Rotterdam plans to host EC Dressage 2011

Tomorrow the Rotterdam Horseshow CHIO 2007 will take a start and celebrate its 59th edition, the second at the new sand footing in the Kralingse Bos. Yesterday the organisers revealed their future plans for Rotterdam. Breaking news: Rotterdam likes to host the EC Dressage. Chairman Frans Lavooy of CHIO Rotterdam said: “Aachen no doubt is the best Horseshow in the world. But Rotterdam aims to be the ‘best of the rest’. We like to expand in our venue possibilities, sponsor possibilities, prize money possibilities. One of our future aims is to host the European Championships in 2011.”

Four parties concerned signed a contract to find out the detailed possibilities for a bid: the Dutch Equestrian Federation KNHS, the CHIO organisers, the responsible Rotterdam city council and the Rotterdam Topsport organisers. The FEI has already been contacted about the interest of the Rotterdam Horseshow CHIO in the EC Dressage in 2011.

In 2009 Windsor will host both the European Championships showjumping and dressage. The Rotterdam CHIO has not considered the same. Chairman Frans Lavooy stated: “We have a long term vision and like to go forward, but one day in a day.”

Director sports dressage four time Olympian  Tineke Bartels commented: “I feel dressage has all posibilities to expand even further. The Freestyle to music has done a lot to improve the interest in dressage, just like Anky van Grunsven has in the Netherlands. Now further interesting steps should be made, like improving the prize money and like hosting European Championships in a pre-Olympic year.”

 
Director sport dressage Tineke Bartels and CHIO-chairman Frans Lavooy smiling when starting the organisational project ‘EC Dressage 2011’. Picture dressagedirect Claartje van Andel©

Find all news and results at www.chio.nl/

News from Aachen, world’s best Horseshow

NEW: CHIO Auction with catalogue now on the internet

This year your visit to the World’s best and most complete Horseshow of the world in Aachen is even more worthwhile as a top horse can be bargained at the first Aachen Auction. Top horses and foals will be auctioned July 4th in Aachen - all relevant information is available online.

It is the perfect connection between top sport and top young horses. In the framework of the CHIO Auction on July 4th 2007 more than 30 top horses will go under the hammer. It is possible to look up immediately online which horses have been selected by the experts.

A comprehensive overview and an expert appraisal of the horses is available under www.chioaachen.de/ . A total of 15 jumping and 15 dressage horses is up for sale. The offer is rounded off by 3 ponies and 5 foals. “Only horses of above-average quality will be on offer,” said Peter Weinberg. The expert for jumping horses emphasised: “The quality is more decisive than the breeding region.” As a result horses from all over Europe are going to be up for sale at the auction. The Aachen dressage expert, Ton de Ridder, is also impressed by the high quality and the potential of the horses: “After the horses have received their necessary training we will no doubt see some of them back here in Aachen one day, taking part in the dressage competitions in the Deutsche Bank Stadium.” Weinberg pointed out one of the extraordinary features of the Aachen collection: “We will not only be offering three to five-year-olds that are in the initial stages of training, but also up to seven-year-old horses. The latter are already so experienced that they are ready to compete in the Youngster Tours.”

An auction catalogue including a CD is released, but can be visited online as well. Please order your catalogue from the Rhineland Stud Book on +49(0)2166-6219-111 or from the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. on +49-(0)241-917-1111. Tickets for the auction at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 4th, in the Deutsche Bank Stadium are also available from the organiser ALRV.
The horses can be viewed and tested on the days leading up to the auction.

Find all further information and the online catalogue immediately available at www.chioaachen.com.

 
Chiara is one of the Aachen Auction horses, find all pedigrees and information at www.chioaachen.com