Switzerland is this year’s partner country of the CHIO Aachen. And in the opening jumping competition a Swiss rider was able to take the victory in the STAWAG Prize: Steve Guerdat finished the course consisting of obstacles measuring up to 1.45 metres with Qui Vive De La Tour in the fastest time, followed by Germany’s veteran show-jumper Ludger Beerbaum from Riesenbeck and Felix Haßmann from Lienen. For Guerdat it was the ideal kick-off to the CHIO week in Aachen. As the Olympic gold medallist, he automatically qualifies for the Grand Prix, where he could write equestrian sport history on Sunday in the scope of the Rolex Grand Slam. Having won the last major leg in Geneva, he has the chance to be the first rider to win two competitions of the series, which was initiated one year ago in Aachen, in succession.
The day before, during the official reception of the Swiss delegation on the market square in Aachen, Steve Guerdat had announced ambitious aims. “I have never won the Grand Prix and this is my main goal this year, perhaps even more so than winning the World Equestrian Games,” said the 32-year-old. Numerous victories over the past weeks and months, among others his victory at the CSI in Mons, Belgium, prove that he and his horses are top fit. And in the very first competition on the holy grass at the Soers, the Olympic gold medallist of London demonstrated his skills. He finished the 450-metre course comprising of eleven obstacles, which was built by the course designer Frank Rothenberger, with the ten-year-old chestnut mare in 63.68 seconds and crossed the finish line almost two seconds faster than his fellow competitors. Ludger Beerbaum came second with his KWPN stallion Zinedine in 65.67 seconds, followed by Felix Haßmann, who only took three hundredths of a second longer with his Baden-Württemberg bred stallion Horse Gym’s Quali Quanti (65.70).
The Canadian rider Eric Lamaze with Fine Lady, Philipp Weishaupt with Calado as well as Denis Nielsen, Henrik von Eckermann, Guerdat’s compatriot Janika Sprunger, Katharina Offel, Reed Kessler and Jerome Hurel also jumped clear. Patrick Stühlmeyer, the winner of the opening competition last year, came twelfth after picking up just one time fault with his top horse Lacan.
Source: CHIO Aachen
STAWAG Opening Jumping Competition- CHIO Aachen 2014
| Rank | CNR | HORSE – Breeding sex \ colour \ born \ sire x siredam |
RIDER Owner |
EUR | 1st Round |
Time | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 221 |
Qui Vive De La Tour – SF Mare \ Chestnut \ 2004 \ Helios De La Cour Ii x Rif Du Crocq |
Steve Guerdat I.h.e. Intra Horse Establishment |
SUI
|
1000.00 | 0 | 63.68 |
| 2 | 260 |
Zinedine – KWPN Stallion \ Chestnut \ 2004 \ Guidam x Heartbreaker |
Ludger Beerbaum Madeleine Winter-schulze |
GER
|
800.00 | 0 | 65.67 |
| 3 | 245 |
Horse Gym´s Quali Quanti – BAWUE Stallion \ DarkBay \ 2005 \ Quidam De Revel x Non Stop |
Felix Haßmann Reinhard Hassmann |
GER
|
600.00 | 0 | 65.70 |
| 4 | 230 |
Fine Lady 5 – HANN Mare \ Bay \ 2003 \ Forsyth x Drosselklang Ii |
Eric Lamaze Llc Artisan Farms |
CAN
|
400.00 | 0 | 67.05 |
| 5 | 142 |
Calado 2 – HOLST Gelding \ Bay \ 2001 \ Calando I x Landgraf I |
Philipp Weishaupt Stange-steinmetz Gunter |
GER
|
280.00 | 0 | 67.26 |
| 6 | 11 |
Cashmoaker – DTPF Stallion \ Grey \ 2006 \ Calido I x Lafitte |
Denis Nielsen Paul U. Gestüt Sprehe Gmbh Wendeln |
GER
|
220.00 | 0 | 67.32 |
| 7 | 83 |
For Sale 6 – WESTF Mare \ Bay \ 2006 \ For Pleasure x Cassini I |
Henrik Von Eckermann Ludger Beerbaum Stables Gmbh |
SWE
|
160.00 | 0 | 67.86 |
| 8 | 282 |
Uptown Boy – KWPN Gelding \ DarkBay \ 2001 \ Odermus R x Joost |
Janika Sprunger Georg Kähny |
SUI
|
120.00 | 0 | 68.43 |
| 9 | 144 |
B Once Z – ZANG Mare \ DarkBay \ 2004 \ Baloubet Du Rouet x Lavaletto |
Katharina Offel Jump Horse Gmbh Scherer & Offel Sportpferde |
UKR
|
120.00 | 0 | 69.13 |
| 10 | 262 |
Cos I Can – ISH Gelding \ Bay \ 2003 \ Olympic Lux x Harlequin Du Carel |
Reed Kessler Iron Works Partners |
USA
|
100.00 | 0 | 69.15 |
| 11 | 287 |
Bonjovi – KWPN Gelding \ Bay \ 2006 \ Verdi x Corland |
Jerome Hurel Sarl Ar Tropig |
FRA
|
100.00 | 0 | 71.63 |
| 12 | 150 |
AD Ashleigh Drossel Dan – HANN Gelding \ Grey \ 1998 \ Drosselklang Ii x Ashleigh Brigadier |
Doda De Miranda A.de Miranda & Victory Equestrian Sport Bv |
BRA
|
75.00 | 1 | 73.78 |
| 12 | 192 |
Lacan 2 – OLDBG Stallion \ Bay \ 2003 \ Lando x Contender |
Patrick Stühlmeyer Bernfried Erdmann |
GER
|
75.00 | 1 | 73.78 |