Aachen embraces eventing and vaulting

Next year’s prestigious annual CHIO Aachen show has been extended to include eventing and vaulting for the first time following the success of the World Equestrian Games at Aachen. The World Equestrian Festival, as CHIO Aachen is also known, has previously focused purely on dressage, show jumping and combined driving.

“The FEI World Equestrian Games in the late summer underlined the huge potential of the equestrian sport,” explained Klaus Pavel, president of the show’s organising committee. “We are now taking advantage of this chance for the sport, by expanding the CHIO.”

The eventing cross-country course will share its location with the marathon section of the combined driving event, next to the show grounds in the Soers to help keep costs down. “Two separate courses cannot be financed,” explained director general, Frank Kemperman. Both cross-country competitions will be held on the Saturday of the six-day show (3-8 July 2007), with the eventing taking place in the morning and the driving marathon in the afternoon.

The Albert Vahle Hall will host the vaulting competition, which proved particularly popular with younger visitors to WEG. “We are looking forward to top-class sport and enthusiastic spectators,” Frank Kemperman.

Other changes to the show include moving the Mercedes Benz Nations’ Cup to Thursday evening so it takes place under floodlights. “This will no doubt be one of the highlights of the coming tournament,” said Michael Mronz, General Director of the Aachener Reitturnier GmbH.

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