FEI European Championships 2015 in Germany
For the first time ever, the FEI European Championships in five equestrian disciplines will be carried out at one venue.
44 years after the European Jumping Championships in 1971 and 33 years after the European Dressage Championships in 1983, the continent’s best equestrian athletes will travel to Aachen in August 2015. Germany is looking forward to great sport and great emotions. “We are very happy. The whole region is looking forward to welcoming our international guests as friendly hosts”, promises Carl Meulenbergh, President of the organizer Aachen-Laurensberger Rennvereins e.V. (ALRV), who thanked the International Equestrian Federation for their trust.
The continental medal decisions in the disciplines Jumping, Dressage, Driving, Vaulting and Reining will be carried out as the “FEI European Championships Aachen 2015“. Eventing was allocated to a different venue. Michael Mronz, General Manager of the Aachener Reitturnier GmbH, commented: “We respect the fact that the FEI was not able to grant Eventing to Aachen due to existing sponsor contracts.” Mronz added: “With our concept to carry out five disciplines at the Soers venue which is so full of tradition, we will start a new chapter in the history of equestrian sport.”
The planning for „Aachen 2015“ has long since begun, reports ALRV’s Chairman of the Managing Board, Frank Kemperman. Thus it has already been decided that the Dressage competitions will be staged in the main stadium in front of 40,000 spectators. “We all remember the thrilling moments on the occasion of the WEG Aachen 2006”, says Kemperman and promises: “We will provide excellent conditions to horses and athletes, so we can all look forward to the greatest top-class sport.”
The organizers thank both the federal government and the government of the state of North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as the broadcasters WDR, ARD and ZDF, who all intensely encouraged and supported Aachen’s bid from the very beginning. Thank also goes to the German National Equestrian Federation (FN), who as the national governing body officially submitted Germany’s bid. “Nine years after the FEI WEG Aachen 2006, this is an affirmation for Germany as an equestrian country and for the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein. Already now, we are looking forward to what will surely be outstanding European Championships”, said FN’s General Secretary Soenke Lauterbach. Initial information on the FEI European Championships is available online under www.aachen2015.com, also Aachen’s official bid video can be viewed there. Furthermore there is information on the ticket sales which will start this year.