BEN MAHER MOVES GREEK GODDESS IOLI MYTILINEOU INTO SECOND PLACE AND WINS THE RWE PRIZE OF NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA AT CHIO AACHEN 2025

The 43 competitors in the RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia faced a challenging test in navigating the course designed by Frank Rothenberger. The challenges stemmed from two extremely narrow fences, leading to only 2 riders clearing their rounds and giving the spectators a jump-off.

A slightly uphill triple combination, followed by two individual fences with a water ditch in the middle and a double combination at the end comprising of two verticals with thin planks were the most difficult fences of the course. “When I walked the course, I thought, wow!”, Olympic champion Christian Kukuk summarised his impression and suspected that it would be challenging. He was the first to go with his 10-year-old OS stallion, Chageorge, who jumped for the first time on grass here in Aachen. They only had one fence down, but otherwise mastered the course well.

As the class progressed the horse and rider combos encountered more and more problems, especially at the planks. For a long time, it looked like there was going to be a jump-off between the riders on 4 faults, until the 34th starter, Greece’s Ioli Mytilineou and La Perla vd Heffinck, proved that it was possible.

For the next 14 rides, she was able to dream of winning the RWE Prize of North Rhine-Westphalia on her first appearance in Aachen but world number 2, Ben Maher and his Point Break, burst her bubble as they who were the last to go and finished on a clear round.

Maher and Point Break were the first to go in the jump-off and they cruised round the Soers speedily. They cleared in 46.78 seconds, while Ioli Mytilineou and La Perla vd Heffinck brushed the second fence in the course and also picked up four further faults on the last fence of the double combination.

Ben Maher won the class, Mytilineou came second and Christian Kukuk’s round with Chageorge ultimately secured third place.

Maher acknowledged that the course was challenging. “It didn’t feel entirely comfortable. However, Point Break was attentive.” He expressed great satisfaction with his horse. The 11-year-old Swedish stallion, sired by Action-Breaker, is “an incredible athlete,” and Maher looks forward to showcasing his abilities again on Sunday during the Rolex Grand Prix. “We did a test today so he wouldn’t be too overwhelmed in the Rolex Grand Prix. Now, he’ll rest until Sunday.”

The only clear round and then came Ben – what that was like for Ioli Mytilineou? “There is always Ben”, she laughed. “I was very happy with my mare. She has only done a few 1.60 classes, so I thought it might be too much for her. But she did all she could in the arena as she always does“.

What’s Aachen like for you since it’s your first time here? “I have been watching the show since I was a kid. When I arrived, you’d have thought I’d never been to a show before. I didn’t know where I was going. It is like being at a championship.”

Christian Kukuk was very pleased with his third-place finish, especially considering that Chageorge competed on grass for the first time here in Aachen. How realistically does the Olympic gold medallist see his chances of winning the Aachen Grand Prix and crossing another goal off his bucket list? “As realistic as winning gold in Paris,” he replied. In other words: anything is possible. He also confirmed that “Checker (his Olympic horse) is in good shape. I jumped him yesterday. If everything goes well on the day, I have a chance. But among the 40 riders, there are probably between 25 and 30 who could win the class”.

CHIO Aachen Head of Sport, Birgit Rosenberg was happy too. “We saw fantastic sport today, we would have wished for more riders in the jump-off, but it is great to see more new faces. I was so pleased to receive Ioli’s answer to my e-mail inviting her to take part at the CHIO Aachen. She wrote back that she would do her utmost to perform well and she certainly prove that today“.

The Course Designer, Frank Rothenberger, also came to a decision after the competition: “We are going to burn the planks”.

--ENDS—

Edited by HT

Full results here