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Inside The Rolex Grand Slam: CHIO Aachen Digital and more!

Wednesday, 29 July 2020
Inside The Rolex Grand Slam

Behind the CHIO Aachen Digital with Michael Mronz, General Manager, CHIO Aachen

Photo © Rolex Grand Slam/Kit Houghton. Michael Mronz. Photo © Rolex Grand Slam/Kit Houghton.

 

How did you come up with the ideas for the content? 

Naturally, the entire CHIO Aachen team has developed the ideas and the concept jointly. Whereby a lot of the input came from the outside – from the CHIO Aachen fans and even some of the riders have provided us with ideas.  

What are your objectives for the digital event? 

Our aim is the same as for the “real” CHIO Aachen: entertaining people. We want to deliver a bit of this very special and unparalleled Aachen Soers atmosphere to the living‐rooms of the CHIO Aachen fans around the world in this challenging year.

Do you think this experience has forced you to look at changing the format of CHIO Aachen next year? 

We will no doubt also be able use many of the aspects that we have now digitally integrated into the CHIO Aachen in future. Applications like the Eventing Manager, but also the intensive online exchange with our visitors and fans.  

Do you think there will be more virtual events, even after the pandemic is over? 

I can well imagine that, albeit on a smaller scale. Everything that offers added value is worth being considered for the future too.
 

 


 

Behind the Stable Door with Sean Lynch, travelling groom for Daniel Deusser

Photo © Tiffany Van Halle Sean Lynch. Photo © Tiffany Van Halle.

 

How did your routine change during lockdown? 

It wasn’t as busy with no competitions that’s for sure, it was very quiet at the start. Then, in the end, we were actually still very busy at home. We had a few people off, because obviously there weren’t any shows going on so not everyone was needed. In April, it was just me and a home rider and Daniel, although we finished at a normal time, which was the good part, it was busy enough! 

Did you learn anything new about the horses, spending so much time with them at home? 

I must say that, it was very nice, as I travel with different horses every week when I go to the shows. I’d take for instance Jasmine, Killer Queen and Tobago one week then I would go with the young ones the week after, so it was actually quite nice to be at home and take care of the Grand Prix horses every day, as well as getting to know some of the newer horses we have in the stable slightly better.

Best piece of advice you have been given? 

You never stop learning. In this job, you never ever stop learning, there are old school grooms that could tell you how they did it back in the day. With the new style grooms, because we have new machines, new methods etc. it makes things very different. But one thing that I will always remember and take with me is “never stop learning”

 

 


 

About the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping

The Rolex Grand Slam is considered by the sport to be the ultimate equestrian challenge, primarily due to the sporting prowess required to achieve this feat. It is a quest taken on by the world’s top riders, vying to secure the legendary status associated with winning the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

The format of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping is simple: anyone who wins three Majors in a row receives the Rolex Grand Slam trophy and a €1 million bonus on top of the class’s prize-money. If that same rider then continues their success by winning a fourth Major in succession, they will be rewarded with an additional €1million bonus. If two shows are won in succession, the bonus is €500,000 or if an athlete wins only 2 majors in a period of four successive shows, the bonus is €250,000.



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