CHIO AACHEN 2016

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is back in Aachen! In the first Major of the year, the top stars of the equestrian sport scene will once again be facing the ultimate challenge: Who is going to leave the most famous showground in the world as the winner of the “Rolex Grand Prix, the Grand Prix of Aachen”?
Nick Skelton, Christian Ahlmann and Scott Brash are the names of those sports idols, who have succeeded in eternalising their names on the legendary winners’ board of the CHIO Aachen since the premiere of the Rolex Grand Slam in the year 2013.

Whereby Scott Brash’s victory last year was of particular significance: Because the young Brit had travelled to Aachen as the winner of the Major in Geneva. On the Holy Grass of the Main Stadium he and his brilliant horse, “Hello Sanctos”, once again demonstrated their world class, when they reached the finish line clear in the fastest time in the jump-off of the “Rolex Grand Prix” in front of 40,000 spectators.

Scott Brash’s unique series of victories finally came to a climax in September 2015 at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ in Calgary, where he also rode to victory in the Major. “It was just an incredible feeling when I won, because I had put all my sights, all my energy and all my efforts into that,” is how Scott Brash described that master feat that hailed in a new era of equestrian sport and turned him into a living legend at the tender age of 30: As the first rider ever to win the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

But soon a new challenger is to reach for the crown: At the CHI Geneva 2015 in December, it was the Swiss superstar, Steve Guerdat, who jumped to victory in the “Rolex Grand Prix”.

He put all his experience to good use with “Nino des Buissonnets” – that ingenious horse, who carried him to individual gold at the Olympic Games in 2012 – and after 2006 and 2013 won the Major in Geneva for the third time.

The Swiss rider hasn’t been able to assert himself against his fellow competitors at the CHIO Aachen so far – but he hopes this will change now: “The Rolex Grand Slam exerts an incredible fascination,” commented Steve Guerdat. “That is why I am top motivated to claim my second Major victory in Aachen.”

The Swiss show-jumper definitely has good chances of success, he has proved that with numerous important victories over the course of the season. However, in the star-studded field of participants in the “Rolex Grand Prix” of Aachen, every pair has the sporting class to jump to the top. But who will display the necessary nerves of steel and concentration to assert themselves in the electrifying atmosphere of the stadium? Who has the absolute will to win in the battle against the clock? Which pair will convince with their perfect harmony and united fighting spirit?

The Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping welcomes the best riders in the world to the CHIO Aachen! Who is going to celebrate a major triumph on July 17th, 2016?

source: rolexgranslam