The last weekend of June is traditionally CHIO Aachen, the World Festival of Horse Sport. Those who have been there know that nowhere in the world is there a bigger and better equestrian show than Aachen. It is just in an unparalleled league due to its size, crowds, history and top quality entry field.
The event casts a very longue shadow as if nothing else exists on the Aachen days, but in that long shadow, one hour drive across two borders there is the CDI Grote Brogel in Belgium, which is able to always attract a mixed bag of entries and for the second year hosts a CPEDI at the same time.
Grote Brogel came on the FEI calendar in 2020 and it was a small, fun show. The facility is a bit ramshackle but the competition arenas are spacious and fine. And from 2020 till 2022 left a lovely impression on me until this year. The poor state of the footing did not do any service to the reputation of the show and with dog poo littered all around the arena, withered flowers and pots, one had to watch your step. It all gave a very unclean look to the venue.
Normally a little bar is open near the warm-up ring, making this small CDI cosy and fun to watch sport and chat horses, but when I was there on Friday, that bar was closed all day and you had to walk all way round to the first floor of the indoor arena to get a drink.
Japanese Olympian Kazuki Sado premiered his new Grand Prix stallion Furst William (by Furst Wilhelm x Lord Sinclair) and Japanese Yukiko Komori surprised herself and won the Prix St Georges on Zun Dance (by Zonik x Eskadron).
In the pony classes Belgian Liezel Everars was a league of her own aboard Capelli De Niro, scoring 76.261% to win the individual test and proving herself ready for a medal fight at the 2023 European Pony Championships at the end of the month. At young riders level German Emma Lienert continues her way off the beaten track for a German youth rider and go to shows where her country mates are not. She won aboard Express (by Vivaldi) with the YR individual test on 70.686%
- Text and Photos © Eurodressage (this article expresses Eurodressage's' eye-witness account and opinion about the competition).
NO Reproduction ALLOWED / NO SCREEN SHOTS !!!!
Eurodressage took photos of all competitors on Friday. If you are interested in photos for social media use, send us an email and you can BUY our photos
Related Links
Scores: 2023 CDI Grote Brogel
