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CHIOA Horse Blog – Steffen Peters and Ravel Dominate for the US at CHIO AachenSteffen Sweeps! Peters and Ravel Dominate for the US at CHIO Aachen By Joanie Morris July 13, 2009 In an unprecedented sweep, Steffen Peters and Akiko Yamazaki’s 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood Ravel swept all three classes in the CDIO Aachen (GER): the Grand Prix, the Grand Prix Special and the Grand Prix Freestyle – further validating their Rolex/FEI World CupTM Dressage Final victory in April. The sweep was a first for an American combination, and they did it in classic style. Their score in the finale, Sunday’s Grand Prix Freestyle, was 85.600%, more than a point clear of 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists Anky van Grunsven (NED) and IPS Salinero. They picked up 30,000 EURO for their efforts on Sunday, pushing their three-day prize money total to more than 45,000 EURO. With this win, Peters (who was born in Germany) more than realized a lifelong dream of finishing in the top three at Aachen. He achieved it, to standing ovations, with family, friends and fans in attendance to celebrate his tremendous accomplishment. The pair will return to their base in San Diego, California with the next major goal the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games next September in Lexington, Kentucky. For more information and complete results please visit: http://www.chioaachen.com/. AHorseBlog – CHIO Aachen organisers agree to independent anti-doping inspection CommissionCHIO Aachen organisers: “No alternative to our stance”. The Isabell Werth case underlines the need for a new beginning.  Chio Aachen FEI.org: Aachen, June 24th, 2009 The organisers of the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, see the positive doping result of Isabell Werth’s horse Whisper, announced today, as confirmation for their stance in their rigorous anti-doping battle. “The Isabell Werth case proves that there is no alternative to our viewpoint. The equestrian sport needs a new beginning,” commented Michael Mronz, General Manager of the Aachener Reitturnier GmbH. This new beginning is to be guaranteed by an independent Commission implemented by the German Olympic Sports Association, under the Chair of the former Constitutional Court Judge, Udo Steiner. “We supported the German Equestrian Federation from the very beginning in their decision to disband the German team and install this independent Commission. The current development shows that this is the right approach,” said CHIO Show Director, Frank Kemperman. “We welcome Isabell Werth’s preliminary suspension by the FEI,” continued Kemperman. Subject to the decision of the FEI tribunal, Isabell Werth will thus not be competing at the CHIO Aachen (June 26th – July 5th, 2009). Independent of the Commission, the CHIO organisers already decided several weeks ago to intensively expand its anti-doping battle during the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2009. 42 stewards will be in action, statistically speaking, that is one steward for every eleventh horse. The staff members of the “Horse Watch Service” will be on duty at night to guarantee the round-the-clock monitoring of the horses. The number of doping tests has been considerably increased, in this way every eighth horse in Aachen will be tested. All testing will be carried out by the independent doping inspectors of the MCP (Medication Control Programme). This guarantees the maximum quality and indefeasibility of the testing. In addition, a thermographic camera will be put to use in Aachen, which can detect irregularities on the legs of the horses. “Should any suspicion arise that substances have been applied to the skin of a horse, the veterinarians can immediately carry out further on-site inspections,” explained Frank Kemperman. Ticket hotline: +49-(0)241-917-1111 |
