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Aachen, May 19th, 2008

CHIO Aachen: Members of the ALRV for 60 years
President Klaus Pavel honours Otto Geilenkirchen and Marga Küpper

In 1948 Germany still lay in ruins after the Second World War, the future of the region and also that of the CHIO Aachen was unsure: That was 60 years ago and this is exactly how long both Otto Geilenkirchen and Marga Küpper have been members of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. (ALRV). To commemorate this ALRV President, Klaus Pavel, presented them with a large panorama photo of the main stadium. "This long-term loyalty to our club is extraordinary," noted Pavel. "We are most grateful to both of you for this."

Otto Geilenkirchen (81), who has been sitting on the Mercedes Benz stand with his family in their reserved seats since 1948, considers his dedication to be something quite natural: "Somehow it is our obligation as the citizens of Aachen to support the CHIO and the ALRV." Over the years he has met many of the equestrian athletes personally, some of them have even been guests in his home - proof of which can be found in his souvenir album including photos and autographs. The 92-year-old Marga Küpper was particularly delighted about the fact that ALRV President Klaus Pavel rolled his sleeves up and took out a hammer and nails to hang up the panorama photo in her room himself. "Now I can keep an eye on the Soers every day." Otto Geilenkirchen has in the meantime already marked the CHIO Aachen 2008 (June 27th - July 6th) down as a fixed appointment in his diary. He will be sitting in Block D as always. And of course he will also carry on supporting the ALRV as their member. "Perhaps I will even manage to make the next round figure, completing 70 years of membership," laughed the Aachen citizen.

Already in the course of the ALRV's General Assembly, the following members have been honoured lately:

50 years of membership: Ursula Esser, Willy Knops, Willy Schmitz.

40 years of membership: Hans Axmacher, Josef Flachs, Prof. Dr. Arno Gego, Dr. Joachim Jötten Otto Schaefer.

25 years of membership: Burgi Erdsiek, Marianne Fuhrmann, Christian Fuhrmann, Dr. Peter Mester, Wilhelm Mobertz, Agathe Strauff, Renate Waldhausen-Krick sowie die Firma gepe Gebäudedienste Peterhoff.

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