The German show-jumpers had to wait a long time for this victory! The last time they won the Mercedes-Benz Nations’ Cup at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, was in 2008 and never before under the management of the national coach duo, Otto Becker and Heinrich-Hermann Engemann. This evening the time had finally come. Three of the team riders were actually already on the team in 2008: Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (at the time with Shutterfly, today with Fibonacci), Christian Ahlmann (at the time with Cöster, who recently died, today with Epleaser van’t Heike) and Ludger Beerbaum (2008 with All Inclusive NRW, today with Casello). This evening Marcus Ehning and Pret a Tout rode in place of Marco Kutscher and Montender. Ludger Beerbaum said: “I am very very satisfied with our performance. That was definitely one of the better victories!”

Two famous and traditional companies are supporting the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, from this year onwards: “Lavazza” is the new official coffee partner of the traditional major sporting event and as a leading supplier of window, door and façade systems Schüco International KG is also on board among the pool of partners of the CHIO Aachen.

Steve Guerdat is the reigning Olympic gold medallist, he succeeded in winning the World Cup Final for the second time in a row – and is now hoping to claim his second Major victory in the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping in succession at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2016. An interview about memorable sporting moments, a horse that sways between ingenuity and madness and the fascination of 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 Olympic team gold medallist of 2008, 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.

The successful German eventer, Ingrid Klimke, is competing in the DHL Prize at the CHIO Aachen in both the team and individual classifications. For her too, this is the last opportunity before the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August to qualify for the team. In an interview, the crowd’s favourite in Aachen revealed her expectations for this year’s CHIO Aachen.

The four-in-hand drivers from the Netherlands have almost got a subscription for the victory in the Nations’ Cup at the CHIO Aachen, the most prestigious international equestrian sport event next to the annual Championships. Once again this year, Ijsbrand Chardon, Theo Timmermann and Koos de Ronde are preparing to leave their fellow competitors trailing behind them. With a score of 81.46 minus points – the format for the drivers is the same as in the eventing: the participant with the fewest minus points wins – the Oranje team is in the lead in the FENDT Prize, the team classification, ahead of the USA with 95.27 minus points and Hungary on a score of 100.58 minus points.

This year the Olympic mode applies for the Lambertz Nations’ Cup of the dressage riders at the CHIO Aachen, the World Equestrian Festival. That means, the winners of the team competition are not decided after the Grand Prix, the Prize of the Tesch Family, already, but instead after the MEGGLE Prize, the Grand Prix Spécial. Just like at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in August: Grand Prix + Grand Prix Spécial = team result.

The second qualifier, the second victory for Sergio Alvarez Moya with Unicstar de l’Aumone in the Sparkassen Youngsters-Cup, the three-part jumping competition for young horses at the CHIO Aachen, the show that Alvarez Moya described as “The best show in the world!“

“This competition is a highlight for our riders,” the National Coach of the German Young Show-Jumpers, Markus Merschformann, assured. He was referring to the U25 Jumping Cup of the Foundation of German Competition Horses, Prize of the Müter Family, which comprises of a series of qualifiers in Braunschweig, Mannheim and Balve and the final at the CHIO Aachen. Today, the qualifier was on the agenda – and the rider from Lower Saxony, Guido Klatte, seems determined to repeat his last year’s victory at the Soers.