Without a doubt heavy CHIO Rolex Grand Prix in Aachen was one of the most exciting Grand Prix's of this year. Only five combinations qualified for the Jump-Off, aiming to win the 500.000 Euro first prize. Last starter, Gerrit Nieberg made an exceptional performance jumping to the win in front of the home-crowd.
First at the start in the Jump-Off was one of the favorites, McLain Ward. Aboard his trusted HH Azur. (Thunder vd Zuuthoeve) the USA showjumping rider was a bit to enthusiastic towards the last jump and got a total of four points. Earlier this week McLain already won two 1.60m Grand Prix's in Aachen, with Contagious.
At the start, Germany's Daniel Deusser followed with the Belgian Warmblood-mare Killer Queen VDM Z. The showjumping rider could write history as he won this Grand Prix last year with the 12-year-old mare by Eldorado vd Zeshoek. Deusser remained calm and took the rist in the final line jumping clear and into the lead. However not for long as Great-Britain's Scott Brash showed the time of Deussser was easily beaten.
Brash and Hello Jefferson (Cooper vd Heffinck) were over two seconds faster as Deusser and Killer Queen VDM.
Belgium's Nicola Philippaerts and Katanga vh Dingeshof (Cardento) were the second but last to start in the Jump-Off. No rail was touched, and the pair came in close to the time of Brash, but had to settle as eventually third. Because the revelation of the year was without a doubt the last rider at the start, Lars Nieberg's son, Gerrit Nieberg (GER). Together with Ben 431 (Sylvain) Nieberg showed skill take short turns and beating the top of the world with a final time of 38.63 seonds.
On stage Scott Brash followed as runner-up, while Nicola Philippaerts finished third. Philippaerts was followed by Daniel Deusser and McLain Ward.
