Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano is known as one of the most competitive riders on the circuit and in the 1.45m STAWAG Warm-Up Jumping of CHIO Aachen he lived up to his reputation. Aboard the 11-year-old Kentucky van Neerhof Z (Kashmir van Schuttershof x Karsten), the Italian rider finished more than 3.5 seconds faster than runner-up Maurice Tebbel, representing Germany.

The first 1.45m competition against the clock in the Aachener Soers was used as a warm-up round by most of the riders. Many jumped an easy round and finished on some time penalties or nearly exceeded the time allowed.

Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano wanted to start off CHIO Aachen 2016 with a speedy round and finished on 63.23 seconds aboard Kentucky van Neerhof Z – fast enough to win the class. Germany’s talented rider Maurice Tebbel finished as runner-up in front his home crowd, riding the 9-year-old Camilla PJ (Calme x Picard) and stopping the clock at 66.95 seconds. Dutch rider Willem Greve made his debut in the Aachener Soers and became third aboard the KWPN-approved stallion Carrera (Larino x Contender) – finishing in 68.95 seconds. Germany’s Patrick Stühlmeyer and Felix Hassmann ended up on fourth and fifth place respectively.

Text © World of Showjumping by Peter van der Waaij // Picture © Jenny Abrahamsson