Lexington, KY - One of the most prestigious annual events of the year is underway in Germany as the 2010 CHIO Aachen rolls around for 10 days of world-class competition. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) is represented in four disciplines, and everyone will have the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games on their minds as they compete for some of the biggest prizes on the calendar.
The Jumping competition will be highlighted by the Meydan FEI Nations Cup on Thursday, and the US Team of four for that class will be selected from the all-female squad of: Lauren Hough, Laura Kraut, Candice King, Beezie Madden and Nicole Simpson. Hot off a win at CSIO Rotterdam where they finished on a score of zero putting the world on notice that the US Jumping Team was as strong as ever, this squad returns to the ring to try to make it two in a row.
The Rolex Grand Prix of Aachen is the Grand Finale on Sunday and is one of the most coveted individual titles on the planet. Madden won in 2007 with Authentic.
The dressage squad will be represented by Tina Konyot and Calecto V and Todd Flettrich and Otto. Konyot burst onto the scene with Calecto V in 2010 and has won up-and-down the East Coast all spring. Highlighted by a major win at the Kentucky Cup Test Event (CDI3*) for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Lexington, KY in April, Konyot will take on a strong field in Aachen, a great prep for the World Games. Flettrich and Otto have a forged a strong partnership together and have been made a consistent impression in the US dressage scene in 2010. They won the Grand Prix at the Gold Coast Opener CDI in 2010 and haven't been out of the top 10 placings all year.
Representing Driving will be two of America's strongest four-in-hand drivers. Tucker Johnson, who has been preparing his team in Europe all season (he was most recently 2nd at the Royal Windsor Horse Show) and Jimmy Fairclough (who was runner-up in the 2010 USEF National Driving Championships in March) will test their pre-World Games form in Germany.
The Vaulters kicked it off last weekend and Megan Benjamin was third in the Women's Individual Championship.
For all the information, live results and coverage, please visit: http://www.chioaachen.com/
For more information contact: usefnews@usef.org
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