Preview of the TsCHIO Aachen with Rolex Grand Prix and an extra edition of Pferd & Sinfonie

24 of the top 25 in the world rankings are expected at the Soers. The starting list for the CSI5* competitions includes 60 riders from 18 nations with a total of 168 horses, including the youngsters for the youngster competitions.

The field of participants includes several current title holders: European Champion and winner of the Rolex Grand Prix of ‘s-Hertogenbosch Live Contender Richard Vogel, Olympic Champion Christian Kukuk, World Champion Henrik von Eckermann (Sweden), last year’s winner Martin Fuchs (Switzerland) and Scott Brash (Great Britain), the only winner of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping to date.

Richard Vogel is looking forward to his favorite tournament

Richard Vogel (29) will be competing as a Rolex Live Contender, i.e. as a current contender for the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping. The European Champion is currently number three in the world rankings. Vogel has entered four horses for Aachen: Superstar United Touch S, the Holstein stallion Cardentos, speed specialist Phenyo van het Keysersbos and the young stallion United Call Jps.

Vogel was on site for the opening press conference and said: “I associate Aachen with some of the most emotional moments of my career so far. The atmosphere in the main stadium is incomparable – this feeling, packed with adrenaline and goosebumps, can’t be found anywhere else in the world.”

Commenting on his starting position as a Grand Slam contender, he said: “I am aware of how big a challenge it is. The Rolex Grand Slam has a huge significance in our sport. To be able to come here as a contender is really something very special.”

How did he prepare for the challenge? “We don’t want to change too much in preparation. United Touch S is in good shape and has often proven in the past that it feels comfortable at the Soers. So let’s hope that we can deliver our best performance and that the necessary bit of luck will be on our side.”

The field of participants

As already mentioned, 24 of the Top 25 in the World Ranking List will be competing in Aachen this weekend. They all not only have the chance to win and place in the Soers, but also to show their horses the Aachen show-jumping stadium with dressage arena in the middle, which has already been laid out there in preparation for the WEG in August.

Germany has the largest line-up with 14 registered pairs. Alongside Richard Vogel, this includes Olympic champion Christian Kukuk, who has entered Checker 47, Fantasia de Wy and Hk Carrera, among others. Marcus Ehning, Daniel Deusser, Christian Ahlmann and Philipp Weishaupt will also be competing.

They will be joined by Gerrit Nieberg, winner of the Grand Prix of Aachen 2022, the former European Champion and Hamburg winner from last weekend, André Thieme, as well as Hans-Dieter Dreher and Rene Dittmer. With Sandra Auffarth, Sophie Hinners and Janne Friederike Meyer-Zimmermann, three of the country’s currently best female riders are represented. Philipp Schulze Topphoff, who has been in the saddle for the Beerbaum stable for a few weeks now, is also registered.

The competition is fierce

The Lokamatadors will not have it easy. Sweden will be represented by World Champion Henrik von Eckermann (entered among others Glamour Girl and Qasirah van de Reistenhoek, his World Championship partner King Edward is still in training).

Last year’s winner Martin Fuchs, Olympic champion Steve Guerdat and Janika Sprunger will be competing for Switzerland. Great Britain has entered Scott Brash and Olympic champion Ben Maher.

The USA will be represented by the Who’s Who of the States: McLain Ward, World Cup winner Kent Farrington, Karl Cook, Laura Kraut and Lillie Keenan

France will be represented by Julien Epaillard, Kevin Staut and Simon Delestre, the Netherlands by Harrie Smolders and Willem Greve.

Belgium’s entries include Pieter Devos, Nicola Philippaerts, Jérôme Guery and Gilles Thomas.

Jessica Kürten’s Irish squad consists of Darragh Kenny, Cian O’Connor, Daniel Coyle and Shane Sweetnam.

Also competing are Max Kühner (Austria) and Luciana Diniz and Yuri Mansur (Brazil). The other registered nations are Argentina, Israel, Italy, Canada, Mexico, Monaco and Norway.

Supporting program

In addition to the show jumping competitions, the “Horse & Symphony” concert will take place on the evening of May 23. It will be held in the main stadium for the first time in 2026; the theme of the evening is James Bond. Christopher Ward, General Music Director of the City of Aachen, will be conducting for the last time after eight years.

The concert will feature Isabell Werth, Moritz Treffinger and four-in-hand drivers Boyd Exell, Dries Degrieck, Bram Chardon and Anna Sandmann, among others. Actress Britt Ekland, who starred in “The Man with the Golden Gun” in 1974, is expected as a guest. Richard Vogel will also be part of the program together with Luciana Diniz. The other supporting program includes the Jump and Run competition, which also closes the Saturday at the CHIO.

According to the organizers, only a limited number of tickets are still available. The Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein will provide information about the program and the concert via the official channels of the CHIO Aachen. All information can be found at chioaachen.de.