2006 CHIO Aachen

The night of the stars at the CHIO Media Night
"Silver Horse" and "Silver Camera" awarded

Aachen press release - posted May 17, 2006

Once a year they are in the spotlight themselves - the journalists and photographers, who bring the international equestrian sport in all its facets closer to the public. The best among them are honoured with the coveted media prizes, the "Silver Horse" and the "Silver Camera".

The best of the equestrian journalists awarded with prizes for the categories print, TV and radio. In the category "Personalities", the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein honoured one of the most significant personalities of the German equestrian sport: Spiegel's Chief Editor, Stefan Aust, presented the former, long-term President of the German Equestrian Association, Dieter Graf Landsberg Velen (80) with the "Silver Horse" for his life's work.

Kai Diekmann, Chief Editor of the BILD newspaper, handed over the prize in the category print. "I haven't really got a clue about the equestrian sport," Diekmann admitted with a grin. But he knows plenty about good articles and good headlines. He therefore took great pleasure in reward the freelance journalist Stefanie Boewe for her article "The freestyle is listened to with one's eyes" (appeared in the "Welt"). The Chief Editor of the ZDF, Nikolaus Brender, presented the award in the category TV. The winners were Willi Weitzel and his team for their TV report "When do horses show their capabilities?" from the series "Willi wants to know". In the category radio, the prize-winner is the editorial team of WDR 2 "Montalk" for their interview with Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum. The presenter, Steffi Neu accepted the award from Dr. Edgar Ernst, Chief Financial Officer of the Deutschen Post AG. The "Silver Camera" for the best equestrian photo of the year was presented to the photographer Andreas Herrmann by WDR Director General, Fritz Pleitgen.

Minister of Economic Affairs, Michael Glos opened the event that was attended by around 800 guests from political, economic, sporting and social circles. "When I was asked, what springs to my mind on the subject of equestrian sport, I spontaneously answered: Aachen," the Minister said.

There was loud applause from the well-spirited guests, who also included billionaire heiress Athina Onassis. The celebrations in the Champions Circle went on until the early hours of morning at the show grounds of the Aachen Soers.

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