underline the high standing the World Equestrian Festival enjoys in the field of sport,” said Michael Mronz, General Director of the Aachener Reitturnier GmbH.

An overview of the transmission times:

Sat., 30.5., WDR: 3 p.m. – 4.50 p.m. live (Jumping, “Winning Round”)

Sun., 31.5., WDR: 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. live (Dressage, Deutsche Bank Prize and Jumping, Rolex Grand Prix, 1^st round)

Sun., 31.5., ARD: 3.40 p.m. – 4.30 p.m. live (Rolex Grand Prix, 2^nd round and jump-off)