The prize money for three of the biggest jumping competitions at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, held May 29th – June 7th, 2020, has been doubled. In the Mercedes-Benz Nations´ Cup on the Thursday evening, June 4th, the best show-jumpers in the world will battle it out for 1,000,000 Euros ($1.45M CDN). In both the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe on June 3rd, held under the lights at night for the first time, and in the RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia on June 5th, the prize money totals 200,000 Euros. This brings the overall jumper purses to just under 3.5 million euros ($5M CDN), with the Rolex Grand Prix offering 1,000,000 euros plus the chance for rich bonuses for winning other events in the lucrative series. Over 350,000 spectators invade the showgrounds at the Soers every year to cheer on the world’s top equestrian athletes in five disciplines ‒ jumping, dressage, eventing, driving and vaulting.
In the past, Canadian riders have done well in individual competition at Aachen, notably Eric Lamaze and Hickstead winning the Rolex Grand Prix in 2010. Lamaze also took the Turkish Airlines-Prize of Europe two years in a row (2016 and 2017) with Fine Lady 5, and in 2018 he and Chacco Kid won the Prize of StädteRegion Aachen.
In Nations Cup competition, Canada has been represented by teams three times. Their best result to date was in 2014 when the squad of Yann Candele (Showgirl), Chris Sorensen (Bobby), Tiffany Foster (Verdi III) and Eric Lamaze (Powerplay) placed 4th out of eight teams. Their first appearance in 1996 saw John Pearce (Vagabond), Linda Southern-Heathcott (Advantage Chrysler), Mac Cone (Elute) and Ian Millar (Play it Again) place 9th. The last time a team was fielded, in 2016, Eric Lamaze (Chacco Kid), Tiffany Foster (Tripple X III), Amy Millar (Heros) and Kara Chad (Bellinda) finished up 7th. Equestrian Canada Jumping Committee has confirmed that this year they are not seeking out an invitation to the Aachen Nations Cup and do not plan to send a team.
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