Closing Celebration

Closing Celebration
by Bonnie Rombach

The closing ceremony at Aachen is "einmalig," (which literally means "one time" or unique). This year because of being Helen’s mother, I was allowed to observe the closing ceremony from in front of the judges’ house (the administration building). This four story structure sits between where the horses enter from the holding paddock on one side and where they exit the arena on the other. Alongside the exit area is the road for the public to reach the merchants’ shops and the main grandstand. Children often line the fence with autograph books in hand hoping to catch the attention of their favorite riders. In front of the bleachers is the popular slanted standing area for spectators.

This is the only time that Helen actually gets to watch the goings on in the arena. As she came out to stand next to me, several people had slid in front of the fence in front of us. Two words from her and they scattered to the sides to give us a perfect view.

Hugo Simon from Austria riding „E.T. FRH" had just won one of the most important jumping competitions of his nearly half century in the saddle. The Aachen Grand Prix with 100,000 DM for first place had previously eluded him. As an extra carrot, this competition is part of the Pulsar series which dangles millions of dollars in front of the top jumpers in the world. Because Hugo Simon had won the Grand Prix at Monterrey, Mexico last fall, along with Ludger Beerbaum who recently won the other one at Valkenswaard, Holland, an additional $800,000 US was at stake for these two riders. Ludger Beerbaum and the legendary, Ratina Z, just clipped the last rail in the jump off for the fastest time, but E.T. went clean for the extra $800,000. When Hugo was questioned about his feelings during the ride, he said that he knew that he was going to win because the German Chancellor, Helmut Kohl, was watching, and they were both born in the same town. The Chancellor quipped back that only winners came from there (the German elections take place in a couple of weeks, and he won a few votes at Aachen by supporting the show and spending twice as much time as originally planned, including a walk through the stable area to see how the horses are cared for and housed).

Ludger Beerbaum, in spite of his loss, was voted by the spectators as their favorite jumping rider. Isabell Werth received the honor as the public’s favorite dressage rider, and Michael Freund was chosen as the favorite four-in-hand driver.

At one point there were about 24 teams of four-in-hands in the arena to receive their Nations Cup awards. Holland edged out Germany by 2.52 points, but the individual combined award went to the German, Michael Freund, who was 5^th in the dressage, 6^th in the cross country, and 1^st in the obstacles. Ijsbrand Chardon from Holland was 2^nd in the individual with 2^nd in the dressage, 3^rd in the cross country, and 14^th in the obstacles. 3^rd place was Christoph Sandmann, Germany, with 13^th in the dressage, 1^st in the cross country, and 12^th in the obstacles.

The most emotional moment overall for the spectators and participants alike is the „Abschied der Nationen" - Farewell to the Nations. The flags of all the participating nations from around the world are carried in by riders from the local riding clubs (a great honor for those members chosen to be flag bearers). As each national anthem is played, the riders (drivers) come in to a sea of waving white handkerchiefs and line up down the middle of the field. After every country has been acknowledged, the riders break off for their last round to the German folk song „Muss i denn" („Must I now, must I now, leave this village behind, and you, my treasure, stay here"). About 45,000 white handkerchiefs say goodbye until we see you again at the next official international equestrian competition, the World Equestrian Festival, in Aachen.

Email Bonnie Rombach: Lorbas@aol.com

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