Alrv-Newspaper No. 4 (September 2008) - CHIO Aachen

ALRV-Newspaper 

Number 4, September 2008 

"We are definitely on the right track" 

Interview with Frank Kemperman, Show Director of the CHIO Aachen 

With a total of 357,250 visitors this year, an additional 19,000 people attended the CHIO Aachen compared to 2007. A new record. Photo: Strauch 

Once again this year the World 

Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, 

attracted the best equestrian athletes 

from all over the world to the Soers. 

Even the weather played along. It is 

therefore not surprising that the Show 

Director, Frank Kemperman, was 

completely relaxed during the interview 

with Ralf Mader. 

Question: Mr. Kemperman, has one 

automatically done everything right, if 

resulted in setting a spectator record with 

Every reason to be satisfied again: CHIO Show 

Director Frank Kemperman. 

a total of 357,250 visitors? 

Frank Kemperman: There are always 

small details that can be improved. For 

instance thanks to the Sports Park Soers 

we will be able to offer a new solution for 

the audience´s footpaths next year. 

Although we are satisfied with the CHIO 

Aachen 2008 overall and not just because 

of the attendance figures. We keep 

emphasising that our priority isn't setting 

records, but instead to improve the quality 

of the event. The predominantly positive 

reactions of the visitors, athletes and 

journalists have made it clear to us that 

almost everything was right this year. 

Question: It was the longest CHIO 

Aachen in more than 40 years. Was it the 

right decision to pull the vaulting competitions 

forward, and thus expand the 

event's programme to span ten days? 

Kemperman: Yes, definitely. This has 

made it possible for us to clearly increase 

the media presence. After all the Nations' 

Cup was broadcast live on WDR. And the 

atmosphere in the Albert-Vahle-Arena 

certainly demonstrated the fact that vaulting 

is a splendid part of the CHIO. 

Question: The media's interest was 

indeed huge. The Opening Ceremony had 

never been broadcast live on TV-station 

WDR before. In fact ZDF even showed 

the floodlit Mercedes-Benz Nations' Cup 

during prime time viewing. 

Kemperman: This proves that we are 

certainly on the right track. We can increase 

the show's level of recognition via the 

media presence, which in turn will enable 

us to attract more spectators and increase 

support from sponsors. This is the only 

way to pass the tough international competition 

on the circuit of big sporting 

events. 

Question: The success of this year's 

CHIO Aachen can no doubt also be attributed 

to the good collaboration of the 

team, don't you think? 

Kemperman: Of course. The performance 

of the staff was fantastic. This applies 

to the permanent employees of the 

Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein and 

Aachener Reitturnier GmbH and to the 

part-time workers and volunteers in equal 

parts. We wouldn't be able to stage the 

event without the latter, who often sacrifice 

their holiday to help at the CHIO. 

Which is why I would like to take this 

opportunity to thank all of the volunteers 

and the many active ALRV members for 

their commitment.


Number 4, September 2008, Page 2 

Europe's talents at the Salut-Festival 

Event for Young Talents from December 11th-14th in the Albert-Vahle-Arena - Free entry 

By Ralf Mader 

It may be possible to see future CHIO 

winners at the ALRV grounds in 

December already: At the "Salut 

Festival", which will be held in the 

Albert-Vahle-Arena from December 

11th-14th. 

"Everything is perfect at the Salut 

Festival. I am very, very happy," raved 

the native Egyptian Abdel Said last year, 

after he had secured himself the title of 

Indoor Champion of the Young Riders. 

Stepping stone for future stars 

Since the Festival has already proved 

itself to be a stepping stone to the "top" 

sport at the CHIO grounds next door. 

Future world stars such as Marcus 

Ehning began their careers here; 

Christoph Brüse and Thomas Weinberg 

were also able to celebrate early victories 

in the CHIO main stadium. 

Around 200 German and selected international 

aspiring riders will be travelling 

to the Soers again in 2008, in order to 

battle it out for the title of Indoor 

Champion in the categories of the Pony 

Klaus Pavel, ALRV President. 

The aim of the aspiring young riders, who compete at the Salut-Festival, is to fly high. This event allows 

them to draw attention to themselves. In the hope that they too will be able to compete at the CHIO 

Aachen one day. Photo: Rüland 

Riders (up to 16 years old), Juniors (up to 

18 years old) and Young Riders (up to 21 

years old). 

For the past two years the ALRV has been 

actively involved as co-organisers of the 

Salut-Festival, which was founded by 

Willibert Mehlkopf in 1991 and which 

was named after his successful horse. "It 

is quite simply fun watching the young 

aspiring talents and promoting their development," 

commented Frank 

Kemperman, who has taken over the 

management of the show together with 

Mehlkopf and Rolf-Peter Fuß of the 

Equestrian Sport Association Rhineland. 

Entrance to the show is free of charge. 

For further information contact: 

www.salut-festival.de 

"We won't rest on our laurels" 

Dear ALRV members and staff, 

This year's event has exceeded all expectations. 

We were able to greet more spectators 

than ever before at the CHIO 

Aachen, were able to experience top 

class competitions and have received a 

positive response from nearly all sides. 

This is also thanks to your support. 

But of course we won't be resting on 

these laurels. What improvements can we 

make, how can we make the CHIO more 

attractive? We are currently working on 

the answers to these questions, so that the 

CHIO Aachen will continue to be the 

most significant equestrian event in the 

world in 2009. 

Yours sincerely, 

Klaus Pavel, ALRV President 

Imprint, No. 4 

Responsible: 

Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. 

Chairman of the Managing Board: 

Frank Kemperman 

Editor: Ralf Mader

Exclusive Seminar for 

ALRV members on 3.11. 

He is a worldwide highly-esteemed 

expert course designer, who has in the 

past also designed courses at World 

Championships and Olympic Games: 

Professor Dr. Arno Gego will be holding 

an exclusive seminar for ALRV members 

at the head office in the Soers. Gego was 

course designer in the CHIO Main 

Stadium for over 20 years and has been 

asserting himself for the ALRV since the 

mid-sixties. All of the ALRV members 

will receive detailed information on this 

event. A registration is required. 



Many horses and a handicraft market 

Several foreign events to be staged on the CHIO grounds over the coming months 

The show grounds of the ALRV have in 

the meantime established themselves 

as a location for regional events, 

beyond the CHIO Aachen. Five large 

events are planned in the coming two 

months alone. 

Because the grounds and facilities can be 

hired for both public and private purposes. 

Further information can be obtained 

by phone: +49-(0)241-9171-0 or by 

e-mail: events@chioaachen.de. 

A Dutchman never hands over a present without a 

kiss. Frank Kemperman congratulates Brigitte 

Franzen. Photo: ALRV 

In the last weeks the car exhibition 

“Aachener Automobilausstellung” and 

the Championship Breeding Show, organised 

by the German Shepherd 

Association, had already been big sucesses. 

Tens of thousands of people visited 

each of these events. 

But the horses will soon be returning: 

The "All Nations Cup" of Arabian 

Horses will be taking place in the Albert- 

Vahle-Arena from September 26th- 

A big success: According to the organisers, around 2,500 German Shepherds from 45 countries participated 

at the breeding show in the Soers in September. Photo: German Shephard Association 

Franzen is celebrating 

"20 years" at the ALRV 

The ticket customers know her face of 

course - or they have at least heard her 

voice on the phone: Brigitte Franzen is 

Director of the Ticketing Department of 

the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein 

(ALRV). 

And she celebrated a special anniversary 

during the busy phase of the World 

Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen this 

year: Brigitte Franzen has been working 

for the ALRV for 20 years since July 1st 

1988. And of course she was congratulated 

by all her colleagues. 

28th. The organiser is the Verband der 

Züchter des Arabischen Pferdes e.V. 

Online at: www.vzap.org. 

According to the organisers the largest 

breeding show for Appaloosa horses will 

be staged in the Albert-Vahle-Arena from 

October 2nd-5th: Organised by the 

Appaloosa Horse Club Germany e.V. 

Detailed information can be found on the 

web at www.aphc-germany.de. 

This event is followed by the German 

Reining Championships from October 

10th-19th. Also to be held in the Albert- 

Vahle-Arena. The organiser is the 

German Quarter Horse Association, 

www.dqha.de. 

Then just one week later, from October 

24th-26th, the grading tests for Arabian 

Horses of the Verband der Züchter des 

Arabischen Pferdes e.V. are scheduled 

at the Soers. Visit the Website: 

www.vzap.org 

After that things will no doubt be taking 

on a Christmas appearance at the Art & 

Handicrafts market KuH from 

November 8th-9th in the stables.

Tickets for the CHIO 

Aachen are in great demand 

The advanced ticket sales for the coming 

year already got under way during the 

CHIO Aachen 2008. The best equestrian 

athletes of the five disciplines will once 

again be travelling to the Soers from June 

26th - July 5th, 2009. As in the previous 

years the tickets are in great demand, particularly 

for highlights such as the 

Mercedes-Benz Nations' Cup, the 

ROLEX Grand Prix or the Deutsche 

Bank Prize. 

You can secure yourself tickets by telephone 

on +49-(0)241-917-1111, online at 

www.chioaachen.de or directly from the 

offices of the ALRV, Albert-Servais- 

Allee 50, D-52070 Aachen. 

Opening hours: Mon. - Thur.: 9 a.m. - 5 

p.m. as well as Fr. 9 a.m. - noon. 



The footing in the CHIO Main Stadium is referred to as the “holy grass” by many show-jumpers: This is 

where prestigious competitions such as the ROLEX Grand Prix will be contested in 2009. Photo: ALRV 

As Director in the Judges' Tower 

Frank Andreas Heublein took over a responsible post at the CHIO Aachen 2008 

His first honorary task at the CHIO 

Aachen was immediately a huge challenge: 

In 2008 Frank Andreas 

Heublein took over the direction of the 

Judges' Tower of the Main Stadium. 

The 34-year-old from Willich talked to 

Ralf Mader about his CHIO experiences 

from an unusual perspective. 

Question: Directing the Judge's Tower 

sounds like an all-encompassing job. 

What tasks does it involve exactly? 

Frank Andreas Heublein: The term 

“directing” is actually slightly exaggerated, 

after all I don't have the sole responsibility 

there. I am primarily occupied 

with the coordination of the course of 

events. For example I am in charge of 

making sure that the clips on the video 

sreen, the music, the presenters' contributions 

and the admission of the competitors 

are well synchronised. The time plan 

has to be strictly adhered to predominantly 

because of the TV broadcasts. 

Question: That probably involves a lot of 

telephoning around? 

Heublein: Yes. In the Judges' Tower I am 

equipped with two telephones, a walkietalkie 

and a laptop and I am in constant 

contact with the show management and 

the TV channels. 

Question: You have been engaged in the 

equestrian sport for many years already, 

among others as Show Director of the 

Reit- und Fahrverein Lobberich. What 

was your first CHIO Aachen like? 

Heublein: It was indeed exciting, I initially 

didn't exactly know what I had let 

myself in for. But the atmosphere in the 

Judges' Tower is very pleasant - I knew a 

lot of my colleagues from other events 

already - and after a day or two I had a 

clear head. 

Question: Weren't there any tricky situations? 

Heublein: No, but you are particularly 

under stress during the big competitions, 

because you don't want anything to go 

wrong. Nevertheless, it is still fun being 

able to play a part in the CHIO Aachen. I 

would definitely like to be on board again 

in 2009. 

Frank Andreas Heublein Foto: Private



Record sum for "Moments of Luck" 

CHIO visitors donate 15,000 Euros for Therapeutic Riding and Sports for the Disabled 

This year the visitors of the World 

Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen, 

donated generously for a good cause: 

15,000 Euros were collected for the aid 

of Therapeutic Riding and the Society 

for the Promotion of Sports for the 

Disabled. 

That is an increase of 5,000 Euros and 

thus 50 percent more than in the previous 

years. "The willingness to donate and the 

commitment of the donation collectors, 

who are mostly young people, was extraordinary," 

emphasised Klaus Pavel, 

President of the the CHIO-organiser 

Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein e.V. 

"Grateful to the ALRV" 

The cheque will be officially handed over 

on November 11th, 2008 - during the 

"Night of the Stars", the big Paralympic 

Sports Benefit Gala held at the Mercedes 

World in Berlin. "We will invest the 

money selectively in important projects," 

commented Gerda Pleitgen, who has 

been Chairwoman of the Society for the 

Promotion of Sports for the Disabled for 

many years. "We are extremely grateful 

to the ALRV." 

The "Glücks-Bringer" - “Moments of 

Luck" - charity cooperation between the 

ALRV, the German Curatorship for 

Therapeutic Riding (DKThR) and the 

Society for the Promotion of Sports for 

Tied the knot after 13 years 

They have already been a couple for 13 

years: So it came as quite a surprise to the 

families, friends and colleagues of the 

ALRV Press Officer Niels Knippertz and 

his girlfriend Sabine to learn that they 

were going to get married. 

In August the couple exchanged their 

wedding vows at Haus Spieß in Erkelenz. 

And straight afterwards they had to 

undergo their first practical test as a married 

couple. Whilst the ALRV and ART 

colleagues formed a guard of honour 

armed with CHIO flags, Niels and Sabine 

had to saw their way through a wooden 

obstacle. After they had managed to 

accomplish this feat, they celebrated their 

big day together with more than 100 

guests. 

This poster is currently being used to promote the 

"Moments of Luck" campaign. 

It goes without saying that the bridal couple had to 

saw their way through an obstacle. Photo: Jeltsch 

the Disabled, which involves donations 

being collected during the CHIO Aachen, 

has been running for several years. Over 

the past years several tens of thousands of 

Euros have been collected, as well as a 

further 80,000 Euros during the FEI 

World Equestrian Games Aachen 2006. 

However, the cooperation reaches 

beyond this. "At the same time we like to 

offer therapeutic riding and sports for the 

disabled a public platform," explained 

Pavel. 

Manifold campaigns 

To this end, the two organisations presented 

themselves at a stand in the CHIO 

village, children from therapy riding 

clubs in Aachen demonstrated their riding 

skills in displays during the show week 

and the German dressage rider, Angelika 

Trabert, took part in the CHIO Opening 

Ceremony as a representative of the 

Paralympic Games. (rm) 

German Curatorship for Therapeutic 

Riding: www. dkthr.de 

ALRV welcomes 15 

new club members 

The Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein 

e.V. has been able to win over 15 new 

members since the previous issue of our 

ALRV-Newspaper in June. 

The ALRV heartily welcomes: 

Leonhard Becker (Würselen), Jörg 

Donner (Elsdorf), Maritta Fuchsberger 

(Aachen), Dr. Christiane Funken 

(Aachen), Heinz-Werner Gäde, Norbert 

Güldenberg (Würselen), Niels Knippertz 

(Aachen), Hannelore Maisenbacher 

(Aachen), Petra Moss (Aachen), Heinz 

Joachim Prümper (Aachen), Werner 

Robens (Aachen), Sabine Schnell (Bad 

Honnef), Benedikt Schwoll, Kurt 

Weidenhaupt (Würselen) sowie die Firma 

D & D Verhuur.



Loyal CHIO visitor since 1924 

Stefan André was already present at the very first event at the Soers in Aachen 

By Ralf Mader 

It was the era of the Weimar Republic 

and of social change, six years after the 

end of World War I. In 1924 the first 

"Riding & Driving Event" was organised 

at the Soers in Aachen. He was one 

of the guests back then and still attends 

the CHIO regularly today: Stefan 

André. 

He takes a stroll around the Soers almost 

every day and keeps an eye on the changes 

being made to the Sports Park which 

is a joint venture between the CHIO 

Aachen and football club Alemannia 

Aachen. You certainly wouldn't think the 

former master painter and decorator is 94 

years old, but his recollections of over 

eight decades of equestrian sport in 

Aachen are extensive. One senses the fact 

that the event has always played an 

important role in his life. 

Slipped through the fence as a child 

When Stefan André recognised an aerial 

photo of the show grounds during his 

visit to the ALRV offices, he spontaneously 

recounted how at the age of ten in 

1924 he had slipped through the fence 

close to where the AachenMünchener 

Grand Stand is today, so that he could be 

present at the debut event at the Soers. In 

the years shortly before that, the Aachen- 

Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV), 

which was founded in 1898, had organised 

horse races at the Brander Heide. 

"Of course we didn't have any money at 

the time," laughed the 94-year-old, who 

grew up in the Jülicher Straße in Aachen 

and always used to play with his friends 

on the fields of the Soers. "As a child one 

is simply curious. The horses, the music 

and the many visitors - who at the time 

watched from on top of mounds of earth 

- impressed us straight away." 

A loyal visitor to the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen for over eight decades: The 94-year-old 

Stefan André. Photo: Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein 

An enthusiasm that never lost its attraction. 

Whether it was the inauguration of 

the first large grandstand on the show 

grounds in 1925, when the visitors still 

travelled to the tournament by omnibuses 

on overhead lines. Whether it was the 

growing significance of the event before 

World War II or the year the competitions 

were resumed in 1946: André has experienced 

the history of the Soers first hand 

and has hardly missed a single CHIO. 

From Winkler to Michaels-Beerbaum 

Hans Günter Winkler and the Italian brothers 

Piero and Raimondo d'Inzeo were 

among the riders André particularly 

admired in the fifties and sixties. Today 

from his regular seat in the West Stand he 

especially crosses his fingers for 

Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum. "She is a 

fantastic rider. But I also like to watch 

Marcus Ehning ride too. Although he 

really has been unlucky with his horses 

recently." 

Stefan André has been a pensioner since 

1977 and a season ticket holder of the 

event ever since, which he now visits 

together with his daughter. André is very 

impressed with the show grounds since 

they were modernised for the World 

Equestrian Games Aachen 2006: 

"Everything has totally changed over the 

past decades, the show grounds are fantastic 

now." 

CHIO 2009 - a fixed appointment 

So it goes without saying that Stefan 

André also intends to visit the CHIO 

Aachen (June 26th - July 5th) in 2009 

again. This will be the 85th anniversary 

since André' s first visit and the debut 

event at the Soers.



A modest hero from Belgium 

Eerdekens brought a driverless carriage to a halt at the CHIO - Honoured by the ALRV 

"In our eyes Dominique Eerdekens is a 

hero," commented ALRV President 

Klaus Pavel in front of the media from 

Germany, Belgium and the 

Netherlands. The Belgian native 

Eerdekens was awarded the CHIO 

Badge of Honour by the Aachen- 

Laurensberger Rennverein (ALRV). 

The Belgian man had brought the driverless 

carriage of the Australian driver 

Boyd Exell to a halt on the Marathon 

course after the driver and his team had 

been thrown from the carriage. "Even 

though he himself considers his courageous 

deed that involved him risking his 

life to be quite a natural reaction," explained 

Pavel. Eerdekens had snatched hold 

of the reins of the horses as they galloped 

past and "prevented anything more 

serious from happening". 

Life-long accreditation 

Exell, who lives in England and had travelled 

to Aachen especially to pay tribute 

to Eerdekens, thanked the man from 

Neerpelt, Belgium (Limburg Province). 

"He saved my horses, they could have 

sustained serious injuries," the Australian 

pointed out. "But because he acted calm- 

Furnished with the famous horse logo: The array 

of products of the CHIO Aachen 

Personal thanks: Boyd Exell (2nd from left) travelled to Aachen from England especially to pay tribute to 

Dominique Eerdekens. Frank Kemperman (left), Klaus Pavel (right). Photos: ALRV 

ly and led the horses around on a wide 

circle this was avoided. He did a great job 

as an equestrian sportsman. Such accidents 

cannot be completely ruled out in 

spite of all of the safety measures implemented 

by the ALRV." 

Eerdekens himself is a four-in-hand driver 

and was very modest regarding the 

incident: "I didn't think about it much at 

the time, I just wanted to help." So afterwards 

he simply looked for his hat that 

had fallen off when he dived to catch the 

They are high quality merchandising 

products for all tastes and occasions: 

From elegant jackets and hats, through 

to polo shirts, t-shirts, bags and accessoires. 

The current CHIO Aachen collection for 

ladies, men and children is made unique 

by the famous CHIO logo, which decorates 

most of the goods. Even some of the 

souvenirs from the FEI World Equestrian 

Games Aachen 2006 (the world championships 

in seven disciplines) are still on 

reins and then went and had a beer. 

As well as handing the 43-year-old over 

the Badge of Honour, Pavel also presented 

him with a new harness for his own 

team of ponies, a certificate as well as a 

framed series of photos, which capture 

the moment of his courageous intervention, 

as a souvenir. 2009 the Belgian is 

also planning to visit the CHIO Aachen. 

But this time he won't have to pay, because 

the Badge of Honour also entitles him 

to a life-long accreditation for the CHIO. 

High quality CHIO products 

sale - many at special prices. 

The entire offer of products can be found 

online at www.chioaachen.de, under the 

"Shop" button. Detailed information is 

also available per e-mail at shop@chioaachen.de 

or by phone from the Aachener 

Reitturnier GmbH (ART) on +49-(0)241- 

88927-162. 

Of course you can also seek advice in 

person from the CHIO offices, Albert- 

Servais-Allee 50, 52070 Aachen. Here 

you get all information and help you 

need. (rm)



A fence judge in Hong Kong 

Peter Dohn of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein assisted at the Olympic Games 

By Ralf Mader 

Peter Dohn was live on location to 

experience two German Olympic gold 

medals. As one of 80 fence judges along 

the eventing course, the 25-year-old 

had a front row seat during the equestrian 

competitions in Hong Kong - 

and was thus able to experience the 

victory of the German team and 

Hinrich Romeike in the individual 

classification. 

"It was a fabulous experience," said 

Dohn, who has been a permanent 

employee in the Sports Department of the 

ALRV since 2007. Of course he didn't 

mind sacrificing his vacation for the eleven-day 

stay in Asia. Especially since his 

father, Dr. Hanno Dohn, was also actively 

involved in Hong Kong as President of 

the Jury in the show-jumping discipline. 

Celebration with the gold medallists 

Peter Dohn was specifically responsible 

for passing on the results by walkie-talkie 

for obstacle 12, a water complex, on the 

day of the cross-country. Something that 

had been practised intensively in the days 

up to the event, "to ensure that the most 

important information was passed on in a 

short and precise manner," explained 

Dohn. What was the best experience for 

the hobby eventer, who has already competed 

in 3* competitions himself? "That I 

was able to work together with Barry 

Roycraft." The Australian eventing 

legend was also working as an obstacle 

judge at the very next complex. 

Dohn won't forget the subsequent party at 

the media hotel in a hurry either. Athletes 

of all nationalities danced alongside each 

other to the Olympic song "We are the 

Golden Riders", "just like at a family 

party". Of course Dohn secured himself 

the autographs of the German gold 

Not only the competitions were colourful, but also the typically Chinese show performances. 

Peter Dohn (left) with his father Dr. Hanno Dohn at the harbour in Hong Kong. Photos: Private 

medallist team. And after the work there 

was also time to watch the other competitions 

and explore Hong Kong. A culture 

shock? "No, as a former British colony, 

Hong Kong hardly differs from other 

European cities." He did however add 

that there wasn't much Olympic atmosphere 

in the huge metropolis. 

Chinese irritated by dressage 

The Chinese visitors also had their difficulties 

with the riding competitions - 

horse racing is more popular over there. 

"The spectators were visibly irritated 

especially with the dressage." Although 

the organisers had tried to explain the 

principles of the discipline using comiclike 

animations on the monitors. 

What was Peter Dohn's personal impression 

of the frequently criticised state 

omnipotence in China? "There was actually 

one incident. During the dressage 

one of the spectators shouted out loud 

'Free Tibet' - and security officers stormed 

over from all sides." 

In mid-August Dohn caught his twelvehour 

flight back to Germany. He is now 

preparing the eventing competitions for 

the CHIO Aachen 2009, where he will 

meet up with many of his acquaintances 

from the Olympic Games again.

Alrv-Newspaper No. 4 (September 2008) - CHIO Aachen

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