Tag Archives: FEI Vaulting World Championships

Championships, Competitions, FEI, Vaulting

A Sensational Final for France

Team France © FEI/Martin Dokoupil

The FEI Vaulting World Championships came to a close with the ultimate battle of the nations.

In a record-breaking finale, Team France won back-to-back Nations Team titles, scoring 9.239. The combination of the French squad with Yannick Kersulec and Orlof de Conde, Quentin Jabet with Ronaldo 200 NRW, and Andrea Boe and Theo Gardies, Sir Sensation and Sebastien Langlois proved impregnable. They led from the start with each combination scoring over 9 points.

Team Germany collected the silver medal in a close fought competition, 8.923. Switzerland had pulled ahead after their two individuals; however, the German squad performed with precision and left Team Switzerland with another Bronze medal, 8.104.

FEI European Championships for Juniors and Young Vaulters

Germany dominated the Individual Young Vaulter final. Rising from an overnight 5th place, Lisa Marie Wagner moved in unison with family horse Cascais to take home the bronze medal with Mum Katja Wagner lunging (8.118). Sarah Krauss expertly lunged Max for the final two competitors. Gianna Ronca kept her round one silver position (8.364), but it was Mona Pavetic who had the audience on the edge of their seats, creating unique shapes with her movements and earning the top artistic score of the day and with it the European title (8.532).

In the Male category Paul Ruttkovsky improved his round one placing to scoop the bronze medal for Austria (8.104). After a smooth freestyle program, he knocked Germany’s Ben Lechtenberg into fourth. The silver medal went to Frenchman Tom Menand (8.185), but the gold was reserved for Germany once again. Arne Heers added a second European title to the Pas de Deux one he won on Friday. Leading from the start, he was completely in harmony with Cleiner Onkel T OLD and wins his first individual FEI medal, along with lunger Sven Henze.

A phenomenal final saw Germany take home the Junior squad title. The undeniable masters vaulted almost to perfection aboard Captain Claus with Gesa Bϋhrig, 8.311. Silver was for Switzerland, 7.899, with Sweden sweeping the bronze for their first Junior squad medal.

It was a sensational week of high-class Vaulting competition in a fabulous venue. The horses shone on the circle and provided magnificent partnerships for the athletes. Medals were won and memories made as we crowned the 2024 FEI Vaulting champions.

FULL RESULTS

by Joanne Littlejohn

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Championships, Competitions, FEI, Vaulting

All That Glitters Is German

Team Germany on Ecuador 28 © FEI/Martin Dokoupil

On the third day of vaulting competition in Bern (SUI), Germany gave their all and were handsomely rewarded.

The first medals of the FEI Vaulting World Championships were presented in the Squad competition in one of the best ever finals. The Swiss squad were eye-catching and crammed everything into their routine; it was a pleasure to watch and won them the Bronze medal (8.267). The French went big on dismounts and individuality, but it was only enough for the silver medal, 8.556, as the team from Germany combined high level intricate moves with a near perfect performance to take the gold medal and World title once again, aboard Ecuador 28 with Alexandra Knauf lunging (8.677).

Germany dominated the Senior Pas de Deux, due to a series of unfortunate events for the Italian pairing, Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella. They overbalanced in the buildup to a very difficult move and fell from the horse; unable to recover their routine and their score, they are sadly out of contention. Diana Harwardt and Peter Kϋnne (GER) showed their skill and won the round with 8.666. They are ahead of compatriots Gisa Sternberg and Linda Otten (8.329). Currently sitting in third are Swiss duo Zoe Maruccio and Syra Schmid. With 8.263, they are on track to win their first FEI medal if they perform another solid round.

FEI European Championship for Juniors and Young Vaulters

In an incredibly impressive and expressive class of Junior Males, Sam dos Santos (NED) now has a commanding lead. He showed impeccable body control throughout his Free Test, winning round one on a total score of 8.458. The German youngster Lukas Heitmann scored only a fraction behind the Dutchman. His dramatic and flexible program boosted him into silver medal position overnight (8.208). Jakub Roguski dropped one place, into third, after a penalty for exceeding the time limit. His first-round score is 8.157 and he is looking likely to receive a medal for Poland.

There was a change at the top of the Female Young Vaulter leaderboard after the Technical tests. Despite performing well executed routines, the three Swiss contenders couldn’t find themselves in the top three. Mona Pavetic (GER) stole the lead from teammate Gianna Ronca. Pavetic was fluid throughout her performance and earned top exercise scores (8.292). She leads Ronca by only 0.2. The two girls, competing on Max lunged by Sarah Krauss, will go head-to-head in Sunday’s final. Slovakia’s Sara Solteszova showed a tidy test earning the third best score of the day and propelling her into third (8.042).

Arne Heers held his gold medal position for Germany in the Male Young Vaulter division. With a confident Technical program, he has extended his lead over the rest of the men (8.127). Tom Menand (FRA) was gentle and creative and keeps hold of second in the overnight rankings (7.896) just ahead of Germany’s Ben Lechtenberg, who has crept closer to the silver medal (7.863). Austrian Paul Ruttkovsky has put himself in a good position to potentially land on the podium on Sunday. He is fourth currently with a score of 7.838.

Germany’s Junior Squad, Fredenbeck blew everyone away in the Free test. With absolute precision and attention to detail, they captivated the audience, scoring a huge 8.654 and are absolutely running away ahead of the rest of the competition (7.801). The squad from Switzerland had some small errors leaving them in second place, 7.397, and Italy has improved their interim position, pulling up into third place after a creative freestyle (7.389).

The final Junior class of the day saw the first medals of the FEI European Championships awarded. The Junior Pas de Deux took to the stage and performed much better than the day before. There was no change at the top and Great Britain achieved their first junior medal since 2013, with Milly and Evie Jessett claiming the Bronze (7.967). First and second place went to Germany. Felix Wöhe and Mia Bury won the round and the Silver medal (8.120), but they couldn’t catch Arne Heers and Mia Bury, who took home the Gold (8.307).

The Post Finance Arena is proving to be a top-class venue for Vaulting competition, and the horses are excelling under the energetic atmosphere created by the vaulting fans.

FULL RESULTS

by Joanne Littlejohn

press@fei.org
www.fei.org

Championships, Competitions, FEI, Vaulting

Vaulting Favourites Reign Supreme

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Lambert Leclezio with Estadoifce and lunger Loic Devedu. (FEI/Lukasz Kowalski)

Vaulting legends reigned supreme in Budapest (HUN) as FEI Vaulting made a successful return to the world stage, with Lambert Leclezio defending his World title for France, Jasmin Lindner (AUT) reclaiming the female individual gold medal, and Germany proving dominant in the Pas de Deux, Squad, and Nations Team categories.

After its triumphant debut at the FEI World Equestrian Games™ in 2018, The Nations Team event once again returned to great acclaim, delivering the first medals of the FEI Vaulting World Championships 2021.  The competition which sees two individuals and one team from each nation line up in the quest for national glory, once again provided a stage for history to be made.

Lambert Leclezio (FRA) defends his World title, Jasmin Lindner (AUT) reclaims the female individual gold, and Germany dominate the Pas-de-Deux, Squad, and Nations Team at the World Championships.

Team Germany, consisting of Jannik Heiland (9.048), Janika Derks (8.884), and Team Germany (9.157), was in a league of its own, posting an incredible average of 9.030 to retain the Nation’s Team World title. The silver medal was awarded to Eva Nagiller (8.938), Jasmin Lindner (9.061), and Team Austria (8.207), whilst history was made with the bronze medal going to Denmark, marking their new-found eminence on the world stage after impressive performances from Sheena Bendixen (8.988), Anna Damm (7.751), and Team Denmark (8.264).

In the female category, golden girl Jasmin Lindner reclaimed the World title she won at the FEI World Championships in Le Mans in 2016. The multi-talented, highly decorated vaulter added to her already impressive collection of Individual and Pas De Deux World gold medals after again showing her formidable talent and unmatched expression within the sport.

Renowned for her story-telling ability, Lindner, the only female vaulter to post a freestyle score over 9.0, dominated both freestyle rounds.  Partnering with her long-term team of lunger Klaus Haidacher and Dr Doolittle 5, Lindner’s Greta Thunberg inspired freestyle helped secure her unprecedented fifth Vaulting World title (3 Pas De Deux, 2 Individual), further contributing to her legacy within the sport (8.759).

Silver individual medallist from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ Janika Derks (GER) once again took the second step on the podium with Dark Beluga and Barbara Rosiny.  Lindner’s fellow compatriot and training partner Eva Nagiller (8.578) took bronze after posting the highest technical test score of the female competition. Denmark’s Sheena Bendixen (8.461) and France’s Manon Moutinho (8.427) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

The male category lit up the arena in Budapest with France’s Lambert Leclezio retaining the World title he won so emphatically at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™, once again pushing the boundaries of the sport and rising to the top of the highly competitive class.

Leclezio got his quest to retain his World title off to the best possible start, leading after the compulsory round on 8.849 – a score rarely seen within the sport and evidence of his outstanding technical ability. His nearest competitor, Jannik Heiland from Germany, finished round one on 8.584, with the chasing pack narrowly behind.

This exceptional standard was further evident in the first freestyle round where Leclezio, Heiland, and rising star France’s Quentin Jabet all posted scores in excess of 9.0. The skill, flexibility, expression, and harmony of those chasing the medals thrilling to watch.

Saturday’s technical test round saw Leclezio perform a breath-taking masterclass.  The flawless, technical elements coupled with his intricate, clever composition saw him post a previously unheard-of technical test score of 9.083, creating breathing space between him and his nearest competitors Heiland and France’s Theo Gardies. A fall for Quentin Jabet in the technical round saw him fall away from medal contention.

In their first championship together, Leclezio, lunger Loic Devedu and Estado IFCE performed a jaw-dropping final freestyle to retain Lambert’s World title, and further cement his legacy within the sport (8,989). Germany’s Jannik Heiland with Barbara Rosiny on the lunge and horse Dark Beluga also retained the world silver medal from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™.

Further evidence of France’s dominance within the male category, Theo Gardies took bronze converting his previous junior success into senior acclaim (8.659), with Quentin Jabet posting the highest final freestyle score of 9.126 to finish fourth and again prove that he is one to watch for the future.

In the squad competition Germany led through all three rounds of the competition, dominating the event.  Together with lunger Gesa Buhrig and Claus 51, the team from Fredenbeck upheld Germany’s rich history within the Squad competition to take gold. Their perfect final freestyle saw them awarded 9.224 to finish on an astonishing total of 8.735, scoring 0.7 more than second place Team Austria.  A masterclass in teamwork, coupled with incredible artistry and strength, saw the gold medal never in doubt. A commanding win for the powerhouse vaulting nation.

Representing Austria, URC Wildegg with Cornelia Trimmel and Leokado added to their already impressive tally of World and European medals taking second place (8.044). The United States of America finished in bronze medal position, the first time they have won a medal at the senior World Championships in squad since the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games™, marking their ascent back to prominence on the world stage (7.914).  Denmark rounded off a history making Championship to finish fourth (7.856).

The ever-entertaining Pas De Deux class lived up to its highly entertaining billing, once again providing edge of the seat action.  Vaulting legends from the 2014 gold medal winning team, Team Neuss, Johannes Kay and Janika Derks (GER), converted the silver medal they won at the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ into gold in untouchable fashion. A fall by their fellow countrymen and nearest competitors 2019 FEI European Gold medallists Chiara Congia and Justin Van Gerven in the first round saw them enter round 2 with an impressive 0.7 advantage.  Together with Humphrey Bogart and lunger Nina Vorberg, they proved unbeatable, finishing on an impressive total of 8.936 and taking the top step on the podium.

Chiara Congia and Justin Van Gerven came back from their round one mistake in spectacular fashion to post the highest second round freestyle of 9.092, thus securing the silver medal (8.646).  The bronze medal went to USA’s Daniel Janes and Haley Smith, securing their first ever FEI medal as a pairing after bravely changing their freestyle between round 1 and round 2 (8.469).

By Hannah Eccles

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