Momentous Triple Vaulting Championships Promise a Thrilling Week
Averill Saunders on the Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World Cup Ultimate 2023 in Omaha (USA) – FEI / Richard Juilliart
Pleasure is constructing till the biggest Vaulting Championships in historical past takes place in Flyinge (SWE). The FEI Vaulting European Championship will probably be held together with the FEI World Championship for Juniors and the premiere of the FEI World Championship for Younger Vaulters. Internet hosting the three Championships is a problem embraced by the Swedish hosts and far anticipated by the athletes and spectators, with 26 nations and 135 horses anticipated to current themselves to the Floor Jury.
The primary medals will probably be awarded to the Senior athletes on Friday, 28 July. Within the hotly contested Feminine class, Switzerland has a robust displaying with Ilona Hannich, Danielle Bürgi, and Nadja Büttiker. Bürgi, who has had a superb season displaying her calibre on a number of horses, completed second on the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ in Omaha (USA) and the CVI3* in Bern (SUI), and gained the CVI** Masterclass in Wiesbaden (GER). Büttiker has a wealth of expertise and Hannich has considerably elevated her degree as evidenced by her fourth-place end on the CHIO Aachen (GER) in June 2023.
Austria’s Eva Nagiller will probably be aiming for a podium end, after a disappointing run on the FEI Vaulting World Championship in Herning (DEN) in 2022 because of her horse changing into unsettled.
It’s a household affair for Germany, as every athlete will probably be lunged by their guardian. Kathrin Meyer, winner of the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ in Omaha in 2023 and extra just lately champion of CHIO Aachen, has had an virtually good season. She is going to begin the occasion because the favorite and will probably be lunged by her mum Sonja. A lot of her competitors comes from 2022 FEI Vaulting World Championship silver medallist Julia Sophie Wagner, additionally lunged by her mom Katja, and Alina Ross, who’s striving for her first senior medal alongside her father Volker.
The household theme continues with the Brüsewitz Brüder (Brüsewitz brothers) trio, the Male contingent from Germany, comprising Viktor, Thomas, and honorary brother Jannik Heiland. Whereas they’ve a plethora of medals, a senior gold medal has been elusive.
The most important title problem comes from the youngest contender, Frenchman and present Vice-World Champion Quentin Jabet. The 20-year-old vaults with such precision and style that he will probably be laborious to beat. Fellow countryman Theo Gardies additionally has a novel type and skill worthy of championship glory. It’s a slender however robust area with a number of extremely embellished athletes, which can make for a good and thrilling battle.
Vaulting aficionados will probably be seeking to see if Germany can stay dominant within the sport regardless of filling solely one among their two Pas-de-Deux areas. Diana Harwardt and Peter Künne have the nation’s hopes on their shoulders. As silver medallists on the FEI Vaulting World Championships in Herning (DEN) in 2022, there’s excessive expectations for them to choose up the torch handed from retired teammates 2022 FEI World Champions Chiara Congia and Justin van Gerven.
Bronze medallists on the 2022 FEI Vaulting World Championship, Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella, will endeavour to show the tables and produce gold dwelling for Italy. Each {couples} will face stiff competitors from Switzerland and Austria. Ilona Hannich competing along with Li Laffer for Switzerland will probably be going after their first Championship bid, whereas Austrians Eva Nagiller and Romana Hintner will attempt to replicate or enhance on their 2019 FEI European Championship bronze medal end.
Germany’s Group Norka is heading in the right direction to take the highest step of the Squad podium once more, and though they’re in a special composition to the previous couple of years, they’ve had a stable season. Their largest rivals are the Swiss, whom they’ve defeated twice this 12 months. The third podium step is the place it’d get fascinating, as the dearth of an Austrian entry throws the ground open. The Swedish have the house benefit they usually have been working laborious in the direction of this aim for a very long time. Nordic rivals, Denmark, has seen medal success lately and can journey that wave to goal for additional glory. Nonetheless, the Netherlands may damage it for them each, as their squad has been quietly progressing and has an equal alternative to steal the third place.
The ultimate competitors of the occasion would be the Official Group. One squad and two people from every nation will mix to be topped European Champions. Very similar to the Squad competitors, and sadly because of the absence of a French and Austrian Squad, it appears to be a combat for the highest between Germany and Switzerland. Germany has one thing to show after lacking out on an Official Group medal on the 2022 FEI World Championships, proving that even the perfect can falter underneath stress. There will definitely be stress for the Netherlands, Sweden, and 2022 vice-World Champions Denmark, because the podium lies tantalisingly shut.
FEI Vaulting World Championship for Juniors
The FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors has an distinctive variety of Feminine entries. A file fifty-six have declared, together with Polina Shovkova and Kateryna Panasenko, Ukraine’s first representatives at a Vaulting Championship. They are going to take to the circle aboard Filon, lunged by Kevine Moneuse (FRA). Traditionally the World Junior Feminine title is reserved for Austria, and Clara Ludwiczek, Antonia Mayerhofer, and Katharina Feldhofer will attempt to sustain the custom. Switzerland provides three robust contenders, Leonie Linsbichler, Mara Hofer, Noemi Licci, and the standard introduced by Germany is simply as excessive with Mia Kluge, Mirja Luise Krohne, and Laura Seemüller.
It isn’t solely these heavyweight nations who maintain Europe’s medal probabilities. Oceane Gehan brings excessive hopes for France, whereas Giorgia Varisco may declare her place in historical past for Italy. Nora Sandberg Müller is the best choice for the house nation. In fact, the title may head throughout the pond with Hannah Wildermuth (USA), who has had a superb season however has not but met the complete would possibly of European expertise. The standard of members is undoubtedly excessive, and success will go to those that handle the stress of high-level competitors, each mentally and bodily. In fact, the calibre and composure of the horses and lungers could be the deciding issue.
Dutch Junior Male World Champion Sam dos Santos returns to defend his title after competing on the Senior Championship in Herning (DEN) in 2022. Since his victory on the FEI World Championships for Juniors in Le Mans (FRA) in 2021, he has confirmed himself at a degree to tackle and prevail over lots of the high Senior Males. Triumph shouldn’t be inevitable as there are different high-grade juniors out to take his title. The bronze medallist on the FEI Vaulting European Championship for Juniors in Kaposvar (HUN) in 2022, Arnee Heers, is the entrance runner for Germany, and his younger teammate Lukas Heitmann may additionally handle a medal at his first main Championship. Synonymous with excellence in Male vaulting, France has two hopefuls: Baptiste Terrier and Louis Dumont. Every should present distinctive rounds if they’re to win the category for France for the primary time.
Out to make historical past for his nation, Jakub Roguski may turn into the primary embellished Polish vaulter. He completed sixth on the 2022 FEI European Championships for Juniors and has been producing high quality performances this season. Different notable performers to look out for are Andrej Menhert of Slovakia and Switzerland’s Romain Simonet.
The Junior Pas-de-Deux class is the essence of lady energy as each mixture is a feminine partnership. As within the senior class, Germany has elected to solely current one pair: Lisa Marie Wagner and Timea Bonekat. Austrians Anja Huber and Katharina Feldhofer may improve their 2022 European bronze medal however must fend off team-mates Sarah Victoria Köck and Clara Dick, in addition to Italy’s Giorgia Varisco and Greta Gemignani, who’re heading in the right direction for a primary Junior medal.
It’s gratifying to see the growing variety of nations taking part within the Championships. This 12 months each Brazil and Canada will premiere a Junior Squad. Fierce competitors awaits within the type of European Champions Switzerland. They are going to current the identical 2022 victorious squad, albeit on a special horse – Lagrima. They too must stave off competitors from formidable squads from Italy, Germany, and Austria.
FEI World Championship for Younger Vaulters
The Younger Vaulter class was established in 2022 to bridge the hole between Junior and Senior degree. The format is especially the identical because the Senior competitors though the athletes, aged 16-21, carry out solely three of the 5 compulsory workouts inside their Technical Take a look at. A vastly profitable 2022 FEI European Championship in Kaposvar (HUN) has led to a optimistic uptake in members, with the prize to turn into the maiden World Champion, an alluring prospect.
Joint favourites within the Feminine class are present European Champion from Germany Alice Layher, along with her medal successful mixture and Averill Saunders, who’s on the hunt for Canada’s first Vaulting medal. Saunders has a robust likelihood of attaining that dream if she will management her thoughts and stay freed from the heel harm which hampered the center of her season. Switzerland’s Michelle Brügger and Alicia Bärtschi will probably be pushing their nation in the direction of the highest of the desk, alongside 2022 Junior European Champion Anna Weidenauer (AUT), who has moved into the upper age bracket this 12 months.
Willpower and dedication come within the type of Caroline Morse (USA), who has flown over her personal horse Grasshopper AF for the perfect likelihood of success. Wanting to be the one to deliver dwelling honours for her nation, compatriot Melanie Ford has teamed up with a German mixture San Felice Z and Christina Ender. The youngest competitor at 17 years previous is Italy’s Giada Samiolo, not that you may inform from her string of excellent outcomes this 12 months. Alongside Giorgia Fanucci, both can be worthy to face on the podium for Italy.
Ruben Delauney (FRA), the 2022 FEI Male European Champion for Younger Vaulters, has now progressed into the Senior class which leaves the title house open. Inevitably, it is going to be Austria versus Germany in a tussle for the highest. 2022 Silver and Bronze medallists, Philip Clement and Fabian Lipp, will attempt to higher their outcomes for Austria, whereas 2022 FEI Junior European Champion Bela Lehnen (GER) has been in excellent type, and is joined by Philip Goroncy and Jonathon Geib, every searching for German glory.
It is going to be an action-packed week of Vaulting, with high quality horses, unbelievable expertise, and a rollercoaster of feelings. The end result of years of preparation and teamwork, all of it comes right down to psychological toughness, steadfast horses, and somewhat little bit of luck. Historical past will probably be made as soon as once more as we eagerly anticipate the crowning of recent champions.
by Joanne Littlejohn
