Aachen, 04. July 2008

Bettina Hoy ahead in the DHL-Prize, the dressage competition
Germany first in the team classification followed by France and Sweden

Bettina Hoy is in the lead in the dressage discipline of the DHL-Prize, with the 17-year-old grey gelding, Ringwood Cockatoo, at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen (June 27th - July 6th). The rider who lives in England finished with a score of 38 points, ahead of the French rider Nicolas Touzaint on Joker d'Helby (38.9 points) and the Belgian rider Karin Donckers on Gazelle de la Brasserie CH (39.6). Germany currently ranks top in the team classification with 124.50 points, ahead of France (132.10) and Sweden (143.3).

"I don't know what else Ringwood Cockatoo was possibly supposed to show," commented Bettina Hoy disappointedly, in her opinion the score she received from the judges was too low. "I was very pleased with my horse, but not at all with the result. Several other riders also confirmed my opinion that I should have received a higher score. We were amazed that a lot of horses with overbent head carriages got such good marks." The National Dressage Coach Hans Melzer complained too: "The judges were rather strict. All of riders performed good dressage tests, we were completely satisfied."

Ingrid Klimke was the second best German rider; she obtained 40.4 points on FRH Butts Abraxxas. "I was very happy, we made a mistake in the flying change, but otherwise Braxxi went very well." Frank Ostholt finished seventh on a score of 46.10 points with Mr. Medicott. "Of course the stadium is filled with things to distract the horses - there are cameras everywhere that keep making clicking noises. The spectators are very close as well, so I was really pleased that Mr. Medicott didn't let himself get distracted here. We completed a correct test." Beeke Kaack and Sinjang came tenth, Hinrich Romeike and Marius Voigt-Logistik finished eleventh, and Andreas Dibowski with Euroriding Butts Leon were thirteenth, ahead of Anna Warnecke on Twinkle Bee. Peter Thomsen is 23rd in the rankings with The Ghost of Hamish and Frank Ostholt 18th with his successful horse Air Jordan.

After the jumping competition this evening, the eventers will set off on the spectacular cross-country course tomorrow. "Aachen is as demanding as a Championship course. Realistically it is a three star course in terms of the technical difficulties," reported Hans Melzer, National Coach of the German eventers.

Opening hours of the CHIO Aachen 2008 ticket sales:
Friday, 04.07.2008 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Saturday, 05.07.2008 from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Sunday, 06.07.2008 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Ticket hotline: +49-(0)241-917-1111