Tuesday, 18 August 2015 EC Aachen 2015

Journey perfect, vet check perfect, training perfect

A new week has begun at the European Championships in Aachen. The show jumping riders are circulating around the stalls and riding areas because Wednesday (19/08/2015) will see the start for this exciting discipline of equestrian sport at the European Championships. With capacity for 40,000 spectators, the Soerser main stadium sets the stage for team riders from 29 nations. Of these, 23 are contesting team and individual medals, whilst six nations are sending riders exclusively for individual medals.

GLOCK riders Gerco Schroeder and GLOCK’s Cognac Champblanc belong to the Dutch team and had already arrived on Monday. GLOCK Groom Lulu accompanied ‘her’ super-grey on the journey and could scarcely contain her enthusiasm at his chance to appear as the ‘only child’ for once. Following the journey, Gerco took the 12-year-old Holsteiner grey gelding for a gentle ride, which was good for his muscles. Then it was time to trot in hand at the vet check. The rain was pouring down so all were happy to hear when the announcement of ‘fit to compete’ came, so that one and all could return to the nice dry stall.

Today the riders have their first opportunity to ride into the huge stadium with their horses, during which they will be accompanied by a ‘flying’ camera that relays impressive pictures. Each athlete is allowed 90 seconds and the entire team assembles to see how the horses cope with the gigantic stadium. “Cognac was super” said a beaming Gerco after the ride. Let the 2015 European Championships for show jumpers begin!

Five tests on the way to the European Championship title
Awaiting both show jumping riders and their mounts is a long week of European Championships, given that five rounds of jumping courses over 1.50 m - 1.60 m are anything but trivial.

19th August 2015 - 02:20pm
First Qualifying (jumping against the clock)

20th August 2015 - 02:10pm
2nd Individual Qualification + 1st Team Qualification (with jump-off)

21st August 2015 - 04:50pm
Team Final - Top 10 (with jump-off)

22nd August 2015 - 03:50pm
Individual Final - Round 1 - Top 25

23rd August 2015 - 05:20pm
Individual Final - Round 2 - Top 25

> lists of riders and horses
> Start and results lists
> Livestream
> www.aachen2015.de

GLOCK’s Cognac Champblanc arrived safe and sound in Aachen. © GHPC

’Fit to compete’ – let the EC begin! © Stefano Grasso

For breakfast there’s a whole sack of carrots for ‘Cognac’. © GHPC

The warm-up was super – tomorrow the action starts! © Remco Veurink