This is definitely Marcus Ehning’s year and take note that Noltes Kuchengirl a horse that was initially trained by Marcus brother Johannes could be the next German Super Star. The young Kuchengirl is only nine years old and Ehning has been riding her for a short six months.
Consider this. It began at World Cup in Kuala Lumpur when Ehning riding Sandro Boy claimed victory. Next at the Grand Prix of LaBaule, it was again Ehning in the winners circle, this time aboard Noltes Kuchengirl. Today that pair finished 1st in the Grand Prix of Aachen. They did that to the roar of approval from the 55,000 German fans that had packed the ALVR stadium. If there was ever any doubt before, there is none now as to why Ehning is ranked Number 1 in the World.
The Aachen Grand Prix was a 2 Round Competition with a Jump Off conducted in accordance with FEI RG/Art 261.5.2/273.3.1. Forty Horse and Rider combinations had qualified to participate in the event. For Round 1, course designer Frank Rothenberger created a 14 obstacle course that included two doubles at gates 6 and 10 and a triple at gate 12.
Fourteen of the 40 riders were clear in Round 1 and another two riders managed to get through the round with just a time fault. Jeffery Welles was the top USA performer. Riding Armani cleanly, he incurred Just a time fault. Beezie Madden and Authentic had a solid 4 fault performance and would return for Round 2. McLain Ward and Sapphire also had a 4 fault performance but with a slower time than Beezie, they did not return to Round 2. Margie Engle and HC Perin who had also qualified for the Grand Prix were eliminated when Margie suffered a fall. Both horse and rider were fine. Margie still plans on riding in next weeks competition in Rome Rodrigo Pessoa and Baloubet du Rouet were also eliminated.
Last year’s winner Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum has again in top form and managed a clear round within the time allowed. Other notables in Round 1 performances were Ireland’s Jessica Kurten, Germany’s Ludger Beerbaum, Christian Ahlmann and of course Marcus Ehning. Canada’s Eric Lamaze had a strong outing and was also at the top of the leader board after Round 1.
Round 1 - Grand Prix of Aachen - Top 20
1 145 QUIBELL Jessica Kürten (IRL) Lady Forbes (0) 90.15
2 72 HICKSTEAD Eric Lamaze (CAN) (0) 93.39
2 126 OBÉLIX Hervé Godignon (FRA) (0) 93.39
4 54 L´ESPOIR Ludger Beerbaum (GER) (0) 93.58
5 123 NINJA LA SILLA Rolf-Göran Bengtsson (SWE) (0) 93.84
6 47 CÖSTER Christian Ahlmann (GER) (0) 94.15
7 21 CANTURO Bernardo Alves (BRA) (0) 94.24
8 124 NOLTES KÜCHENGIRL Marcus Ehning (GER) (0) 94.59
8 127 OKIDOKI Albert Zoer (NED) (0) 94.59
10 160 SHUTTERFLY Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) (0) 94.73
11 161 SPENDER S Maria Gretzer (SWE) (0) 94.87
12 81 IRISH INDEPENDENT ECHO BEACH Cian O´Connor (IRL) (0) 94.96
13 62 GALET D´AUZAY Michel Robert (FRA) (0) 95.51
14 131 OSTA RUGS QUINTUS Jean Claude van Geenberghe (UKR) (0) 95.87
15 8 ARMANI Jeffery Welles (USA) (1) 96.06
16 25 CARINO Ulrich Kirchhoff (GER) (1) 97.79
17 10 AUTHENTIC Beezie Madden (USA) Abigail Wexner (4) 90.38
18 75 HOFGUT LIEDERBACH´S Pia-Luise Aufrecht (GER) (4) 91.93
19 157 SAPPHIRE McLain Ward (USA) (4) 92.11
20 42 CLINTON Dirk Demeersman (BEL) (4) 92.33
Other US Riders
38 73 HIDDEN CREEK´S PERIN Margie Goldstein - Engle (USA) EL
Round 2 - Eighteen Riders Returned
For Round 2, Eighteen riders returned to the course including American’s Beezie Madden and Jeffery Welles. For Round 2 Rothenberger shortened the course to a 10 obstacle course with a triple at gate number 5.
Six riders again managed to go clear and qualify for the Jump Off. The German fans were delighted to see that three of the six in the jump off represented Germany: Christian Ahlmann and Coster, Marcus Ehning with Noltes Kuchengirl and Meredith Michael-Beerbaum with Shutterfly.
Eric Lamaze (CAN) was again clear on Hickstead and Brazil’s Bernard Alves riding Canturo and Hervé Godignon (FRA) and Obelix rounded out the field of six that went to the jump off. Beezie Madden would overtake Jeffery Welles in Round 2 and give the US its best finish in 12th with 8 faults. Jeffery would finish in 14th with 9 faults.
1 72 HICKSTEAD Eric Lamaze (CAN) (0) 93.39
1 126 OBÉLIX Hervé Godignon (FRA) (0) 93.39
3 47 CÖSTER Christian Ahlmann (GER) (0) 94.15
4 21 CANTURO Bernardo Alves (BRA) (0) 94.24
5 124 NOLTES KÜCHENGIRL Marcus Ehning (GER) (0) 94.59
6 160 SHUTTERFLY Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) (0) 94.xx
7 131 OSTA RUGS QUINTUS Jean Claude van Geenberghe (UKR) (1) 95.87
8 123 NINJA LA SILLA (4) 93.84 Second-Round
9 127 OKIDOKI Albert Zoer (NED) (4) 94.59 Second-Round
10 81 IRISH INDEPENDENT ECHO BEACH Cian O´Connor (IRL) (4) 94.96 Second-Round
11 54 L´ESPOIR Ludger Beerbaum (GER) (5) 93.58 Second-Round
12 10 AUTHENTIC Beezie Madden (USA) (8) 90.38 Second-Round
13 62 GALET D´AUZAY Michel Robert (FRA) (8) 95.51 Second-Round
14 8 ARMANI Jeffery Welles (USA) (9) 96.06 Second-Round
15 25 CARINO Ulrich Kirchhoff (GER) (10) 97.79 Second-Round
16 161 SPENDER S Maria Gretzer (SWE) (11) 94.87 Second-Round
17 145 QUIBELL Jessica Kürten (IRL) (12) 90.15 Second-Round
18 75 HOFGUT LIEDERBACH´S ABRISCA Pia-Luise Aufrecht (GER) (12) 91.93 Second-Round
For the jump off, the course was again shortened and used new fence 3, old fences 9 and 10, new fence 9, old fences 12 and 5 new fence 6ab and finished at old fence 2.
Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum was the first to return, but a rail cost her chances of repeating last years performance. The event was over when Marcus Ehning went clear and established a time to beat of 55.81. All of the riders that followed had a chance, but none could match the pace. Bernard Alves gave it a go, and beat Ehning’s time, but he could not leave all of the rails up and finished with four faults. Christian Ahlmann also matched Ehning’s time but had eight faults.
Canadian hopes rested with Eric Lamaze who take aim, had another clear round with a time that elevated him momentarily into second place. Frenchman Hervé Godignon was last to go. Another good effort and a clean ride slotted him between Ehning and Lamaze.
One of the nice touches provided at Aachen is an interview with the winning rider after the Grand Prix. Ehning sitting proudly aboard Noltes Kuchengirl told the German fans about his victory. All in the stands were delighted with the interview and of course with another German victory.
Jump Off Results - 6 Riders Returned
1 124 NOLTES KÜCHENGIRL Marcus Ehning (GER) (0) 55.81 Jump-Off 76000
2 126 OBÉLIX Hervé Godignon (FRA) (0) 58.41 Jump-Off 46000
3 72 HICKSTEAD Eric Lamaze (CAN) (0) 58.60 Jump-Off 34500
4 21 CANTURO Bernardo Alves (BRA) (4) 55.64 Jump-Off 23000
5 160 SHUTTERFLY Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum (GER) (4) 57.91 Jump-Off 11500
6 47 CÖSTER Christian Ahlmann (GER) (8) 55.81 Jump-Off 7500
Four in Hand Driving Competition
In the Kölnarena “Nations’ Cup”, Team USA with Tucker Johnson, Jim Richards and Chester C. Weber finished in 6th place. The event was won by Team Belgium.
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