First time in Aachen for Rêveur and Qurack with Kevin Staut
The Rolex Grand Slam of Aachen, which took place from the 29th to the 31st May, served as repetition before the next European Championships to be held from the 19th to the 23rd August. The world's best riders and horses were present, as Kevin Staut and Rêveur de Hurtebise*HDC. Also entered with Qurack de Falaise*HDC, Kevin Staut admits to be not completly satisfied with his weekend.
Kevin Staut: "My horses have performed good courses but I would have hoped better results. Coming to Aachen is a unique experience every time. Few weeks before the European Championships, which will take place in Aachen too, I would have prefered to take a better place in the Grand Prix. 14th with Rêveur, this fault in the second round deprives us of the jump-off. I am really disappointed, especially as Rêveur jumped truly well. He had already performed a good preparing class on Saturday morning so I could expect to access to the jump-off of the Grand Prix.
As Rêveur, this is the first time I rode Qurack in Aachen and the very special environment of the event did not seem to have disturbed him. The Friday evening's warm-up allowed me to make him discover the equestrian stadium that surrounds the arena. Entered in the big class on Saturday, Qurack makes a small fence down in the first round, which does not allow us to qualify for the second round. As with Rêveur in the Rolex Grand Prix, I'm disappointed not to have been able to end this class on a better way. Qurack was very at ease on this great arena that seemed to suit him perfectly.
These small precision faults whose I am the only responsible have been really penalizing for me this weekend. I still took a great pleasure to compete on this wonderful track and my horses too, I think, judging by the way they jumped.
It was only a preamble to the European Championships in August. It will be necessary to ward off bad luck of the "4 points courses" to reach the expected objectives: a podium by team and an individual medal, if I get my qualification."
Videos :
Rêveur de Hurtebise*HDC - Rolex Grand Prix - round 1 - 1,60 m
Rêveur de Hurtebise*HDC - Rolex Grand Prix - round 2 - 1,60 m
Rêveur de Hurtebise*HDC - table A against the clock - 1,50 m