Sunday, July 22, 2018, Aachen Germany
Today was the big class. One Million Euros in prize money. 1.7 meter high fences. A triple combination that was a triple bar to an oxer to a vertical, amoung other things. The stands were packed full. This class is one of four major Gran Prixs that comprise the Rolex Grand Slam – Aachen, Spruce Meadows, Geneva, and the Dutch Masters at s-Hertogenbosch. These are huge classes, and the only time anybody has won three was last year, and that was Scott Brash of Great Britain. In other words, this is a huge deal.
Over the week, qualifying took place for the 40 places in this class. A lot of fences were jumped, and a lot of prize money was awarded. At the same time, over in Dressageland, the same high level competition was going on. Laura Graves and Kasey Perry-Glass of the USA finished in the money several times, and we saw them on a couple of victory gallops in the main stadium.
But for jumpers, today was the day. Sharon and I got to our usual places fairly early, and watched a 4K Gran Prix. I don’t know if this was a consolation class, or a filler class to entertain the masses – maybe both, but it’s always great competition. It was really fun to watch the process of the horses through the week. Seeing which just got better, which were lowered to difference finale classes, and watching the young up and coming horses and riders.
Sharon got small boxes of Belgium Choclates for the three attendants at our Grand Stands. Sharon was able to talk to the office about getting to use a restricted entry to the stands, so instead of walking up a steep flight of stairs, then back down to our seats in the 4th row, she was able to use the wheel chair entrance. The first day, she was given a hard time but a really nice woman in charge of the section, helped her get entry. She spoke very little English, but were were able to get by. Anyway, we started referring to her as ‘our nice lady’, and got to know them over the week. Because it was a rough start, and ‘our nice lady’ was so incredibly kind and helpful, Sharon got them all treats. It turned out that this woman, a local, has been coming to the horse show for over 60 years, since she was very small. At some point during that she began working the show. Both Sharon and I have a feeling that a lot of people who work the show have been doing it a long, long time. And because we were there all week, it was fun to get to see the same people over and over.
Another interesting conversation took place, when, prior to the Rolex starting, I went out for one more pass through the showgrounds, and to see some of the Obstacle Driving. As usual, both Sharon and I had bought too much stuff, so I was on the lookout for a bag. I found a POLO bag marked down, liked it, and decided to get it. I got tan, with blue and white stripes. As I was purchasing it, I got talking to the stall owner. His company represents the POLO brand in Europe, much like Ralph Lauren does in the US. He is very interested in going to Wellington next year. We talked about the California circuits, and some of the other major circuits in the US. He was just fascinated with the idea of a three month long horse show circuit. It was fun hearing about his thoughts, as somebody who was not familiar with the types of shows and distances horseman in the US travel for shows.
As I said above, I also caught some of the 4-in-hand Obstacle Driving. The teams were all decked out in their best, and were fun to watch. The stands and the rails of the ring were all packed, so I had a hard time getting to see. My ticket covered sitting in the stands, but there wasn’t a seat to be had. Next time, I’ll spend more time in Driving-land. It’s really something to see those teams work.
Anyway I got back to our seats to find Sharon gone, out on her own rounds. I stuffed my empty bag into my backpack, and sat back and watched the activity in the ring. There was always something going on in the ring. There was a jump judge for each fence in use. They were all older men, dressed alike in dark slacks, which shirts, ties, and straw hats. They had yellow paddles that they raised when there was a knockdown or a foot in the water. There was also a slew of jump crew always in the ring. They were all over the place in their DHL Yellow polos, and red and yellow baseball hats. DHL was a huge sponsor, and had sponsored their uniforms. There had to be at least 20 of these kids all over the ring, stomping divits back into the grass, raking poop, and the best was seeing about 10 of them kneeling in the grass picking up all of the fallen flower petals after a jump was moved.
Several times throughout the prize giving ceremonies, as the sponsors were mentioned, the annoucer would comment on the length of their sponsorship. Many families or companies had been sponsoring classes for over 60 years. This is a very old, established horse show, and it is the German National horse show. The government owns the show grounds, and it is only used once a year, for this show only. We’d heard that a few times, but ‘our nice lady’ confirmed it. That’s why the footing is so spectacular. The root base is deep, and holds up well. It just looks amazing to ride on.
Sharon came back just before the Gran Prix began, and I couldn’t believe it, but she was carrying the same POLO bag that I got, and in the same color!!! However, she paid 5 Euro less. Sharon always finds the good deals!
The Gran Prix was as great of a competition as I could have hoped! The course was difficult, and out of 40 starters, there were only about 9 clear rounds. Show jumping is huge in Europe and the amount of press in the ring taking pictures with lens longer than my arm was amazing. They were all corralled into one spot in the ring. I’ve never seen anything quite like it! They weren’t allowed in the ring during the second round, but I did spot a photographer on the roof of the stadium. When it looked like thunderheads were moving in later in the evening, we did notice that he was gone. Probably a good idea.
There are great big scoreboards and jumbotrons in the corners of the stadium, and it’s a good thing, since I could never understand whether I was hearing a horses name or a riders name. I’m sure Europeans feel the same way about pronouncing English names. Hearing a horses name, ‘Funky Fred’, pronounced in the middle of a German sentence was a trip.
The second round was the top 18 of the First Round, over a new course. Again, it was a real test, especially following a long week of big fences. Several riders retired, after it was clear that they were out of the money, and saved their horses for another day. This is a horeseman’s show, with a knowledgeable audience, and real horseman making the right decisions for their horses. It was clear over the whole week.
There was a jump off, and it was fast and exciting. The Germans had a great show all the way around. Markus Erhling won the class, with Lucinia Diniz of Portugal in a very close second. Lucinia is one to watch. She has a lovely string of horses, rides beautifully and tactfully and was so clearly excited just to be at Aachen, although this isn’t her first time. She had a pheonomal week, and either won, or was in the money at several classes that we saw. I like her riding a lot, and her clear enthuasium and graditude to and for her horses is so refreshing
Beezie Madden of the US on her horse Darry Lou was sixth. She also won the style award. Darry Lou is a fun horse to watch. He canters like he has springs on his feet, and has the cutest expression on his blaze face.
There were several Award Presentations, one of which was for the 4-in-hand Nations Cup. The winning team did their victory pass with the three teams, all abreast. That was a sight! I got a couple of pictures, not the best, but you should get the idea.
We left after the Gran Prix instead of staying for the closing ceremonies. We were tired, and it had been a long week. We found a place for dinner what wasn’t the horse show. The food there was absolutely wonderful, but the lines were long. And as hot as it was, I spent a small fortune in drink. Water and any other bottled drinks were an exorbitant extra 3.50 Euros, and there was no place to refill a water bottle. It was .50 Euro to use a restroom, and the amount of coins I saw being transferred from the attendant to the human equilveant of an armored car (man with safe secured to a dolly) could have financed my vacations for a year at least!
Anyway, by the time we got back to the hotel, the closing ceremonies were just finishing, and we caugh the view of all of the spectators and the riders in the ring waving white handkerchiefs in time to music. It was an amazing sight. I’d have liked to have been a part of it, but I was done. Six days were enough! But what an incredible experience, and I want to come back again.
I’ll miss the sounds of the church bells from the many churches in the area, and the odd whinny of a horse here and there, but I’m glad to be heading home, and I think the Aachen townspeople will be glad to have their city back to themselves as well. They’ve been wonderful hosts, and have done an amazing job rolling out the red carpet to all of us visitors. Until next time, Aachen. Next stop, Paris, then home.
Final pictures are of Aachen, near our hotel.
Suzanne’s Travels 