• ... shows a plan drawing of the showground in the Aachen Soers for the first supra-regional riding, jumping and driving tournament of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein in 1925.
• Within two months, a showground was built at the Soers, the only one of its kind in western Germany.
• Together with the tournament in 1924, the first major supra-regional riding, show jumping and driving tournament in August 1925 and the showground laid out for it at the time formed the basis for the CHIO.

The Aachen City Archive regularly presents interesting items from its stacks as Archive of the Month. The item with a short accompanying text is presented in a display case in the foyer of the city archive on Reichsweg as well as digitally on the archive's homepage. In August 2025, the archival item of the month shows a plan drawing of the showground in Aachen's Soers for the first supra-regional riding, show jumping and driving tournament organized by the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein in 1925.

On July 13, 1924, the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein organized its first successful riding, jumping and driving tournament for horse lovers from the Aachen region on the racecourse at the Eulershof, which was also well received in Aachen.

In the following year, the Rhineland was dominated by the so-called millennium celebrations. These commemorated the annexation of Lorraine to the East Franconian Empire in 925 and were organized as patriotic celebrations and events in view of the occupation of the Rhineland following the German defeat in the First World War. In May/July 1925, the so-called millennium exhibition was held in Aachen's town hall, a large historical exhibition intended to strengthen the city's identity.

Unique showground
The German government provided extensive state subsidies for events accompanying the celebrations. The District Administrator of Aachen, Herrmann Pütz, therefore suggested expanding the previous year's horse show into a major showcase for the German horse. This suggestion was taken up and promoted by Hubert Wienen, the Chairman of the Aachen-Laurensberger Rennverein. The club's secretary, Franz Hermens, immediately submitted plans for the construction of a showground and Gustav Rensing took over the technical management of the show. Within two months, a tournament ground was built in the Soers, unique in West Germany. From August 1 to 4, 1925, a tournament was then held to which the best riders from all over the German Reich came to Aachen.

A large audience flocked to the Soers and, thanks to the layout of the showground, was close to the horses and riders and the equestrian performances. The tournament was a complete success and was also highly praised nationwide. The "Kölnische Zeitung" wrote on 6 August 1925: "Mr Gustav Rensing, [...], deserves the credit of having prepared and [...] managed the best organized and largest Rhenish tournament".

Foundation for today's CHIO
Together with the 1924 tournament, the first major national equestrian, show jumping and driving tournament in August 1925 and the showground laid out for it at the time formed the basis for the CHIO, which today has great appeal and makes the Soers the center of the equestrian sports world every year.

Source: Aachen City Archives, NLS Will Hermanns 27; PHOTO 10-5