Aachen, Germany- The 2013 CHIO Aachen came to a close on Sunday with its ninth and final day of competition. The U.S. competitors continued to produce strong finishes to complete one of their most successful trips to the prestigious German venue in recent years.

Jumping

CSIO5* competition wrapped up Sunday in the Main Arena with the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen. Beezie Madden (Cazenovia, NY) was looking to claim Beezie Madden and Cortes 'C' (Shannon Brinkman)her second career victory in prestigious class after having claimed top honors in 2007 with Authentic. In 2013 she would partner with Abigail Wexner’s 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding Cortes ‘C’. The combination produced a faultless effort in the first round, they then returned in round two to produce a four fault trip. Their second round time of 71.27 left them in seventh place.

Great Britain’s Team Gold medalists from London Olympic Games, Nick Skeleton and Big Star won the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen as the only pair clear in the jump-off. Janika Sprunger and Palloubet d´Halong of Switzerland were second and France’s Patrice Delaveau and Orient Express HDC collected third place honors.

Earlier in the day, Madden produced a four fault trip with Wexner’s Vanilla in the SAP Prize. The 11-year-old Danish Warmblood mare finished in in 26th place.

Dressage

The Aachen CDIO5* concluded Sunday in the Deutsche Bank Stadium as 15 combinations performed their Freestyles in the Deutsche Bank Prize. The United States was represented by three London Olympic Games veterans, with Steffen Peters, Tina Konyot and Jan Ebeling achieving their highest scores of the weekend.

Leading the charge for the U.S. was Peters (San Diego, CA) and Four Winds Farm’s Legoloas 92 with a score of 78.675%. The 11-year-old-Westphalian gelding was again rewarded for his excellent piaffe and passage. The combination also received high marks for their music and its interpretation. However, they did struggle with the one time changes keeping them from achieving an even higher score.

The 2012 USEF National Grand Prix Dressage Champions finished the Deutsche Bank Prize in sixth place.

Konyot (Palm City, FL) and her own 15-year-old Danish Warmblood stallion Calecto V closed out their time in Aachen by scoring 74.900% in the Freestyle for 10th place. The 2010 USEF National Grand Prix Champions received high marks for their choreography and interpretation of their music.
Riding Ann Romney, Amy Ebeling, and Beth Meyers’ 16-year-old Oldenburg mare Rafalca, Ebeling (Moorpark, CA) finished the Deutsche Bank Prize in 13th place after scoring 72.025%. The 2012 London Olympic Games veterans were rewarded with high scores for their canter work.

Chef d’Equipe Robert Dover was very pleased with all the American riders efforts over the week in Aachen. He was pleased not only with U.S. performances in CDIO5* competition but also the showings in the CDI-U25 and CDI4*divisions.

“Our American dressage riders came to Aachen to make a very strong statement regarding our place as a world power in the sport and they did just that. Not only did our team produce Bronze in the Nations Cup and move all 4 riders to the Individual Championships with our 3 best getting into the Freestyle; they ended with the great Steffen Peters and Legolas 92 in 6th place, Tina Konyot and Calecto V in 10th and Jan Ebeling and Rafalca in 13th place! Furthermore, Shelly Francis rode brilliantly on Doktor in her first season back in Europe after many years to achieve just under 70% in the Grand Prix Special as well as producing super tests with Danilo in the Small Tour,” said a proud Dover. “Suzie Dutta placed 6th with Currency DC in the 4* Grand Prix Special, showing potential for a huge score very soon. Finally, Caroline Roffman, America's first representative in Europe in the U25, thrilled the judges and the public with absolutely gorgeous tests, especially in the Freestyle which earned over 76% and 2nd place. The world of Dressage has witnessed a new star being born here in the Aachen stadium and I cannot wait to come back next year with even more horses and riders ready to win at all divisions.”

The 2013 Reem Acra/FEI World Cup Final champions, Germany’s Helen Langehanenberg and Damon Hill, completed a sweep of the Aachen CDIO5* winning the Freestyle after scoring 85.300%.

Driving

The CAIO-4 competition came to a close Sunday in Aachen with the Fendt Nations Cup cones phase to determine final team standings. The U.S. Team of Chester Weber and Jimmy Fairclough finished in sixth place on a score of 305.15.

Driving a team he co-owns with Jane Clark, Weber (Ocala, FL) had a single ball down on Sunday to add three points to the team score. In the Individual competition, which concluded on Sunday after the marathon, the four-time FEI World Championship medalist finished in third place on a score of 125.78.

Fairclough (Newtown, NJ) driving a team leased from Koos de Ronde had a single ball down and incurred an additional 5.79 points for exceeding the time. He finished 23rd individually.

The Netherlands claimed top honors in Fendt Nations Cup competition on a score of 262.85, finishing in second was the team from Germany on a score of 270.11. Third place honors when to Sweden who finished on a total of 286.77.

Learn more about the 2013 CHIO Aachen here.