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Aachen, May 21st, Mai 2008

CHIO Aachen: Hans-Heinrich Isenbart talks about his "Moments in Aachen"
Legendary commentator back at the Soers for a lecture

When Hans-Heinrich Isenbart returns to the Soers, his first destination is often the main stadium. The place where he experienced many emotional "moments in Aachen" as a commentator and journalist at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, and many International Championships in the fifties. He then remembers the past, imagines the grandstand filled with spectators, "the ladies with their hats", the sporting highlights that were watched here and that are still to be experienced in the future. That was the case on Monday as well, when the 85-year-old strolled over the traditional grass arena together with the show-jumper Marcus Ehning, both busy professionally assessing the quality of the footing. Also a type of preparation - for his lecture on those "Moments in Aachen" at the offices of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV). An event that was exclusively held for ALRV members.

And as soon as his striking voice echoed round the room, attentive silence reigned. Only interrupted now and again by a murmur, when memories flooded back to the audience members themselves - when people and events were rekindled in their minds. "One often experiences the greatest and most surprising occurrences in Aachen," commented Isenbart. "Aachen always holds great moments in store every year and in all disciplines." He took up his seat in the judges' tower as commentator for the first time in 1954 and witnessed all of the victories and fateful moments. The World Show-Jumping Championships in 1955, as Hans Günter Winkler claimed victory ahead of Piero d´Inzeo. "55,000 spectators were allegedly in the stadium to cheer him on." The tragic incident, when Graziano Mancinelli's horse suddenly collapsed in the ring in 1967 without any outside interference, which Isenbart had to commentate live on TV and try to express the spectator's horror in words.

The memories are still vivid, accompanied by old black and white photos on the big screen. The 85-year-old talked about Fritz Thiedemann's legendary horse Meteor, which Isenbart was even allowed to ride once. "His name was Moritz before his important riding career took off and he used to pull the milk cart in Thiedemann's home town." Anecdotes that only someone like Isenbart can relate with so much emotion and humour and eye-winking. They all got a mention. Winkler, Thiedemann, Dr. Reiner Klimke, Christine Stückelberger, Elena Petushkova and the staff of the ALRV, the "friends from Aachen". "Since all of us here in Aachen and at the Soers have the same desire: That Aachen is the best," said Isenbart. "It is predominantly the people that make Aachen what it is. The crowd is the basis of the CHIO, whether they come from the region or from all over the world."

Today, Isenbart can still be encountered all over the show grounds during the CHIO, he talks to the people, listens to their recollections and proposals. "Normally at the snack stand, when they recognise my voice," grinned the 85-year-old, who lives in Kirchlinteln in the Lüneburger Heide. In spite of his emotional farewell as the stadium commentator four years ago, he is still "the" voice of the CHIO. Also in the CHIO museum designed by Doris Beaujean, where he welcomes the visitors personally - on tape of course. Also there where his personal souvenirs are on display, which Doris Beaujean presented to the ALRV members in detail. Among them a suitcase that accompanied Isenbart on his many travels, which is decorated with hoards of stickers from international equestrian shows. "So in fact Hans-Heinrich Isenbart has never really left our team," pointed out ALRV Board Member, Hans Kauhsen.

"As a commentator I often saw myself as the interface between the jury in the judges' tower and the public in the stadium," Isenbart stated. He reported that the judges' tower itself had been "a secure and cheerful home, a stronghold of comradeship" for him over the years. And whatever his location, he always continues to be a source of entertainment, for instance making everyone laugh on Monday evening when he interviewed the show-jumper Marcus Ehning. Having explained that Ehning had always displayed great style over the years when riding, he added "I would have enjoyed being one of Marcus Ehning' horses myself."

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