The CDIO Aachen is always a party! Without a doubt one of the most beautiful and well attended equestrian events of the year, Aachen always promises to be memorable, either due to unpredictable weather or because of the phenomenal sport taking place at this historic venue steeped in a 100-year tradition.
With gorgeous 26° C sunny weather boosting the atmosphere on the first day of dressage competition, it was exciting to arrive at the show grounds and watch the action. The dressage arena was prettier than ever before with thousands of purple petunias enveloping the ring.
Aachen was also up to standard with the big score board not showing the running scores for once, so judges won't get influenced. Instead only the small score boards visible to the spectators showed the individual marks per judge as was all the actual and leader percentage. What a feast !!
Patrik Kittel and the exciting black Danish mare Donna Unique (by Don Schufro x Falkland) won the Prix St Georges while Monica Theodorescu and the Baden Wurttemberger bred gelding Whisper (by Welt Hit I O) won the CDI Grand Prix ahead of Victoria Max-Theurer on Eichendorff and Isabell Werth on Don Johnson. The latter was trying to obtain her Olympic qualification but it will be unlikely that her 73.404% Grand Prix score will suffice to put her on the German team. All will be revealed tomorrow in the CDIO Grand Prix.
Text and Photos © Astrid Appels - No Reproduction Allowed
Related Links
Eurodressage "On the Scene" at the 2012 CDIO Aachen
Scores 2012 CDIO Aachen