News

Michael Whitaker is the winner of Aachen Grand Prix

Jul 8, 2012

The winner of the famous Grand Prix in Aachen 2012 is Michael Whitaker and GIG Amai (Nonstop x Bacara). A well deserved win for one of the sport’s true legends and an amazing horse. Since rumor has it that Michael wrote his name on the winning wall in Aachen already on Thursday, he probably felt himself that it was time after trying to win this class for nearly 30 years.

Out of the first twenty riders only two of them were clear, and to the crowd’s pleasure - both were German. The first clear came with Thomas Voss and Carinjo (Cascavelle x Landgraf I). The stallion jumped better than ever and the two actually made some of the tricky lines look easy. Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum and Bella Donna 66 (Baldini II x Calido I) were also clear.

The top eighteen riders went on to a second round, and the score from both rounds where put together. The second round had a new course, and this time nine out of the eighteen riders were clear.

Thomas Voss was the first rider in with a clean sheet from the first round, and he rode yet another nice and clear round with Carinjo. Then Michael came and also he produced another good and stable round which also secured a jump- off. Also Meredith and Bella Donna were clear, and it was time for a battle of Germany against Great Britain.

None of the other clear riders from the first round managed another clear. Nick and Carlo took down the first fence in the second round, but besides from that their round was in their normal “Nick and Carlo” way. Both Offel and Vivant and Laura and Cedric had the b-element in the combination down, while Ludger and Chiara ended at eight faults.

First to go in the jump-off was Thomas. He did not take the biggest risks with Carinjo, but he took some short turns and made the stallion gallop on the longer stretches. The combination crossed the finish line with yet another clear and the time 54.37.

Michael was next out. He made GIG Amai use his big gallop as best as he could, and he also shortened the turns compared to Thomas. The amazing crowd in Aachen nearly cheered Michael and Amai over the last fence and through the finish line. The clock stopped at 49.73, and the only one who could take away Michael’s win was Meredith.

Meredith’s horse Bella Donna is truly amazing, nut only nine years old. That didn’t stop Meredith from speeding up though and she really made her horse stretch and turn. Towards fence number four the tight turn sent them a little too close to the oxer and a pole fell which made Michael Whitaker the Aachen winner of 2012.

Source Worldofshowjumping.com