Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest updates.
SPONSORS
PARTNERS
ECM Blogs
Vaulting World Championships
Tuesday, August 5th, 2008
Having lost the title in 2006 to American Vaulter Megan Benjamin during the FEI World Equestrian Games, Nicola Stroh and lunger Jennifer Trampler have been invincible since day 1 of the Championships. They began and effectively conquered Round 1, leading in both the compulsory and free test and then, when it came to Round 2 and the original 45 participants had been reduced to 15, they took the lead again in the technical test this morning and confirmed their golden ambition with a faultless free test. Having won individual gold in 2004 in Stadl Paura and silver in 2002, she spent some time out of competition due to a recurring knee injury.
Waiting in the aisles and ready to pounce, Austria’s Sissi Jarz inhabited 2nd place from day 1 of the Championships but never got or took the opportunity to take 1st place. Third place, however, has been hotly disputed. At the close of Round 1 it appeared as though Christine Kristofics Binder was looking like a possible contender. However, Austria’s Katharina Faltin stepped in with a convincing technical test this morning and was sitting in third, but it took the free test to place the shine on the new bronze medallist, Germany’s Anja Barwig and longeur Alexander Hartl.
Results (top ten) Rider – NF – Longeur – Horse - Score 1. Nicola Stroh – GER - Jennifer Trampler – Lanson 16 – 8.485 2. Sissi Jarz – AUT – LLonka Homberg – Pitucelli - 8.392 3. Anja Barwig – GER – Alexander Hartl – 8.243 4. Marion Graf – SUI – Rebekka Egger – Pit – 8.206 5. Joanne Eccles – GBR – John Eccles – WH Bentley - 8.173 6. Katharina Faltin – AUT - LLonka Homberg – Pitucelli – 8.146 7. Christine Kristofics Binder – AUT – Maria Lehrmann – Alonso I – 8.135 8. Elizabeth Osborn – USA – Marion Schultz – Pikkolo 19 – 7.892 9. Mary McCormick – USA – Marion Schultz – Pikkolo 19 – 7.875 10. Regina Burgmayr – GER – Alexander Hartl – Cappucino - 7.892
FEI World Vaulting Championships & FEI European Vaulting Championships for
Juniors: 30 July – 3 August, Brno (CZE) WORLD TEAM FINAL
Accuracy, precision, intensity and sheer perfection rewarded the German team with Gold and thus confirmed their stronghold on the World title. Indeed, since the inception of the FEI World Vaulting Championships in 1986, held every two years, Germany have won every edition except 1988, 1990 and 1994 on all three occasions won by team Switzerland. This translates into an uninterrupted winning streak since 1996. Second place went to Austria with their captivating Jaws themed performance which had fish scrambling for cover as the Great White approached and invariably took a few. While team USA captured bronze to a Pink Floyd revival.
As Germany was the last team to go, the suspense in the lead up to their performance was at its peak, while the silence which enveloped the arena once the bell was rung marked a stark contrast to the screaming fans. Nobody moved an inch, for fear of missing a minute morsel of magic. From the moment they entered the arena to the last dismount, there was little doubt that this had been a world class, gold medal performance.
Second placed Austrians stood out with their creative transitions and original composition. The difference which kept them form the top spot on the podium was the accuracy in the exercises, which Germany mastered superbly. In third place, team USA proved to be consistent from beginning to end with a solid composition. The deception which marked the faces of the Slovakian team members was apparent – as their fourth place became an evidence, having never won a medal at world Championships, this was a little too close to not feel the pinch or the pang of regret.
The next time these teams will compete for these honours will be at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky in 2010 – a momentous event showcasing all the best of horses port - now well into preparations.
Results 1. Germany – 8.449 2. Austria – 8.357 3. USA – 8.114 4. Slovakia – 7.812 5. Switzerland – 7.636 6. Italy – 7.536 7. Sweden – 7.161 8. Denmark – 7.091 9. Brazil – 6.983 10. Great Britain – 6.878 11. The Netherlands – 6.652 12. Columbia – 6.557
