Gerrit Nieberg Wins Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen
Bathed in glorious July sunshine, CHIO Aachen’s 40,000 capacity Hauptstadion was once again the venue for the 2022 edition of the Rolex Grand Prix, part of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. Comprising 40 starters from 14 nations, including 20 of the world’s top 30-ranked riders, just the top 18 progressed to the second round over the Frank Rothenberger-designed course. Of those, 13 went clear, including on-form McLain Ward, who had his sights firmly set on a hat-trick of victories at this venue, having claimed both Wednesday’s and Friday’s showpiece classes. British trio Harry Charles, Scott Brash and Ben Maher joined the American in round two, alongside five Germans – Gerrit Nieberg, Christian Ahlmann, Daniel Deusser, Mario Stevens and Philipp Weishaupt – much to the delight of the home crowd. Five advancing riders picked up penalties in the first round, including Swiss rider Steve Guerdat, and Harrie Smolders from The Netherlands.
In the second round, Ward and HH Azur were the first combination to go double clear, much to the delight of his team watching on from Aachen’s ‘kiss and cry’ area. Deusser and his super mare, Killer Queen Vdm recorded the contest’s second double clear, thereby triggering a jump-off. The only rider to ever win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, Brash soon made it three in the jump-off with Hello Jefferson. Philippaerts would become the fourth to contest the jump-off, while last to go, Germany’s Nieberg, also booked his place in the final showdown.
Ward kicked off proceedings in the jump-off, but was unlucky to put the final fence down. Next up, Deusser made no mistake, crossing the finishing line without a fault in 41.60 seconds, thereby setting a tough target for the final three riders to try and beat. If anyone could emulate Deusser’s time, Brash could – the 36-year-old Brit going over two seconds faster than his fellow Rolex Testimonee. Despite going clear, Philippaerts’ slightly slower time saw him slot into third spot. Last to go, current world number 106, Nieberg, produced the ride of his life aboard his 11-year-old bay gelding, Ben 431, crossing the line over half a second quicker than Brash, thereby winning the 2022 edition of CHIO Aachen’s Rolex Grand Prix and in doing so becoming the new Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping Live Contender.
On his victory, Nieberg, commented, “Everything is still unreal – I really didn’t expect this. Dreams definitely came true today – it was an amazing feeling.”
Sandra Auffarth in the awards ceremony (CHIO Aachen/ Michael Strauch)
Sandra Auffarth Wins Eventing Individual, Great Britain Best Team
It was a start-to-finish victory for the British team this year, who took the lead after dressage and kept hold of it until the end. The team, comprised of the Olympic silver medallists Tom McEwen and Toledo de Kerser, William Fox-Pitt with Little Fire, Aachen debutants Yasmin Ingham with Rehy DJ, and the World Champions, Rosalind Canter with Allstar B.
Germany finished second with their team represented by Sandra Auffarth and Viamant du Matz, Julia Krajewski with Amande de B’Neville, Michael Jung with Kilcandra Ocean Power and Ingrid Klimke with Siena just do it. Auffarth and Viamant du Matz reached the finish line of the cross-country with just 1.2 time faults. Krajewski and Amande de B’Néville picked up 5.6 time faults, while Jung had a run-out with Kilcandra Ocean Power. Ingrid Klimke and Siena Just Do It had two refusals on course.
Third place went to France with Stephane Landois and Chaman Dumontceau, Gaspard Maksud with Zaragoza (who was eliminated after a fall in the cross-country), Camille Lejeune with Good Size des Quatre Chenes and Benjamin Massie with Climaine de Cacao.
In the individual placings, it initially looked like Jung and Chipmunk were able to defend their title; however, after the Ground Jury and the Technical Delegate had examined the videos of fence number 14 several times, it became clear that Chipmunk had missed a flag. That resulted in 15 penalty points, which relegated the pair into eighth place.
The winners of the SAP Cup therefore became Auffarth and Viamant du Matz. This is Auffarth’s second triumph after 2014, after which she was crowned World Champion a few months later.
Second place went to Andrew Hoy (AUS) and Vassily de Lassos, followed by Tom McEwen (GBR) and Telodo de Kerser. Fun fact: All three individual medal winners from the Olympic Games in Tokyo competed here in Aachen.
The successful riders all praised Rüdiger Schwarz for his course design. He stated that he had intentionally made the course slightly more difficult than last year and that the course demanded a high level of concentration from start to finish. Hoy, 63, who having competed in the Olympic Games eight times, said later: “I rate Rüdiger as the best cross designer; he is fair to the horses, he tests the riders and their skills, creates very good sport until the very last horse has crossed the finish line.”
Tragedy for Allstar B
Allstar B, the 17-year-old gelding on which Great Britain’s Ros Canter won individual gold at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games in Tryon and helped her country win team gold at the European Championships in 2017, had to be euthanized after sustaining “an irreparable injury” during the cross-country portion of the three-day event at the World Equestrian Festival. They had a run-out at the final element of fence 16, after which Allstar B was pulled up lame and immediately attended to by the veterinary team on course. The horse was transported to a nearby veterinary clinic where it was decided that, due to the nature of the injury, euthanasia was the only humane course of action.
“There are no words for the love and respect that I have for Alby,” said Canter, 36, according to a BBC.com news report. “He has been such a huge part in building my career, and he will be missed by many.”
Ciao Bella!
There was thunderous applause, standing ovations and more than a few tears when the journey of Isabell Werth and Bella Rose came to an end at the showgrounds of the Soers on Friday evening.
(CHIO Aachen/Franziska Sack)
At the start of the farewell gala that was staged especially for the 18-year-old mare, Werth presented her freestyle routine with her “soulmate” horse to the well-known sounds of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, played live by the CHIO Project Choir under the direction of Tanja Raich. The mare stood in the floodlights of the Deutsche Bank Stadium with her ears pricked forward, framed by the people who have accompanied her throughout her life: her owner Madeleine Winter-Schulze, national coaches Monica Theodorescu and Jonny Hilberath, chef d’equipe Klaus Roeser, breeders Wilhelm and Hermann Strunk, and Bella’s groom Steffi Wiegard.
The final lap of honour by Bella Rose was accompanied by the performance of dancers to the melody “Bella Ciao”– and in customary Aachen style to the sounds of “Muss I denn“ and a sea of handkerchiefs. “It was fantastic,” commented a visibly moved Werth.
Bella Rose will now join Don Johnson, Satchmo and the other members of Werth’s ‘oldie gang’ in retirement.
(For the Dressage Nations Cup report, click here.)
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Complete results of CHIO Aachen here. https://resulting.chioaachen.de/
~with files from CHIO Aachen and Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping
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