Kent Farrington and Gazelle Leap Into History in the Rolex Grand Prix at CHIO Aachen

Aachen, GER – June 21, 2019 – The sun shone down on the impressive CHIO Aachen arena for the pinnacle of the event, the Rolex Grand Prix. With seven horse-and-rider combinations through to the jump-off, the world’s best battled it out, but it was USA’s Kent Farrington who claimed the top prize aboard Robin Parsky’s speedy mare, Gazelle, in 43.98 seconds. In a nail-biting finish that went down to the wire as last-to-go Germany’s Daniel Deusser, looked close to beating Farrington’s time, but despite an electrifying clear round, finished just 0.37 seconds behind the American and had to settle for second place.

Kent Farrington and Gazelle Photo: Tiffany Van Halle
Kent Farrington and Gazelle
Photo: Tiffany Van Halle

“Every rider wants to win here,” said Farrington. “I have been riding out of that ring all week, looking at that winner’s wall and imagining my name on there, so I am so happy to come out with a win finally. I still can’t believe it’s real! CHIO Aachen is one of the most prestigious events in the world, I just feel so proud to win here.”

FROM THE WINNER’S CIRCLE

On the course:
“I think it is typical of an Aachen course. You have best of the best here, so every test you have out there on the course is difficult. Gazelle has the ability, scope and carefulness, and that was tested over the two rounds. I think that’s why you see so many faults throughout the class as every part of it is a test and so there is no easy part.”

On the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping:
“Absolutely, I will be [at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament]! The Rolex Grand Slam is great for the sport and I am excited to be a part of it again.”

On the jump-off:
“I have been so close in this class before. The last time I was in the jump-off I was the fastest but I had one pole down, so today I really wanted to go one better! I thought if I go clear it will put enough pressure on, so I had a different strategy and it paid off today.”

On Gazelle:
“She has become a real professional in this sport. She knows the prize giving, she knows when she’s performing, she knows everything! She hasn’t always been that way, but now she is a real pro.”

RESULTS

1,000,000 Grand Prix of Aachen CSI5*
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / R1 Faults / R2 Faults / JO Faults / Total | Time
1. Gazelle / Kent Farrington / USA / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 | 43.98
2. Scuderia 1918 Tobago Z / Daniel Deusser / GER / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 / 0 | 44.35
3. Explosion W / Ben Maher / GBR / 0 / 0 / 4 / 4 | 43.94
4. DSP Alice / Simone Blum / GER / 0 / 0 / 4 / 4 | 46.88
5. Babalou 41 / Darragh Kenny / IRL / 0 / 0 / 4 / 4 | 48.04
6. Quel Homme de Hus / Jérôme Guery / BEL / 0 / 0 / 4 / 4 | 55.64
7. HH Azur / McLain Ward / USA / 0 / 0 / 8 / 8 | 43.32
8. Bud Spencer / Sven Schlüsselburg / GER / 2 / 0 / 2 | 78.90
9. Darry Lou / Beezie Madden / USA / 4 / 0 / 4 | 68.21
10. Albfuehren´s Bianca / Steve Guerdat / SUI / 4 / 0 / 4 | 68.88
11. Catch Me Not S / Peder Fredricson / SWE / 4 / 4 / 8 | 69.07
12. Clooney 51 / Martin Fuchs / SUI / 0 / 8 / 8 | 69.92

For full results, click here.

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