Aachen CHIO: Moody leads bright British performance

A promising British team and a Junior rider en route to the European Championships travelled to the prestigious CHIO Aachen (2 - 6 July 2025) to fly the flag with much success, resulting in podium places and strong performances spearheaded by World Ranked number four Becky Moody. 

Following a podium finish at CHIO Rotterdam in June, Britain's tour of the mainland Nations Cup competitions continued with success in Aachen. Up against some of the world's top combinations, all busy preparing for the summer's much awaited FEI European Championships, Becky Moody, Andrew Gould, Lewis Carrier and Susan Pape put forward four solid performances to finish just outside the podium placings. Team Great Britain, led by Chef d'Equipe Darrell Scaife, finished on a total of 215.892, just one point behind the podium. Home nation Germany made it yet another CHIO Aachen gold, scoring 232.065 with just three team members and no fourth score to rely on; whilst Belgium became runners up, led by their shooting star Justin Verboomen, whilst a consisten Sweden team claimed third. 

Britain's Becky Moody continued her European campaign with further strong results earned in the lion's den. In the Grand Prix competition, Becky and her own and Jo Cooper's Jagerbomb earned fourth spot with 75.718%, before going on to take third in the Grand Prix Special on a really impressive 78.404% - a new personal best score for this test. Their final performance in the Freestyle notched up 83.380% for fourth, completing a week of real consistency and powerful highlights. 

Ahead of Becky, a battle between Germany and Belgium saw the top two spots split across the week. Isabell Werth and her Paris 2024 medallist Wendy de Fontaine claimed the Grand Prix, before settling for second twice in the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle, pipped to the post by Belgium's Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus. Justin and his nine-year-old Zonik-sired Hanoverian have been shooting stars on the FEI circuit this season, and become just one of a few 'foreign' riders to take to the Aachen wall of fame for winning the top competition, the 'Dressage Champion of Aachen' title at this iconic show. 

Andrew Gould completed all three rounds in the 5* competition with Tatiana and Max Skillman's stallion Indigro (Negro x Jazz); three consistent plus 70% performances saw the duo earn their highest placing the week in the Grand Prix Freestyle, climbing to 13th in the rankings with a super 75.720%. Speaking on Facebook, Andrew gave a proud reflection: "Aachen did not disappoint and nor did our loyal indigro, he never stops giving and pleasing, we both made mistakes this week but not for not trying we learnt so much and we come home ready to learn more. Three tests and three 70+ tests so we have to be happy with that. Big thank you to Nat for looking after him and to all my fellow team mates and backroom team for being great support and great fun."

Lewis Carrier and Susan Pape also did a stellar job of contributing to the team total. Both riders achieved plus 68% scores in the Grand Prix, with Susan going on to achieve 19th spot in the Grand Prix Special, earning 70% on board Harmony Sporthorses' Harmony's V-Plus. Check out Issue 2 of the BD Magazine to learn more about Germany-based Susan, who was featured with a rider profile. 

Away from the Grand Prix competition, Becky Moody was also in action in the 1* Small Tour with Jo Cooper's Magic Dream. Affectionatly known at home as 'Shroom', the Governor-sired mare has been a rising talent on the British circuit, claiming titles from the KBIS Young Horse Championships through to the small tour highlights at the NAF Five Star Winter Championships. The eight-year-old held her own on the international stage, up against some exciting rising Grand Prix talents from the Continent; the duo rode to ninth with 68.471% in the opening Prix St Georges round, before progressing on to a marvellous sixth in the Inter I, earning 71.059% from Sandrine Trimborn (E - FRA), Christine Prip (H - DEN), Nicole Nockemann (C - GER), Christof Umbach (M - LUX), Marlena Gruca Rucinska (B - POL).

Juniors take the stage 

The CHIO Aachen usually features a showcase Young Rider class, held alongside the 5*, 3* and 1* competition in the main arena; with the Young Riders heading down the centre line at their European Championships this week, the opportunity was passed to the Junior riders, who travelled across Europe to enjoy the show's atmosphere. 

Following her selection for the British team heading to Le Mans at the end of the month, Aberdeen's Abigail Gray stepped forward for her first overseas international with Fenella Quinn's Empire B... and what a place to do it! Abigail and her elegant partner put in two brave performances to earn 68.117% for eight in the Junior Individual competition, before gaining confidence to steal a few more placings, taking sixth in the Freestyle with an exciting 72.310%. The duo now return home for a few weeks to prepare for their forray to the European Championships, where they'll make their team debut alongside Demi Howard-Cartwright, Myles Graham and Isla Sully. 

Results - top three and British riders

CDIO5* Grand Prix 
1. Isabell Werth and Wendy de Fontaine, 79.761% (GER) 
2. Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, 78.348% (BEL) 
3. Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD, 76.891% (GER) 
4. Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, 75.718% (GBR)
14. Andrew Gould and Indigro, 71.087% (GBR) 
22. Lewis Carrier and Diego V, 69.087% (GBR) 
24. Susan Pape and Harmony's V-Plus, 68.587% (GBR)

Nations Cup
1. Germany - 232.065
2. Belgium - 219.804
3. Sweden - 216.935
4. Great Britain - 215.892 
5. Denmark - 215.631

CDIO5* Grand Prix Special 
1. Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, 80.745% (BEL) 
2. Isabell Werth and Wendy de Fontaine, 80.106% (GER) 
3. Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, 78.404% (GBR)
16. Andrew Gould and Indigro, 70.936% (GBR) 
19. Susan Pape and Harmony's V-Plus, 70.000% (GBR)
29. Lewis Carrier and Diego V, 65.936% (GBR) 

CDIO5* Grand Prix Freestyle 
1. Justin Verboomen and Zonik Plus, 89.400% (BEL) 
2. Isabell Werth and Wendy de Fontaine, 88.440% (GER) 
3. Frederic Wandres and Bluetooth OLD, 84.490% (GER) 
4. Becky Moody and Jagerbomb, 83.380% (GBR) 
13. Andrew Gould and Indigro, 75.720% (GBR) 

CDI1* Prix St Georges
1. Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster FRH, 73.912% (GER)
2. Ingrid Klimke and Diafys OLD, 72.647% (GER) 
3. Dinja van Liere and Mauro Turfhorst, 72.382% (NED) 
9. Becky Moody and Magic Dream, 68.471% (GBR) 

CDI1* Intermediate I 
1. Dinja van Liere and Mauro Turfhorst, 75.294% (NED)
2. Frederic Wandres and Quizmaster FRH, 73.823% (GER)
3. Charlott-Maria Schürmann and Life Time FRH, 73.647% (GER)
6. Becky Moody and Magic Dream, 71.059% (GBR)

CDIJ Junior Individual 
1. Clara Paschertz and For Gold OLD, 71.794% (GER)
2. Veronica Pawluk and Fallette OLD, 70.559% (POL)
3. Amber Hennes and Nesa Stables Allegro v/h Trichelhof, 69.677% (BEL)
8. Abigail Gray and Empire B, 68.117% (GBR)

CDIJ Junior Freestyle 
1. Veronica Pawluk and Fallette OLD, 75.795% (POL)
2. Clara Paschertz and For Gold OLD, 74.425% (GER)
3. Clara Cordes Arnkjaer and Brianna, 73.690% (DEN) 
6. Abigail Gray and Empire B, 72.310% (GBR) 

FULL RESULTS

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