Jana Wargers and Dorette, winners of the RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia at CHIO Aachen. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Text © World of Showjumping
As last to go in a jump-off of seventeen, Germany's own Jana Wargers and Dorette (Dollar du Murier x Fighting Alpha 3) delivered an outstanding performance to give the host nation a win in Friday’s CSIO5* 1.60m RWE Prize of North Rhine Westphalia at the 2023-editon of CHIO Aachen.
“I really don’t have words for it, it is really an unbelievable feeling,” Wargers said after receiving a standing ovation at Soers as she and Dorette crossed the finish line as winners of one of the main competitions of the week. “I am so happy and proud, it was just so much fun today.”
“She is a fantastic horse, she is so careful and she really fights for me," Jana Wargers said about Dorette. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Friday’s CSIO5* 1.60m RWE Prize of North Rhine Westphalia was a qualifier for the Rolex Grand Prix and the last chance for the riders to gain points to be able to line up on Sunday. This time out, nineteen of the 56 horse-and-rider combinations at start cleared the track set by Frank Rothenberger.
Jana Wargers (GER) and Dorette (Dollar du Murier x Fighting Alpha 3), reigning Olympic champion Ben Maher (GBR) and Faltic HB (Baltic VDL x Concorde), Alain Jufer (SUI) and Dante MM (Diarado x Luxius), the 2016-winner of the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen Philipp Weishaupt (GER) and Zineday (Zinedine x Polydor), former world number one Kevin Staut (FRA) and Dialou Blue PS (Diarado's Boy x Chacco-Blue), Olivier Philippaerts (BEL) and H&M Miro (Diamant de Semilly x Kannan) and Gerrit Nieberg (GER) and Ben 431 (Sylvain x Quincy Jones) – the pair that won the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen last year – delivered clears in round one, as did Daniel Coyle (IRL) and Legacy (Chippendale Z x Bon Ami), Eugenio Garza Perez (MEX) and Contago (Cornet Obolensky x Cassini II), Kim Emmen (NED) and Island VG (VDL Zirocco Blue x Indoctro), Eduardo Alvarez Aznar (ESP) and Bentley de Sury (Sunday de Riverland x Calvaro), Jörne Sprehe (GER) and Hot Easy (Andiamo Z x Otangelo), Ludger Beerbaum (GER) and Mila (Monte Bellini x Linton), Megane Moissonnier (FRA) and Bracadabra (Pacific Des Essarts x Couleur Rubin), Harry Charles (GBR) and Aralyn Blue (Chacco Blue x Ludwig As), Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and James Kann Cruz (Kannan x Cruising), Fredrik Spetz (SWE) and Flanagan (Clinton x Edison) and Simon Delestre (FRA) aboard I Amelusina R 51 (Dexter R x Chin Chin). With Weishaupt and Sweetnam opting not to take part in the jump-off, it was a battle between seventeen pairs.
“He is green on this level, and he even slipped a little in the jump-off and how brave he stayed and fought to get it done, I am very proud," second placed Vogel said about Cepano Baloubet. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
As third out in the jump-off, Vogel put Cepano Baloubet in turbo gear and powered through the track, setting the time to beat to 45.67 – and it held until the very last pair, Wargers and Dorette, entered the ring at Soers. With the packed stadium cheering them on, Wargers and the 14-year-old chestnut mare gave it their best shot – stopping the clock on 43.69, shaving nearly two seconds off on Vogel's leading time. Pushing Vogel and Cepano Baloubet to the runner-up position, Wargers and Dorette received a standing ovation from the appreciative German crowds for their outstanding performance.
“When I heard that Richie was in front and he was very fast, I knew I had to give everything,” Wargers said afterwards. “I knew my horse is very fast, and I knew I had to get a good rhythm to start, and finally I got it the right way, and I am very happy."
"I got her about six months ago,” Wargers said about Dorette. “She is a fantastic horse; she is so careful and she really fights for me.”
Second placed Vogel was full of praise for both his horse Cepano Baloubet as well as for the winning pair, Wargers and Dorette. “This means a lot, Cepano is only nine and I am very proud of him,” Vogel said. “He is green on this level, and he even slipped a little in the jump-off and how brave he stayed and fought to get it done, I am very proud. I think what Jana did today was outstanding so to be second today feels good. Doing well in Aachen, at home, is always something special.”
"I was far from Richard and Jana, but it was a fantastic afternoon and every day here we have amazing competition and that is why Aachen is so special," Kevin Staut said after placing third with Dialou Blue PS. Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping.
Speaking of the course in round one that saw nineteen clear rounds, Vogel said: “For sure the track was not as big and tricky as Wednesday’s class, in my opinion. It walked a bit easier, but it still was a tough course, big enough and technical here and there. It is just that this arena, this surface, this stadium with these spectators, everything around makes the horses give that little extra. I think there is also extra motivation for the riders; everyone wants to give their best here. I think the horses jump great here and that is why we had so many clears.”
With a time of 46.41, Kevin Staut and Dialou Blue PS had to settle for third place. “It was a fantastic class,” Staut said. “What Jana did today was fantastic, and to see something like this is amazing. I was watching the last competitors as a spectator, and it was really crazy. I was far from Richard and Jana, but it was a fantastic afternoon and every day here we have amazing competition and that is why Aachen is so special.”
Harry Charles and Aralyn Blue finished fourth in 47.40, while Jörne Sprehe finished fifth in 48.45 aboard Hot Easy.
Then