It is pretty much similar for football professionals at the start of a season: Medical examination, photo and video sessions during the “Media Day” and in between: Training, training, training. A fully-packed programme awaits the six participants – three young ladies, three young men. The Programme of Excellence of the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS kicked off on Thursday for Niels Bulthuis (NL), Max Haunhorst (GER), Alia Knack (GER), Maud Pietroniro (BEL), Beau Schuttelaar (NL) and Dieter Vermeiren (BEL). The already successful, aspiring young show-jumpers will be accompanied intensively and instructed for a year. In addition to the sport under the direction of the „Head-Coach“ Jos Lansink, on this first weekend fitness and media training are on the agenda.

The specialists from the University Clinic of the RWTH Aachen are responsible for the fitness check-up. And Axel Kilders’ initial impression is good: “In equestrian sport terms one would said: fit to compete,” the head of the outpatient physiotherapy of the RWTH Clinic, stated. Jos Lansink, who claimed the World Show Jumping title in Aachen in 2006, is impressed by the concept of the Programme of Excellence: “The holistic approach, which not only places importance on riding skills, but also on aspects such as fitness, media training or management, will help the young riders immensely on their way into the professional sport.” In addition to fitness and media training, the six athletes have already completed three intensive sessions with the show-jumper, who has competed in many Nations Cups for Belgium, since Thursday.

“The athletes are top motivated and we are looking forward to spending an intensive year together,” commented Stefan Knopp, Director of the CHIO Aachen CAMPUS at the start of the Programme of Excellence. The participants will attend the next presence phase of the course at the beginning of November in Aachen. The Excellence Cluster for dressage starts at the beginning of next year. The Head Coach is Isabell Werth.