Martin Fuchs added the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen to his impressive list of accomplishments, edging out 10 other jump-off competitors Sunday at CHIO Aachen (Germany) to win the class on Leone Jei.
“I have come close to winning here so often,” the Swiss Olympian said. “Last year I let him down in the jump-off and made a mistake. I wanted to do it better this year.
“When I do a good job, he always leaves the poles up,” he added.
To prepare for the class Fuchs watched videos of the class from past years, which helped inspire him to go for it in the jump-off. He left a stride out headed to the double combination, then rode as fast as he could to the last vertical to stop the clock at 50.29 seconds and put him into the lead with several riders behind him.
Watch their winning jump-off round here:
Last to go in the jump-off, Laura Kraut and Baloutinue stopped the clock at 52.41 seconds, good enough for the runner-up position. Steve Guerdat of Switzerland took third place aboard Dynamix De Belheme with a time of 52.59 seconds.
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“I am very happy with my second place,” Kraut said. “There were 11 riders in the jump-off, the fastest riders in the world. … I was lucky because I competed towards the end. The golden double was difficult to jump; a lot of riders were quick until then. I didn’t know if I was up on Martin or not, but instead of risking all I opted to take the safe route at the golden double. The speed Martin went at to the last fence? No way!”
Fuchs is the first Swiss winner of the Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen since 2004, when his uncle, Markus Fuchs, headed the victory lap with Tinka’s Boy. The last Swiss triumph prior to that was in 1983 when Willi Melliger, Martin’s godfather, claimed the victory with Van Gogh.
“My horse was fantastic today,” Martin said. “Always there, always present. So that was my plan today. I feel very fortunate and lucky to ride a horse like this.”
