Tag Archives: FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors

US Athletes Look for Success at 2017 FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors

Lexington, Ky. – Artistry, athleticism, and talent will be on display this week when U.S. vaulting is showcased at the 2017 FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors. Running from August 2-5, 2017, in Ebreichsdor, Austria, the U.S. brings a contingent of 14 vaulters competing for titles in the Individual Female, Individual Male, Pas de Deux, and Squad Junior Championships. Chef d’Equipe Mary McCormick and Assistant Chef d’Equipe Jessica Garrod will guide the U.S. vaulters.

Individual Female Championship
Tessa Belardi (Aptos, Calif.) and Ana Schult (Longmont, Colo.) will make their first appearances at the junior world vaulting championships. They will be joined by Bodhi Hall (San Jose, Calif.), who competed in the 2015 junior world vaulting championships. She will vault on First NoBady, a 2004 PZHK gelding, and will be assisted by Lunger Emma Seely.

Recently, Belardi placed third in the Individual Female CVIJ2* competition at the Pacific Cup CVI in May and she will vault with Diva 506, a 2003 Oldenbug mare, and Lunger Carolyn Bland. Schult won the Individual Female CVIJ2* title at the Pacific Cup CVI. She will vault with Dresdn, a 2007 Hungarian Warmblood gelding and Lunger Elke Nousse.

Individual Male Championship
Luke Overton (Stanwood, Wash.) makes his return to the FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors after competing in 2015. Jace Brooks (Eagle Mountain, Utah), the 2016 Silver Individual Male USEF/AVA National Champion, will join Overton. Both competed in the Pacific Cup CVI and Canada Cup CVI in May where they placed first and second in both competitions, respectively. Overton and Brooks will vault with Dresdn and Lungers Stefanie Nussmuller and Devon Maitozo, respectively.

Pas de Deux Championship
Hall, a 2015 junior world vaulting pas de deux champion with Michelle Guo, will team up with Caroline Morse (Los Gatos, Calif.) for a chance at the 2017 title. The pair began vaulting together in the spring of 2016 where they have earned four top three finishes. Most recently they won the Pas de Deux CVIJ2* competition at the Canada Cup CVI. They will vault with First NoBady, a 2004 PZHK gelding, and Lunger Nousse.

Bridget Kiernan (San Mateo, Calif.) returns to the FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors following a third place finish with Sarah Dunn in 2015. She brings a new partner in Janie Salisbury (Atherton, Calif.). The pair placed first in Pas de Deux CVIJ2* competition at the Pacific Cup CVI. They will vault with Diva 506 and Lunger Bland.

Squad Championship
A talented squad has high hopes in the FEI Squad Championship. Miki Yang (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) and Audrey Kiernan (San Mateo, Calif.) are the most experienced vaulters in the squad, having represented the U.S. at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games and the 2015 FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors. Their teammates, Belardi, Bridget Kiernan, Annika Malmstrom (Palo Alto, Calif.), and Lena Nicoletti (Sunnyvale, Calif.), are up for the challenge of their first world championship appearance. Earlier this year at the Pacific Cup CVI, the squad finished second in the CVIJ2* squad division. The squad will vault with Amontillado 9, a 2008 Holsteiner gelding, and Lunger Bland.

Watch the entire championship live on FEI TV.

Find out more about the 2017 FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors.

From the US Equestrian Communications Department

Inaugural Junior World Vaulting Championships a Great Success

America’s Bodhi Hall and Michelle Gou claimed Pas-de-Deux gold at the inaugural FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors 2015 at Ermelo, The Netherlands. (FEI/Daniel Kaiser)

Ermelo (NED), 10 August 2015 – The first-ever FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors, staged at Ermelo in The Netherlands from 6 to 9 August, has been hailed a resounding success. A massive entry of 56 vaulters from 21 nations, including 11 Pas-de-Deux partnerships and a full 12 Squads, ensured a packed four-day programme of top competition. Team Austria scored a double in the Female and Squad events while vaulters from Colombia and USA claimed the Male and Pas-de-Deux titles.

This is an equestrian sport that has been developing at a rapid rate, and growing in popularity year-on-year since the first major international competition took place in July 1978 at St Moritz in Switzerland. Previously the most important competition for Juniors was staged at Open-European level, but this year marks a turning point, and World Championships for Juniors will in future be staged in alternate yearly cycles.

The colossal crowds that turned out to see the best vaulters in action at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ in Normandy, France indicated the extraordinary level of interest in this discipline. And the introduction of Pas-de-Deux has drawn an even wider audience and developed the sport even further, as the flair and imagination of the athletes and their support teams moves on to another level.

Across the globe

A total of 37 female and 19 male competitors lined out from a record 21 countries right across the globe. The flags of Austria, Australia, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Great-Britain, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Mauritius, Netherlands, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland and USA all flew high, and there were plenty of stand-out performances. In another first that demonstrated the truly global aspect of the event, competitors from four different continents claimed a step on the podium during the week.

The Junior Female Individual title went to Austria’s Nicole Kirbisch. She scored 7.704 in round 1, 7.821 in round 2 and 7.990 in the Freestyle for a final tally of 7.763 with her horse Royal Salut and longeur Manuela Barosch. Germany’s Franziska Peitzmeier, her horse, Dorian Gray and longeur, Anna Brinkman, claimed the silver, scoring 7.704, 7.821 and 7.990 for a total of 7.99. And Individual Female bronze went to Manon Moutinho from France and his two team-mates the horse Poivre Vert and longeur Francois Athimon, who posted 7.628, 7.647 and 7.973 for an overall mark of 7.638. Austria’s Emily Kristofics-Binder received strong artistic marks, but her finishing score of 7.480 left her just off the podium.

There was great excitement when Colombia’s Juan Martin Clavijo claimed the Individual Male title. Helped by Quiece d’Aunis and longeur Sandra Tronchet, the talented 15-year-old vaulter took the early lead with a mark of 7.492 in round 1 and never looked back. He was the only one to score above 8 in round 2, and again in the Freestyle, and his overall score of 7.812 left him well clear of Germany’s Tim Andrich in silver medal spot. Assisted by his longeur Claudia Westerheide and his horse Polan Z, Andrich posted 7.373, 7.706 and 7.983 to complete with 7.540 on the board. And there was even more of a buzz when Lambert Leclezio from Mauritius, who has received support from the Solidarity Programme and who was presented with the FEI Rising Star Award at last year’s General Assembly in Baku, Azerbaijan, earned the FEI World Junior Male Individual bronze title.

Squads

Junior Squads gold went to Club 43 from Austria, their horse Darwin 5 and longeur Karen Asmera who were in a league of their own throughout the competition. They earned 7.447 in round 1, and then 8.153 in both round 2 and the Freestyle to complete with a finishing mark of 7.682. Junior Team VV Ingelsberg l from Germany, with Alexander Harti at one the end of the lunge-line and horse, Lazlo 9, at the other end, filled silver medal spot when 7.507 and 7.873 in both round 2 and Freestyle put them on 7.629 on the final afternoon. And America’s Woodside Vaulters, longeur Lasse Kristensen and horse Ghost Alfarvad Z took the bronze here, their 7.134 in round 1 and 7.799 in the next two competitions combining for a final result of 7.356.

The Americans dominated the Pas-de-Deux, Bodhi Hall and Michelle Guo posting 7.799 for gold and Sarah Dunn and Janie Salisbury teaming up to take bronze on 7.018. They were separated by Austria’s Sandrine Flicker and Heike Hulla whose mark of 7.609 challenged the gold medallists all the way.

FEI livestream was available for the event and with an average of 14,000 views per day on YouTube it is clear that this ever-growing sport has enormous appeal.

FEI Director for Driving, Reining and Vaulting, Bettina de Rham was delighted with the inaugural fixture. “The Organisers have put in an enormous effort to ensure this first World Championship has been a great success at Ermelo. The new developments at the venue provided excellent facilities and conditions for both horses and athletes, and the OC clearly contributed to the tremendous atmosphere at the event,” she said today.

Results:

Junior Female Individual Championship: GOLD – Nicole Kirbisch (AUT) 7.763; SILVER – Franziska Peitzmeier (GER) 7.699; BRONZE – Manon Moutinho (FRA) 7.638.

Junior Male Individual Championship: GOLD – Juan Martin Clavijo (COL) 7.812; SILVER – Tim Andrich (GER) 7.540; BRONZE – Lambert Leclezio (MRI) 7.267.

Junior Squad Championship: GOLD – Club 43 (AUT) 7.682; SILVER – Junior Team VV Ingelsberg l (GER) 7.629; BRONZE – Woodside Vaulters (USA) 7.356.

Junior Pas-de-Deux Championship: GOLD – Bodhi Hall/Michelle Guo (USA) 7.799; SILVER – Sandrine Flicker/Heike Hulla (AUT) 7.609; BRONZE – Sarah Dunn/Janie Salisburry (USA) 7.018.

By Louise Parkes

United States Claims Three Medals in FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors

Woodside Vaulters (DigiShots)

Ermelo, The Netherlands – The United States showed up in force this week at the inaugural FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors, sending a full contingent of athletes and collecting three podium finishes. The competition wrapped up today with the round two freestyle tests. Leading from the start and earning the Gold medal in the Pas-de-Deux was Bodhi Hall and Michelle Guo, while compatriots Sarah Dunn and Janie Salisburry also stood on the podium as the Bronze medal winners. The U.S. Squad maintained their third place position to earn the Team Bronze medal.

“I am completely blown away by our success here – not just the medals won, but the incredible horsemanship and sportsmanship that all our juniors displayed,” said Chef d’Equipe Mary McCormick.

In the exciting conclusion to the Pas-de-Deux competition, Hall (San Jose, Calif.) and Guo (Palo Alto, Calif.) executed another solid performance aboard Jarl, lunged by Lasse Kristensen. Their routine to Elvis Presley’s “Jailhouse Rock” earned an impressive 7.981 in round one. In today’s final, the pair finished second on a score of 7.617, but remained in the lead on an overall 7.799. Commenting on the accomplishments of the pair, who have only been working together as a Pas-de-Deux for a year, McCormick noted, “They displayed real team work and were humble and driven through the whole competition season. Today they were rewarded for all their hard work by bringing home the Gold medal.”

“It’s been a pretty different experience here because we’ve been competing on a team for a long time, but had never competed in international competition as a Pas-de-Deux. We weren’t really nervous; we just had a lot of fun in the ring. We weren’t expecting to place so high because we had no idea what to expect. We just did what we’ve been practicing and focused on having fun and showing off.”

Beginning today in fourth place overall, Dunn (Palo Alto, Calif.) and Salisburry (Atherton, Calif.) aboard Ghost Alfarvad Z, lunged by Lasse Kristensen, held nothing back as they performed to music from The Nutcracker, scoring a 6.943 and moving them into the Bronze medal position on an overall score of 7.018. Sandrine Flicker and Heike Hulla of Austria won the Silver medal on a score of 7.609.

“They had two solid rounds this week; special thanks goes to their horse and lunger. The girls rose to the occasion and were professional in and out of arena,” noted McCormick.

“It was really fun going out there in our first big competition,” said Salisburry. “We had a lot of fun. We were a little nervous going into the big arena, but having Lasse and Ghost [Alfarvad Z] was a huge confidence boost and an honor.”

Continuing to showcase its consistency and talent, the U.S. Squad, Woodside Vaulters, placed third in today’s final freestyle on a score of 7.799. The Squad includes Tessa Divita (Portola Valley, Calif.), Sarah Dunn (Palo Alto, Calif.), Audrey Kiernan (San Mateo, Calif.), Siddartha Kreaden (Sunnyvale, Calif.), Rachel Polati (Emerald Hills, Calif.), and Miki Yang (Los Altos Hills, Calif.) with Ghost Alfarvad Z, lunged by Lasse Kristensen. The Squad once again performed its Wizard of Oz themed routine, which first made an appearance on the world stage at the 2014 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Finishing on an overall score of 7.356, the Squad won the Bronze medal. Austria won Gold on a score of 7.682, while Germany finished in second for the Silver medal on 7.629.

“We went into the ring confident and excited today,” said Polati. “The nerves weren’t really there and we were on our game. It wasn’t about competing; it was about going out there and doing what we’d been training for all year. When we saw that we’d won the Bronze, it was a dream because we had worked so hard for this. It is an honor for us to have won a medal at the first world championships for juniors.”

In the Individual Female division, Divita on Pino del Rio, lunged by Julia Divita, finished in eighth on 7.325, Guo on Jarl, lunged by Lasse Kristensen, followed closely behind in ninth on 7.310. Kreaden on Klintholms Ramstein, lunged by Lasse Kristensen, finished 14th on 6.889.

In the Individual Male division, Colton Palmer on Zygo, lunged by Maurits De Vries, continued to improve, rising from seventh place after round one to finish in fifth on 7.161. Luke Overton with Kalle 76, lunged by Carolyn Brand, finished in 14th on a score of 6.403.

Also competing in Ermelo as part of the CVI3*, Cassidy and Kimberly Palmer of the U.S took the win in the Pas-de-Deux on a final score of 8.160.

Complete Results

From the USEF Communications Department

US Team Prepared for Inaugural FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors

U.S. vaulters heading to the FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors (Jerry Yang)

Lexington, Ky. – The top junior vaulters from across the United States are prepared to compete against 18 countries at the FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors, August 5-10, 2015, in Ermelo, The Netherlands. The United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) has named three individual females and one alternate, three individual males, two pas de deux, one squad of six vaulters plus one alternate, and ten horses. The following athletes will represent the U.S. (in alphabetical order):

Individual Female
Tessa Divita (Portola Valley, Calif.)
Michelle Guo (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Siddartha Kreaden (Sunnyvale, Calif.)
Reserve, Carlee Heger (Fort Collins, Colo.)

Individual Male
Luke Overton (Stanwood, Wash.)
Colton Palmer (Half Moon Bay, Calif.)
Kaleb Patterson (Stanwood, Wash.)

Pas de Deux
Janie Salisbury (Atherton, Calif.) and Sarah Dunn (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Michelle Guo (Palo Alto, Calif.) and Bodhi Hall (San Jose, Calif.)

Squad
Woodside Vaulters
Tessa Divita (Portola Valley, Calif.)
Sarah Dunn (Palo Alto, Calif.)
Audrey Kiernan (San Mateo, Calif.)
Siddartha Kreaden (Sunnyvale, Calif.)
Rachel Polati (Emerald Hills, Calif.)
Miki Yang (Los Altos Hills, Calif.)
Reserve, Janie Salisbury (Atherton, Calif.)

The following horses have been named to the Definite Entry (in alphabetical order):

Amontillado 9, a 2008 Holsteiner gelding owned by RVC Gilching e.V.
Bram, a 2001 KWPN gelding owned by RVC Gilching e.V. and Phillip Langmann
Diva 506, a 2003 Oldenbug mare owned by RVC Gilching e.V.
Donatelli 11, a 2004 Bayerischer gelding owned by RVC Gilching e.V.
Ghost Alfarvad Z, a 2000 Zangersheide gelding owned by Voltigeklubben Thommysminde
Jarl, a 1998 Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Lasse Kristensen and Emma Seely
Kalle 76, a 2003 Oldenburg gelding owned by RVC Gilching e.V.
Klintholms Ramstein, a 2004 Danish Warmblood gelding owned by Julie Fog-Møller
Pino del Rio, a 2004 Westphalian gelding owned by Julie Divita
Zygo, a 2004 KWPN gelding owned by Jill and Kevin Palmer

Find out more about the FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors.

From the USEF Communications Department