Alicen Divita (Shannon Brinkman)
Lexington, KY – The U.S. effort at the 2013 CHIO Aachen kicks off Friday as vaulters take center stage at the historic German venue. The United States will be represented by six athletes across three divisions in CVIO3* competition held June 20-23. Alicen Divita, Elizabeth Ioannou, and Mary Garrett will look to earn top Individual Female honors, while in Individual Male competition Kristian Roberts is the sole U.S. representative. In Pas de Deux competition, Cassidy and Kimberly Palmer look to showcase their talent.
Individual Female
A total of 29 competitors from 15 nations will vie for top honors in the Individual Female division at the CVIO3*. On Friday morning, they kick off competition in the Preis of Sparkasse where all entries will complete their Compulsory Tests. The vaulters will then return later in the afternoon to complete their Technical Tests in the Prize of Sparkasse. Final places will be decided Saturday in Preis of Sparkasse competition where Freestyle Tests are performed.
Divita (Redwood City, CA) will use the experience earned from competing twice in World Championship competition as she looks to secure a top finish in Aachen. At the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, she earned a seventh place finish in her first international championship. Last year, Divita represented the U.S. at the FEI World Vaulting Championship in Le Mans, France, finishing in 11th place.
The 24-year-old will look to improve upon her 2012 10th place finish in Aachen this year as she vaults on her mother Julie Divita’s Pino del Rio. The combination looks to showcase the form that earned them third place in the Krumke CVI3* two weeks ago.
Ioannou (Saratoga, CA) will vault on Lasse Kristensen and Emma Seely’s Jarl at her second appearance in Aachen. In 2006, she vaulted on the F.A.M.E. team that won Silver for the U.S. at the FEI World Equestrian Games that were hosted at the prestigious German venue. Vaulting in Individual competition, Ioannou earned a second place finish in the Chilliwack CVI3* in 2012. This year she has collected wins at the Great Falls Vaulter, Topaz Vaulters Spring Fest, and Garrod’s 2013 Spring Classic competitions.
Garrett (Seal Beach, CA) is no stranger to success at the top levels, having helped the U.S. capture Team Gold at the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. In 2012, she vaulted to the Reserve Champion honors at the USEF/AVA National Vaulting Championship. Garrett began 2013 with a second place finish at the Mozart Memorial Vaulting Classic.
In Aachen, Garrett will vault on Renz Wolfgang’s Leon 364.
Individual Male
In Individual Male competition Roberts (Moss Beach, CA) is one of 17 entries representing 10 nations. Competition begins Friday morning with the Compulsory Test in the Prize of Sparkasse and continues later in the day as competitors perform their Prize of Sparkasse Technical Tests. Competition concludes Saturday as the Prize of Sparkasse Freestyle Tests are executed.
Roberts is making his second appearance in Aachen after having placed eighth in 2012. In addition, he also represented the U.S. at the FEI World Vaulting Championship and added the USEF/AVA National Vaulting Championship title to his name last year.
The 20-year-old prepared for the Aachen CVIO3* with a ninth place finish at the Krumke CVI3*. This weekend he will also vault on Wolfgang’s Leon 364.
Pas de Deux
In Pas de Deux competition, sisters Cassidy and Kimberly Palmer (Half Moon Bay, CA) look to continue the trend of strong U.S. results in the division after American pairs claimed second and third places in Aachen last year. In 2013, they will be among a field of six combinations from four nations. Prize of Sparkasse Pas de Deux competition begins Saturday with the first of two Freestyle Tests. Winners will be crowned Sunday following the second Freestyle Test.
The Palmers will vault on Wolfgang’s Leon 364 as they strive to earn top honors in Aachen. In 2010, they joined forces to win the Pas de Deux at the Chilliwack CVI2*. They prepared for their first trip to Aachen with a second place finish at the Krumke CVI3*.
To learn more about CHIO Aachen, visit: http://www.chioaachen.de/en/.
Follow the 2013 U.S. Vaulting Team here.