Year after year the CHIO Aachen earns its respect by being the true "Weltfest des Pferdesports, the world's best equestrian show. "Actually, we have to proclaim Aachen "The Best Show of the Year" each year
, but that's something we just can't do," Hermann Duckek, president of the International Dressage Riders Club, announced when handing over this award to Klaus Pavel, the president of the Aachen Rennverein. That Aachen is the best of the best was once again proven by the organisation which, five days long, ran a show at top level in the worst weather conditions. Especially the footing in the show jumping arena suffered from the continuous rain. Nevertheless, the crowds kept 'pouring' in, weaponed with waistcoats and umbrellas to see some absolute horse sport.
The Germans were ready for Aachen and they already showed that at their national Dressage Championship in Balve. Ulla Salzgeber won her first German Dressage Champion's title with sky high scores. The battle in Aachen was poised to be an interesting one, not because the Dutch decided 'not' to show up for this exclusive event, but because Aachen was the final match in a long stretch of Olympic selection trials.
Image copyrighted: Dirk Caremans