Monday, 21 July 2014 CSI5* CSI2* CSIYH1* CSIAm-A

All paths lead to the GHPC – Equestrian stars at the CSI5*

They’re from Australia, Belgium, Bermuda, Brazil, Canada, Columbia, Estonia and Finland, France, Ireland and Italy, Germany as well as England, Libya, The Netherlands, Poland, Switzerland, Slovenia and Sweden, Turkey, Austria and the USA. For four days from July 24th until 27th, 2014, 120 riders from 22 nations with more than 250 horses will provide sporting highlights on the show jumping course. In the five star show-jumping premiere, visitors will be able to cross their fingers for a good third of the currently best show jumping riders worldwide! Amongst them not less than seven Olympic winners, seven world champions, eight world cup winners, 22 European and four US champions.

Surely fingers are crossed particularly tightly for the twice silver medal winner of the London Olympic Games 2012. In his first start as a GLOCK team member, Gerco Schroeder (NED), currently ranking 15th worldwide, will participate with the beautiful chestnut stallion GLOCK's London in the GHPC. With Maikel van der Vleuten, Marc Houtzager and Jur Vrieling, the complete silver team of the Olympic Games 2012 London will be participating in the five star premiere and, together with Harrie Smolders and Gert-Jan Bruggink, consists of no fewer than six riders from the world ranking top 100.

Gold medals in Olympic Games, world and European championships are also part of the CV of one of Germany’s most famous rider. In addition, Marcus Ehning won the world cup three times, European championship silver and world championship and European bronze. Also the victory in the overall standings of the Global Champions Tour 2010 is amongst the milestones of the current number four in the world. Amongst others, he is supported by world cup winner and runner-up in the European championships, Daniel Deusser, as the world’s number nine, along with world and European champion as well as world cup winner Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, and the three-time European champion Marco Kutscher.

Currently best female show-jumping rider Elizabeth 'Beezie' Madden, as the world’s number ten, leads the group of US-American female riders. Part of her collection of trophies are Olympic team gold as well as individual bronze, two gold medals and one silver medal in Pan-American Games and innumerable winner’s cups from international tests. She was a model for many female riders when she entered the top 3 world ranking in 2004. Her team mates Reed Kessler, Katherine Dinan, Lucy Davis and Lauren Hough complete the successful female quintet.

A strong Swiss guard with Olympic winner and European champion Steve Guerdat at the top, who, together with runner-up in the Olympic games, world cup winner and runner up in the European championships Beat Maendli, Paul Estermann and young talent Martin Fuchs, represents Switzerland.

Presenting an athletic challenge are the Brits with John Whitaker, as defending champion in the Gaston Glock's Grand Prix. Whitaker being described as a "Living Legend",  as the most successful show jumping rider of his country, has been able to gather more than 18 medals in Olympic games, world and European championships.

In addition world champion Jos Lansink also takes part in the CSI5* events. The Belgian rider won his title in 2006 in Aachen and, in addition to numerous Grand Prix victories, he can also refer to world championship bronze, EM gold, silver and bronze.

Fingers-crossed also for Austria, which would like to score with its two highly successful evergreens Hugo Simon (Styria) and Thomas Fruehmann (Vienna), Julia Kayser (Tyrol) and GLOCK Rider Robert Puck (Carinthia), as well as the promising candidates for this year’s World Equestrian Games, Stefanie Bistan (Lower Austria), Stefan Eder (Salzburg), Roland Englbrecht (Upper Austria), Alice Janout (Lower Austria), Christian Juza (Salzburg) and Markus Saurugg (Styria).

Those who would like to get a close glimpse of their equestrian stars in and under the saddle, will be able to do so from Thursday, July 24th, 2014 at the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER. Free entrance to the showground!

Free entrance
Visitors can access the showground for free. There’s guaranteed entertainment for the young ones at the Kids Lounge, as well as pony riding fun. Dogs will be well looked after too; at the Dog Lounge the faithful friends will be catered for generously and given splendid massages (subject to availability and by reservation).

NEW: Cooking Lounge
German star cook Alfons Schuhbeck will entertain in his ‘cooking lounge’ at the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER. Here all tournament guests enjoy free entry. The cooking shows take place in the Public Lounge on Friday and Saturday at 11am, 2pm and 5pm and on Sunday at 11am and 2pm.

Exclusive Riders Lounge
The VIP tag includes gourmet entertainment, Wellness Lounge, Styling Lounge, Kids Lounge, Cinema Lounge as well as top class international show acts, and is available for 200 euros per person & day. Day ticket info: +43 664 88 73 44 01

Live stream and infos
All information about the competitions, daily summaries, lots of photos and news as well as live streaming of International Show Jumping at the GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER available on www.ghpc.at.

What, where, when?
What: International Show Jumping
When: July 24th till –27th, 2014
Where: GLOCK HORSE PERFORMANCE CENTER, Gaston Glock Strasse 8, A-9521 Treffen/Austria
Free entrance to all competitive events
www.ghpc.at

He too is one of the “living legends” who will be starting for Austria in the GHPC: World champion, runner-up in the Olympic games and world cup winner Thomas Frühmann and his famous The Sixth Sense. © Michael Rzepa