From today's Hunter Humper News:
"Zara Phillips: Looking forward to Aachen. The English Eventing World Champion, Zara Phillips, will be competing at the famous CHIO Aachen (July 3rd-8th) in two weeks time. "The footing and the track are fantastic' said Zara on Tuesday. The 26 year old grand-daughter of the British Queen and daughter of Princess Anne will be captain of the English team. "I am extremely excited about returning to Aachen. It is simply brilliant that eventing is now being integrated into the famous CHIO, it is a dream come true for us competitors" She commented further that she had wonderful memories of Aachen and is thus particularly excited about the event.
"Zara will be accompanied by her top horse Toy Town," according to the Show Director Frank Kemperman. Zaa Phillips won the World Championship gold medal at the Aachen Soers with Toy Town on August 27, 2006. In spite of strong German competition, the World Champion is favorite to take gold in the eventing. The fact that she is participating is seen as further proof of the good conditions and attractiveness of the cross-country course in Aachen. "Both the footing and the track were fantastic at the FEI World Equestrian Games, of course that is one of the main reasons why I am now riding at the CHIO," explained Phillips.
Zara Phillips is considered to be the Queen's favorite grand-child. She doesn't spend her life socialising with aristocrats, but instead at equestrian show grounds all over the world. The trained equine physiotherapist is the second child of Princess Anne and Mark Phillips, who were successful themselves at numerable international championships. In 2005, she became double European Champion and after going on to win the World Championship's title in 2006, she was awarded witht the "Member of the Order of the British Empire' for her services to the equestrian sport.
The eventing competitions at the CHIO Aachen begin on Friday morning, July 5th with the dressage, followed by the jumping competition in the afternoon of the same day. The spectacular highlight, the cross-country course starts 9:30 am Saturday. Tickets are available online or from the ticket hotline +49(0)-241-917-1111