Darragh Kenny Takes Medium Tour Win on Day 1 of CSI Aachen

Darragh Kenny and Catuso

On Thursday, April 28th, the first edition of the new CSI Aachen international show jumping event in the Deutsche Bank Stadium on the CHIO Aachen, Germany showgrounds began.

Darragh Kenny of Ireland took the biggest victory of the day, the Medium Tour CSI2* over a massive field of 83 competitors. Kenny was aboard Catuso, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Canto x Corrado I) owned by the USA’s Blue Gate Farm. In this speed class that marked the first time show jumping has been held in the Deutsche Bank Stadium, Kenny was two seconds faster than the runner up finisher, Abdel Said of Egypt aboard Stal Harrie Theeuwes NV’s Imke 111, an 8-year-old Belgian bred mare (Der Senaat 111 x Heartbreaker).

Jamie Guerra-Piedra and Zamia 3 were 3rd, with Turkey’s Oguz Dalmis and It’s A Fact in 4th and Germany’s Tobias Thoenes and Camelot 137 in 5th making it a truly international top of the class.

With 700 spectators, the feedback on the first day was very positive. “We would be really happy to welcome many more guests during the next three days!” say the organizers Virginia Mehlkopf and Gina Trojan. 380 horses from 29 nations have moved into the traditional stables of the Aachen Soers and are fighting for more than€40,000 in prize money over the 15 competitions. Additionally, in the Grand Prix on Sunday, sought after world ranking points are being distributed.

Denis Lynch from Ireland, the winner of the Grand Prix of Aachen 2009, is filled with enthusiasm about the show. “A fantastically organized event, outstanding conditions, it couldn’t be better,” he said. Next to him, there are other well-known athletes who have travelled to CSI Aachen, for example the Portuguese championship rider Luciana Diniz and Jessica Mendoza from Great Britain.

CSI Aachen runs through Sunday, May 1st, entry is free every day and you can find full results as well as the up-to-date sport program on www.csiaachen.com