The first will be the last - this applies at least for the cross-country at the Soers on Saturday, July 7th. Because the winner of the eventing competition at the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2007 will not be known until Frank Ostholt has ridden over the finish line in the final classification of the DHL Prize. After the dressage and jumping competitions, which took place on Friday morning (July 6th) in the Deutsche Bank Stadium and late this afternoon in the jumping stadium respectively, the 32-year-old was lying clearly in first place in the interim results of the discipline eventing. The team World Champion scored 35,80 points with his top horse, the 12-year-old Air Jordan and as the current leader he will thus be setting off last on the approx. 4 km long track wearing the start number 34. This is guaranteed to increase the tension, because the competition remains open up until the very last competitor completes the course. "My horse was more supple than ever before in the dressage today," the 32-year-old noted happily after the dressage in the morning, which he warmed up for twice. "That really paid off." Air Jordan remained supple in the jumping too, putting in a clear round.

The two-time World Cup winner, Linda Algotsson (Sweden) scored 40.40 points to secure second place with her 17-year-old horse, Stand By Me, ahead of the French former European Champion, Nicolas Touzaint (44,00) with the 12-year-old Hidalgo de I'Ile. Andreas Dibowski was the second best German starter notching up 44.20 points with the 16-year-old gelding, FRH Little Lemon. "I was very pleased with my dressage test...," the 41-year-old said. Although his score did seem rather low. However, Dibowski improved his interim result up to a commendable fourth place after jumping clear. In contrast, four faults in the jumping this afternoon knocked the World Champion, Zara Phillips (Great Britain), and her World Championship horse Toytown back to ninth place on 47,30 points. The two other German team riders, Peter Thomsen/ The Ghost of Hamish and Hinrich Romeike/Marius Voigt-Logistik, currently rank 16th and 17th with scores of 52.70 and 52.80 respectively.

After the dressage and jumping the German riders have got a comfortable lead prior to the cross-country competition. With a total interim result of 132.70 a clear gap lies between them and Great Britain (149,10), who are presently in second place, followed by Sweden (158,90). Is it going to be a third victory at the CHIO Aachen 2007 for the German team on Saturday, July 7th, after winning the dressage and the jumping Nations' Cups? "We are trying to treat the competition like a normal show, rather than a Nations' Cup premiere, so that we don't put ourselves under extra pressure," said National Coach Hans Melzer, explaining his mental tactics.

The jumping competition of the eventers was followed enthusiastically by thousands of spectators. Overall 28,000 spectators visited the World Equestrian Festival, CHIO Aachen 2007 today, on Friday, July 6th.