It was an action packed second day of Vaulting at the FEI World Championship for Juniors and Young Vaulters and the FEI European Championship for Seniors. The pressure of top-level competition began to show through opening some gaps at the top of the tables.

Germany began by taking the male Young Vaulter class by storm.  Bela Lehnen produced an excellent set of exercises winning the test with 8.330 but he has some close competition from Austrian Philip Clement (8.207). Both males are almost guaranteed a medal as the third place competitior, German Philip Goroncy is some way behind at 7.500, with a lower horse score having a significant impact on his overall result.

Following the trend, Germany’s females also took first and third in their Young Vaulter class. The favourite, Alice Layher, is out in front with 8.247 and Annemie Szemes scored 7.758. It is Anna Weidenauer who splits the two and sits in between for Austria with 7.852 points. For Canadian Averill Saunders it was all going so well until she collapsed in the final element of her test and had to repeat it to gain a score. Even so she is not far from medal contention, currently in fifth position with 7.633 with an historically excellent technical programme still to perform.

The Senior squad compulsory test finished much as expected at the top.  Team Switzerland lead with 7.431 only marginally ahead of the German squad who produced a few errors and had to work with a slightly unsettled Calidor 10 (7.365). The squad from Sweden have given themselves a good chance of winning a medal at their home games with a third place in this round (6.736), however Denmark is biting at their heels in fourth place (6.614).

It was a dramatic affair in the female technical test, with many athletes failing to complete their performance within the time limit incurring a heavy penalty. Despite a solid test packed with difficulty, Germany’s Alina Ross could only manage a 7.868 from the judges and dropped to third place in the overall standings (8.104). A very clean and well executed round allowed Nadja Büttiker (SUI) to hop into second place overall (8.119) breaking up the German females but unable to reach the quality of Kathrin Meyer (GER) who showed real excellence. Gracefully floating through all the required elements, she was the only female to obtain over a score of eight, and moves ahead of the rest of the pack finishing round one with a promising 8.382.

In contrast with the females, the Senior males made few errors. Quentin Jabet entered the ring for France with finesse once again. At this point he seems uncatchable, completing the first round with a score of 8.705. Thomas Brüsewitz (GER) moved into second place after round one (8.410) with his test packed full of difficulty aboard Formel 1, who gained the top horse score of the male class. He snuck ahead of teammate Jannik Heiland, currently third with 8.296. Even with a small loss of balance in his backward stand, a creative performance from Theo Gardies (FRA) allowed him to score second in the technical test alone. He is creeping closer to a podium finish with just 0.012 standing between him and Jannik.

As the stakes rise so does the pressure for the competitors. Tomorrow will determine which Junior females make it into the final and there will be high emotion for all involved. They start a day full of free tests for Junior individuals and squads which will culminate in the much anticipated technical programme for the female Young Vaulters.

Photo: Quentin Jabet (FRA) and Ronaldo 200 in the FEI Vaulting European Championship 2023 - Flying (SWE) - Senior Individual Male Technical
Photo credit: ©FEI/Carolin Kowsky/Daniel Kaiser

 

Paris, the City of Light, will welcome the world to the XXXIII Olympiad exactly one year from today, presenting 19 days of competition from 26 July to 11 August 2024 over 41 competition sites including the spectacular equestrian venue at the Palace of Versailles.

Once home to the kings and queens of France, and developed to majestic proportions by the “Sun King” Louis XIV who believed that everything revolved around him, the Palace is considered one of the most extravagant and beautiful in Europe. And, not for the first time, the sound of galloping hooves will be heard across its beautiful gardens as athletes and their horses go for gold in the three equestrian Olympic disciplines of Dressage, Eventing and Jumping.

History

Equestrian sport’s Olympic history officially began at the 5th Games staged in Stockholm, Sweden in 1912 where Swedish riders claimed Team gold in Jumping and Eventing and Individual gold in Dressage and Eventing. Only Frenchman, Capt Jean Cariou, broke the host nation’s grip on the top step of the podium when winning the Individual Jumping title in a jump-off against Germany’s Lt Rabod W. von Kröcher that year.

Paris 2024 marks exactly a century since equestrian sport at the Olympic Games came under the jurisdiction of the FEI in 1924, and the battle for qualification is as intense as ever. Teams of three will compete in all three disciplines and France, as host country, is automatically qualified in each discipline.

Dressage

In Dressage there will be a maximum of 60 competitors, with 15 teams of three along with 15 individuals. Already joining the host nation of France are teams from Denmark, Great Britain, Germany, Sweden, The Netherlands and USA who claimed the top six places at the FEI Dressage World Championship 2022 in Herning (DEN) last summer where Australia also made the cut as the highest-ranked team from Olympic Group G. 

Poland claimed the single qualifying spot on offer at the Group C qualifier in Budapest (HUN) last month. There are three places to be filled at the forthcoming FEI Dressage European Championship 2023 which will take place in Riesenbeck (GER) from 4 to 10 September, while countries from Groups D and/or E will be chasing the two spots on offer at the 2023 Pan American Games in Santiago (CHI) which run from 26 to 29 October. 

Individual quota places will be decided based on team uptake and the FEI Olympic Rankings.

Eventing

In Eventing there will be a maximum of 65 athletes consisting of 16 teams of three and 17 individuals. Here the French will be joined by Germany, USA, New Zealand, Great Britain, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland who, in that order, claimed the top seven places up for grabs at the FEI Eventing World Championship staged at Pratoni del Vivaro (ITA) last September. 

Team Poland also made the cut at the Group C qualifier staged on their home turf in Baborowko two months ago, while Australia and China grabbed the two spots on offer at the Group F and G qualifier in Millstreet (IRL) in June. Two teams will qualify at the upcoming FEI European Championships in Haras du Pin (FRA) which will take place from 9 to 13 August.

Of the 16 competing teams, 14 places are allocated through qualifying events and one through the final classification of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ 2023 series which will conclude at Boekelo (NED) on 8 October. And the 2023 Pan American Games in October also offer spots for teams from Olympic Groups D and/or E not already qualified.

There are 14 individual quota places available through the seven FEI Olympic Ranking groups, and a further three through standings on the overall FEI Olympic Ranking list.

Jumping

In Jumping there will be a maximum of 75 athletes including 20 teams and 15 individuals.

To date the French are joined by Sweden, The Netherlands, Great Britain,  Ireland and Germany who took the top-five qualifying places at the FEI Jumping World Championship 2022 in Herning (DEN), Belgium who clinched the spot on offer at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2022, Saudi Arabia and the UAE who earned their places at the Group F qualifier in Doha (QAT) in February and Australia and Japan who booked their tickets at last week’s Group G qualifier in Valkenswaard (NED).

There are still nine team spots left to be decided in this discipline, with two open to countries from Group C in Prague (CZE) this coming weekend and three more on offer at the FEI Jumping European Championship in Milan (ITA) in early September. There is a single spot up for grabs at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 in Barcelona (ESP) on 1 October, and later that month countries from Olympic Groups D and/or E will be chasing three team and three individual slots at the Pan American Games.

The remaining 12 individual slots will be filled through the FEI Olympic rankings list.

Tickets

In all, a total of 10,500 athletes will line out in 32 sports and 329 events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games for which 7 million of the 10 million tickets available are already sold to the general public.

These Games will be the biggest event ever organised in France and will set new sustainability standards for major sporting events, reducing the Games’ carbon footprint by half compared to the average of London 2012 and Rio 2016.

Paris 2024 hails the “New Era” of Olympic Games - the first to be planned and delivered in line with the reforms of Olympic Agenda 2020, creating social and economic opportunities that are accessible to everyone and located in a more urban and compact setting.  

Breaking with tradition, for the first time in the history of the Summer Olympic Games the opening ceremony will not take place in a stadium. Instead it will be held on the main artery of the city, the River Seine, along which athletes in boats allocated to each delegation will travel a 6 kilometre route from east to west ending up at Trocadéro, the expansive complex of museums, sculptures, gardens and fountains with stunning views across the river to the iconic Eiffel Tower.

On 26 July 2024 new Olympic stories will begin to unfold, and new equestrian Olympic dreams will begin to be realised. 

1 Year to Go…..don’t miss a hoofbeat…..! 

Photo caption: 3D Graphic of Château de Versailles, Equestrian venue for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.  © Paris 2024

The first day of the 2023 FEI World Championships for Juniors provided non-stop quality for Vaulting fans and judges alike, with overnight leads held by the Netherlands, Switzerland and Germany. Meanwhile Germany and France rise above in the Senior European Individual classes.

Defending World Champion, Sam dos Santos (NED) stormed into the lead in the Junior male class with an exceptional round of compulsories aboard Chameur lunged by Rian Pierik (8.027). His closest competitor, German Ben Lechtenberg sits just within reach and spends the night in second place with a score of 7.671, marginally ahead of Frenchman Baptiste Terrier who had a minor loss of balance in his stand costing him vital points (7.502). Arne Heers suffered an excess of energy in his vault on, overbalancing onto the horse’s neck and leading to a score of zero for the exercise.  He completed his test with incredible composure and lies in ninth place (6.905) with a medal not yet completely out of the question.

The scores do the talking when reflecting on the Junior female competition with 0.166 between first and tenth place.  Switzerland’s Leonie Linsbichler has claimed the top spot for the moment earning 7.589 from the judges, closely followed by the young Danish talent Josephine Vedel Sondergaard Nielsen who surprised many with her exceptional dynamic exercises propelling her into second place at her first Championship (7.577). In third at present sits Austrian Clara Ludwiczek, 7.551, that all important hundredth of a point keeping her ahead of Swiss Noemie Licci. Excitingly, it will likely be all change when we come to the Freestyle test on Thursday.

In the Squad competition Germany brought their ‘A’ game aboard Capitain Claus (7.246) but Switzerland, competing on Lagrima, was not going to be left behind (7.163). Both squad horses proved their worth at the top of the table and each earned over an eight from one of the judges. A strong start from the Italian squad scored them 6.532 completing the top three. The Austrian squad had major balance problems executing the compulsory stand leading to a disappointing test, which proved an expensive error in such high-level competition and has them trailing in fourth on 6.323.

The FEI European Championship for Seniors opened in the afternoon with the Male compulsory test and continued to raise the bar on the level of competition.  Germany put forward a solid start with Viktor Brüsewitz laying down 8.129 as the score to beat. Both his teammates, Jannik Heiland and Thomas Brüsewitz rose to the challenge scoring 8.471 and 8.441 respectively, however an almost flawless round from Quentin Jabet (FRA) gave him the lead with 8.754.  Compatriot, Theo Gardies settled for fourth place (8.167) after a collapse in his mount led to deductions from his score.

Despite many female athletes showing top quality compulsories, none could top the German trio who as if by prior agreement all scored 8.3.  Alina Ross sits top of the table (8.339), followed by Kathrin Meyer (8.322) and Julia Sophie Wagner (8.304). Switzerland’s Nadja Büttiker performed very well executed compulsories and lies easily within catching distance on 8.246, closely followed by Austrian Eva Nagiller (8.193) and Illona Hannich (SUI) (8.040). Without a doubt none of the vaulters can afford any error in the next two tests.

It was a day full of class performances and first-rate horses.  Debatably we are not much closer to knowing who any of the champions will be, which is incredibly thrilling for fans and hopeful for the competitors. Tomorrow the FEI World Championship for Young Vaulters begins and we will see the Senior squads compete for the first time.

Photo: Alina ROSS (GER) with BARON R during the FEI Vaulting European Championship 2023 - Flying (SWE) - Individual Female Compulsory. Copyright ©FEI/Daniel Kaiseropyright ©FEI/Daniel Kaiser  

Results from the FEI Dressage European Championship for Children and Juniors in Kronberg (GER) available online

Outstanding performance by German athletes, earning all gold medals and securing podium positions in all categories. Check the podium winners at the FEI Dressage European Championships for U25 and Young Riders 2023 held in Pilisjászfalu (HUN):

Juniors Team Podium

1° Germany

2° Austria & Denmark

3° Great Britain

Juniors Individual Podium

1° Rose Oatley (GER) & Sommernacht 7

2° Allegra Schmitz-Morkramer (GER) & Libertad

3° Lana-Pinou Baumgürtel (GER) - Zinq Emma FH

Juniors Freestyle Podium

1° Allegra Schmitz-Morkramer (GER) & Libertad

2° Lana-Pinou Baumgürtel (GER) - Zinq Emma FH

3° Myles Graham (GBR) & Nibeley Union Hit

Children Team Podium

1° Germany

2° Sweden

3° Spain

Children Individual Podium

1° Marie Bernhard (GER) – For Rock G

2° Therese Billig (GER) – Faro Shen

3° Lal Mira Gürgen (TUR) - Lowland

Check the full results here

Photo Caption: BILLIG Therese (GER), BERNHARD Marie (GER), GUERGEN Lal Mira (TUR) at the at the FEI Dressage European Championships for U25 and Young Riders 2023 held in Pilisjászfalu (HUN)

Photo Copyright: © FEI/www.sportfotos-lafrentz.de/Stefan Lafrentz

Images & Content: Free images for editorial purposes are available from the FEI Flickr account in the photostream and in the dedicated album.

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About Fédération Equestre Internationale (FEI) www.fei.org   

The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.

The FEI became one of the first international sports governing bodies to govern and regulate global para sport alongside its seven able-bodied disciplines when Para Dressage joined its ranks in 2006. The FEI now governs all international competitions for Para Dressage and Para Driving.

Media contacts:

Didier Montes Kienle
Manager, Sport Communications & Media Relations
didier.montes@fei.org 
+41 78 750 61 21

France achieved the rare feat of two back-to-back wins in the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series, this weekend. This was the sixth leg of this popular Series, which took place at Avenches (SUI).

Fresh from their victory on home turf at Haras de Jardy (FRA) last week, this week saw a largely different but experienced team compete, with only Maxime Livio competing again on a different horse. The team in Avenches, which also included Raphaël Cochet, Christopher Six and Mathieu Lemoine, were strong in all three phases, scoring 135.5 to finish with a comfortable lead over team Italy, who completed on 148.9. Italy were delighted with this, after climbing from sixth after the dressage phase. Meanwhile Switzerland, the home nation, had a less than desirable experience in the jumping test to drop from overnight second to third, with a final score of 155.0.

With all eyes on Paris, the French have shown much of the strength and depth they have to offer during this Series. If all continues to go to plan, they could be strong medal contenders at their home Olympic Games. This is their third Nations Cup victory out of just three attempts this season, having won at Chatsworth (GBR) in May as well as Haras de Jardy. Significantly, all three events presented particularly challenging cross-country tracks in terms of jumping efforts and making the time allowed, and the French have excelled in both jumping and cross-country phases in all their performances. Each French team has presented a different line-up of athletes and, in all cases, the individual winner was also a French team athlete.

In Avenches, it was time for Raphaël Cochet to shine, taking the CCIO4*-NC-S individually. He rode one of the fastest cross-country rounds of the day on his super Selle Francais mare Difda Du Very, and despite lowering one rail in the Jumping phase, he slipped just ahead of Felix Vogg after the Swiss rider had two fences down.

Speaking after his performance, Cochet said: “I never expected to win here. I came here focusing on winning with the team but wasn’t thinking about an individual win at all. My mare Dijda du Very is a very complete mare, who is good in all three tests, but there are so many factors that play a role first with Dressage, then the cross country and Jumping phases, that winning here is really an incredible feeling and gives very special emotions.”

“Competing in an FEI Nations Cup is foremost a great pride for me to compete for my Nation. Our sport is primarily an individual sport and when you can compete within a team with riders with whom you are close friends, it’s a very special feeling. A win with a team has a really incredible flavour.

The event took place at the Institut Equestre National d'Avenches (IENA) - also the site for the 2021 FEI Eventing European Championships, as well as the FEI European Pony Championships for Dressage, Eventing and Jumping in 2008. It is on the outskirts of Avenches, the former capital of Roman Helvetia, and is considered one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland. The riders were full of praise for this picturesque and well-run event.

“We discovered the venue here in Avenches during the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ last year and we really loved it.  The care given to the cross country ground is amazing and so important for us and our horses, we will surely be back” said Cochet.

There were eight nations competing in Avenches- all from Europe. This Nations Cup series is of particular significance to some nations this year. The highest placed team according to the final team classification of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ Series 2023, excluding teams/NOCs already qualified, will be allocated a place for Paris 2024. The Belgians still lead the Series at this early stage, with 510 points scored. This was very much their aim this season, as they have not yet qualified for Paris.

The seventh leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ moves to Bromont (CAN), which runs from 11-13 August. Bromont Horse Trials is one of the most important equestrian events in Canada and the only FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ leg in the Americas.

Results from Avenches can be found here: https://live.rechenstelle.de/2023/avenches/nationcup01.htm

Excitement is building with one week to go until the largest Vaulting Championships in history takes place in Flyinge (SWE).  The FEI Vaulting European Championship will be held in combination with the FEI World Championship for Juniors and the premiere of the FEI World Championship for Young Vaulters.  

Hosting the three Championships is a  challenge embraced by the Swedish hosts and much anticipated by the athletes and spectators, with 26 nations and 135 horses expected to present themselves to the Ground Jury.

The first medals will be awarded to the Senior athletes on Friday, 28 July. In the hotly contested Female class, Switzerland has a strong showing with Ilona Hannich, Danielle Bürgi and Nadja Büttiker. Bürgi, who has had an excellent season showing her calibre on multiple horses, finished second at the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ in Omaha (USA) and the CVI3* in Bern (SUI),  and won the CVI** Masterclass in Wiesbaden (GER). Büttiker has a wealth of experience and Hannich has significantly increased her level as evidenced by her fourth place finish at the CHIO Aachen (GER) in June 2023.

Austria’s Eva Nagiller will be aiming for a podium finish, after a disappointing run at the FEI Vaulting World Championship in Herning (DEN) in 2022 due to her horse becoming unsettled.

It is a family affair for Germany, as each athlete will be lunged by their parent. Kathrin Meyer, winner of the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ in Omaha in 2023 and more recently champion of CHIO Aachen, has had an almost perfect season. She will start the event as the favourite and will be lunged by her mum Sonja. Much of her competition comes from 2022 FEI Vaulting World Championship silver medallist Julia Sophie Wagner, also lunged by her mother Katja, and Alina Ross who is striving for her first senior medal alongside her father Volker.

The family theme continues with the Brüsewitz Brüder (Brüsewitz brothers) trio, the Male contingent from Germany, comprising Viktor, Thomas, and honorary brother Jannik Heiland. While they have a plethora of medals, a senior gold medal has been elusive.

The biggest title challenge comes from the youngest contender, Frenchman and current Vice-World Champion Quentin Jabet. The 20 year old vaults with such precision and grace that he will be hard to beat. Fellow countryman, Theo Gardies also has a unique style and ability worthy of championship glory. It is a narrow but strong field with multiple highly decorated athletes, which will make for a tight and exciting battle.

Vaulting aficionados will be looking to see if Germany can remain dominant in the sport despite filling only one of their two Pas-de-Deux spaces. Diana Harwardt and Peter Künne have the nation’s hopes on their shoulders. As silver medallists at the FEI Vaulting World Championships in Herning (DEN) in 2022, there is high expectations for them to pick up the torch passed from retired teammates 2022 FEI World Champions Chiara Congia and Justin van Gerven.

Bronze medallists at the 2022 FEI Vaulting World Championship Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella, will endeavour to turn the tables and bring gold home for Italy.  Both couples will face stiff competition from Switzerland and Austria. Ilona Hannich competing together with Li Laffer for Switzerland will be going after their first Championship bid, while Austrians Eva Nagiller and Romana Hintner will try to replicate or improve on their 2019 FEI European Championship bronze medal finish.

Germany’s Team Norka are on course to take the top step of the Squad podium again, and although they are in a different composition to the last few years, they have had a solid season.  Their biggest rivals are the Swiss, who they have defeated twice this year. The third podium step is where it might get interesting, as the lack of an Austrian entry throws the floor open. The Swedish have the home advantage and they have been working hard towards this goal for a long time. Nordic rivals, Denmark, have seen medal success in recent years and will ride that wave to aim for further glory.  However, the Netherlands could ruin it for them both, as their squad have been quietly progressing and have an equal opportunity to steal the third position.

The final competition of the event will be the Official Team. One squad and two individuals from each country will combine to be crowned European Champions. Much like the Squad competition, and sadly due to the absence of a French and Austrian Squad, it looks to be a fight for the top between Germany and Switzerland. Germany has something to prove after missing out on an Official Team medal at the 2022 FEI World Championships, proving that even the best can falter under pressure. There will certainly be pressure for the Netherlands, Sweden and 2022 vice-World Champions Denmark, as the podium lies tantalisingly close.

FEI Vaulting World Championship for Juniors

The FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors has an exceptional number of Female entries. A record fifty-six have declared, including Polina Shovkova and Kateryna Panasenko, Ukraine’s first representatives at a Vaulting Championship.  They will take to the circle aboard Filon, lunged by Kevine Moneuse (FRA).  Historically the World Junior Female title is reserved for Austria and Clara Ludwiczek, Antonia Mayerhofer and Katharina Feldhofer will try to keep up the tradition.  Switzerland offers three strong contenders Leonie Linsbichler, Mara Hofer, Noemi Licci, and the quality presented by Germany is just as high with Mia Kluge, Mirja Luise Krohne and Laura Seemüller.  

It is not only these heavyweight nations who hold Europe’s medal chances. Oceane Gehan brings high hopes for France, while Giorgia Varisco could claim her place in history for Italy. Nora Sandberg Müller is the top choice for the home nation. Of course, the title could head across the pond with Hannah Wildermuth (USA) who has had an excellent season but has not yet met the full might of European talent. The quality of participants is undoubtedly high, and success will go to those who manage the pressure of high-level competition both mentally and physically. Of course the calibre and composure of the horses and lungers may be the deciding factor.

Dutch Junior Male World Champion Sam dos Santos returns to defend his title after competing at the Senior Championship in Herning (DEN) in 2022. Since his victory at the FEI World Championships for Juniors in Le Mans (FRA) in 2021 he has proven himself at a level to take on and prevail over many of the top Senior Men. Triumph is not inevitable as there are other high-grade juniors out to take his title. The bronze medallist at the FEI Vaulting European Championship for Juniors in Kaposvar (HUN) in 2022 Arnee Heers is the front runner for Germany and his young teammate Lukas Heitmann might also manage a medal at his first major Championship. Synonymous with excellence in Male vaulting, France has two hopefuls: Baptiste Terrier and Louis Dumont.  Each must show exceptional rounds if they are to win the class for France for the first time.

Out to make history for his country, Jakub Roguski could become the first decorated Polish vaulter.  He finished sixth at the 2022 FEI European Championships for Juniors and has been producing quality performances this season. Other 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 girl power as every combination is a female partnership.  As in the senior category, Germany have elected to only present one pair: Lisa Marie Wagner and Timea Bonekat.  Austrians Anja Huber and Katharina Feldhofer could upgrade their 2022 European bronze medal but will have to fend off team-mates Sarah Victoria Köck and Clara Dick, as well as Italy’s Giorgia Varisco and Greta Gemignani who are on course for a first Junior medal. 

It is gratifying to see the increasing number of nations participating in the Championships. This year both Brazil and Canada will premiere a Junior Squad. Fierce competition awaits in the form of European Champions Switzerland. They will present the same 2022 victorious squad albeit on a different horse – Lagrima.  They too will have to stave off competition from formidable squads from Italy, Germany and Austria. 

FEI World Championship for Young Vaulters

The Young Vaulter class was established in 2022 to bridge the gap between Junior and Senior level. The format is mainly the same as the Senior competition although the athletes, aged 16-21, perform only three of the five obligatory exercises within their Technical Test. A hugely successful 2022 FEI European Championship in Kaposvar (HUN), has led to a positive uptake in participants, with the prize to become the maiden World Champion, an alluring prospect.

Joint favourites in the Female category are: current European Champion from Germany Alice Layher with her medal winning combination, and Averill Saunders who is on the hunt for Canada’s first Vaulting medal.  Saunders has a strong chance of achieving that dream if she can control her mind and remain free of the heel injury which hampered the middle of her season.  Switzerland’s Michelle Brügger and Alicia Bärtschi will be pushing their nation towards the top of the table alongside 2022 Junior European Champion Anna Weidenauer (AUT) who has moved into the higher age bracket this year.

Determination and dedication comes in the form of Caroline Morse (USA) who has flown over her own horse Grasshopper AF for the best chance of success. Desiring to be the one to bring home honours for her country, compatriot Melanie Ford has teamed up with a German combination San Felice Z and Christina Ender. The youngest competitor at 17 years old is Italy’s Giada Samiolo, not that you could tell from her string of good results this year. Alongside Giorgia Fanucci, either would be worthy to stand on the rostrum for Italy.

Ruben Delauney (FRA) the 2022 FEI Male European Champion for Young Vaulters has now progressed into the Senior category which leaves the title space open. Inevitably it will be Austria versus Germany in a tussle for the top. 2022 Silver and bronze medallists, Philip Clement and Fabian Lipp will try to better their results for Austria, while 2022 FEI Junior European Champion Bela Lehnen (GER) has been in superb form and is joined by Philip Goroncy and Jonathon Geib each looking for German glory.

It will be an action-packed week of Vaulting, with quality horses, incredible skills, and a rollercoaster of emotions. The culmination of years of preparation and teamwork, it all comes down to mental toughness, steadfast horses, and a little bit of luck. History will be made once again as we eagerly anticipate the crowning of new champions.

Photo Caption: Averill Saunders at the Burlington Capital FEI Vaulting World CupTM Final 2023 in Omaha (USA) - FEI / Richard Juilliart

In a tense four-way contest, Australia and Japan both earned a spot at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games when filling the top two places in today’s Group G Olympic Jumping qualifier at Valkenswaard in The Netherlands where New Zealand and China missed out when finishing third and fourth.

The Australians took the early lead when posting just seven faults in the first round while the Japanese were just a single fault behind with eight on the board. But New Zealand and China were already lagging well behind, carrying 24 and 34 faults respectively as round two began.

The 12-fence track set by Peter Schumacher and Frank Humbeek was well up to height and asked plenty of questions. The triple combination at fence seven and the double three from home proved particularly testing and only two riders kept a clean sheet first time out. 

The first of these was Australia’s Laura Balcomb with the feisty 12-year-old gelding Verdini d’Houtveld Z who was both nimble and very quick, and the second was Japan’s Yuko Itakura and her 11-year-old mare Stakkatisa PS who also gave a great account of themselves. However there were no zero scores in the second round.

Contention

When the Chinese team of Zingjia Zhang (Cevrine du Banney Z), Yuchen Chen (Gaga E d’Augustijn), Ella Yunjing Wang (Hoselinde) and Yaofeng Li (Jericho Dwerse Hagen) added 25 more faults to their tally they were well out of contention, although Zhang and Chen produced much-improved performances at their second attempt. Wang, who retired in round one, was eliminated for a fall on her second tour of the track.

Meanwhile New Zealand’s Daniel Meech (Donjon d’Asschaut), Phillip Steiner (Cassina Dior), Richard Gardner (Calisto) and Tom Tarver-Priebe (Fiber Fresh Popeye) added 22 to their scoreline, so the Kiwis were well adrift of the two leading sides going into the closing stages.

Japanese pathfinder was Tokyo Olympian Eiken Sato who clipped the middle element of the triple combination first time out and again in round two when Chacanno also hit the penultimate vertical, while compatriot Itakura looked en route to a second clear until lowering both the first element of the double three from home and the following vertical. 

Third-line Japanese team member Mike Kawai was reserve rider for his country’s team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games and is currently ranked 15th in the U25 Jumping rankings, but he collected 33 first-round faults when he pulled his horse out in the middle of the triple combination before successfully re-presenting him. Despite the addition of 10 more faults next time out however, Japan’s presence in Paris in 12 months’ time was already assured because, even before anchorman Taizo Sugitani and Quincy set off for their final effort in which they collected eight faults, their side was still assured of at least that second Olympic qualifying slot.

Cruised

The Australians cruised into pole position in the end, although not without a little drama. Their pathfinder, Hilary Scott who moved to her base near Valkenswaard in 2016 and who continues to produce great results with her home-bred - in Australia - team of horses, posted just a single time fault first time out and had two down at her second attempt. 

Then it was all eyes on Chris Burton who looked set for a spectacular first round clear until his 11-year-old mare Chedington Hazy Toulana seemed to lose her focus coming to the double on the way home and ducked out to leave him carrying 17 surprising faults.

The man who carved out a superb career in Eventing, helping to clinch team bronze for his country at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, switched sports last year with an eye to a place on the Australian Jumping team for Paris and he wasn’t going to make the same mistake again, lowering only the middle element of the triple combination second time out to help bolster his team’s chances. And by the time Balcomb returned with just four on the board, collected most annoyingly at the very first fence, the winning result was already in the bag, Australian anchor, Edwina Tops-Alexander partnering Fellow Castlefield, adding eight to the six she collected first time out but not altering that final team tally.

Thrilled

Balcomb was thrilled. “This is probably the best feeling in the world!”, said the 33-year-old rider who is based in Ocala, Florida (USA).  “We were expecting the competition to be pretty tough and I thought the course designer did a great job to challenge us, but Verdini is such a special character and he was brilliant today. He has a heart of gold, he’s brave, tough and careful and I’m so proud of him! This is the first time I’ve shown in Europe and my horse only got here last Wednesday!”.

Japan’s Taizo Sugitani, a six-time Olympian, said there was plenty of pressure on all the riders and their horses today. “A qualifier like this is always a tough one, you have to fight to the end and you need to have a good day”, he pointed out. He praised team-mate Yuko Itakura for her brilliant first-round clear that gave his whole team a huge lift. 

“I knew she would do it, and that clear made all our riders more focused”, he said. However although the qualification is now secured he knows very well that there is more work to be done. “It’s still a long way to go to Paris, and now we have to continue to put everything together again over the next 12 months - but we are really looking forward to it!” 

Perfect conclusion

For Australian Chef d’Equipe, Todd Hinde, today was the perfect conclusion to his time as High Performance Jumping Manager for Equestrian Australia. He was recently appointed as new Director of Jumping at the FEI, and will take up the post in September.

“I’m super-excited about stepping into the role. It’s an exciting time for the sport and I look forward to working with all the team to keep the sport growing”, he said. 

He always felt his side would do well today. “We presented seven horses at the trot-up and we could have had any four of them compete. I was confident the four we chose would go out there and produce the result”, he said. And he was right.

So Australia and Japan now join the list of qualified nations that also includes the hosts from France, the top five countries from last summer’s FEI World Championship - Sweden, The Netherlands, Great Britain, Ireland and Germany - Belgium as winners of the 2022 Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final and Saudi Arabia and UAE who made the cut at the Olympic qualifier in Doha in Qatar in February 2023.

The next Olympic Jumping qualifying event takes place in Prague (CZE) on Sunday 30 July where teams from Group C will do battle for two more places.

Don’t miss a hoofbeat…..

FULL RESULTS HERE

It was a familiar victory Sunday in Falsterbo (SWE) for Denmark, who brought the 2023 FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ season to a close with an impressive victory over the home nation.

The victory marked the second straight in Falsterbo for the Danish, who were also Nations Cup victors at CDIO5* Compiègne (FRA) in May and runners-up at CDIO5* Aachen (GER) this season. The four-rider squad of Daniel Bachmann Andersen (Zippo M.I.), Anna Zibrandtsen (Quel Filou), Nadja Aaboe Sloth (Favour Gersdorf) and Anne Marie Hosbond (Scarlett 712) finished the CDIO4* FEI Grand Prix, Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle tests on a winning total of 22 points. Sweden finished second with 31 points, followed by the Netherlands (43 points)

Team classification was determined by adding up points for the three best results per team in the Grand Prix and across the Grand Prix Special and Grand Prix Freestyle, with points equating to finish positions in the tests. The winning team recorded the lowest point total. 

Both Bachmann Andersen and Sloth were part of last year's winning team and returned to Falsterbo with the same mounts from that performance. Their experience showed as they delivered under pressure, with Bachmann Andersen performing best for his team in the Grand Prix, finishing third; and Sloth putting forth Denmark's best result in the Freestyle, checking in fourth.

But it was the Special that proved to be Denmark's best test, with Zibrandtsen and Bachmann Andersen riding to personal bests aboard Quel Filou (75.787%) and Zippo M.I. (75.128%), respectively, to take the top two placings. Bachmann Andersen had twice the responsibility, also serving as the squad's chef d'equipe.

"I think we have performed really, really well and also [had] very solid performances in the Grand Prix, where we laid the foundation for this great result." 

Daniel Bachmann Andersen (DEN)

After a brief respite from competition to focus on training, 11-year-old Zippo M.I. has come out stronger, finishing on the podium in each of his tests.

 

"He was doing World Cups and I was thinking, 'Okay, we'll give him a little break from the shows to try to make some of the things better and stronger, give him some more self-confidence. And that really worked out," Bachmann Andersen said. "He's been coming out even stronger and even better in his piaffes. That was not his strength. I feel like we are working closer together, and he's starting to be an established Grand Prix horse at the top level."

Bachmann Andersen and Zibrandtsen were never separated by more than one position on the leaderboard. For Zibrandtsen, her performance was especially meaningful given it was her horse's Nations Cup debut. The pair debuted internationally just one year ago, at Falsterbo in the CDI3* division. 

"When we did the halt [in the Special, Quel Filou] was like, 'I want to go forward. Why are we standing here?' He's just fighting for it and fighting for us...I was just smiling all the way. I was so happy."

Anna Zibrandtsen (DEN)

Sweden certainly made its rally, with Patrik Kittel securing wins in both the Grand Prix and Grand Prix Freestyle. But it was depth that kept Denmark on top.

"The Danish team is strong, not just [with us] here, but also [with] all the other riders competing for the team of Denmark," Bachmann Andersen said. "In Aachen, we were very strong as well. I think we just have a really, really good foundation of good horses, good training, good riders, good teamwork, and we support each other."

Falsterbo's top two finishers were among the top three in the final FEI Dressage Nations Cup™ standings for 2023. But it was fourth-place finishers Germany who secured the overall series title, with wins at CDIO3* Wellington (USA), CDIO3* Budapest (HUN) and CDIO5* Aachen (GER).

"Aachen is our second selection [event] for the European Championships, so we had our four top riders on the team, but apart from that, we went with younger riders," said Johnny Hilberath, Germany's chef d'equipe. "It started in [Wellington] in early spring and went until here [in Falsterbo]. To win the series, is not bad, I think!"

Germany finished the season with 46 points, followed by Denmark (40 points). Sweden finished the season in third with 35 points.

"We take the Nations Cup series very seriously," Hilberath added. "It's an honor to represent our country, so we try to bring to all events a team."

Full results

Top-level and very diverse representation from all over the old continent at the FEI Jumping European Championships for Young Riders, Juniors and Children held in Gorla Minore (ITA), where the Irish riders stole the show with three gold medals in Juniors and Young Riders categories.

Check the podium winners:

Children Individual Podium

1° Clémentine Lux (BEL) & Cash de L'Ecuyer

2° Uxue Arruza Rodriguez (ESP) & Clarin de Llamosas

3° Jolie Marie Kühner (GER) & Dialo

Juniors Individual Podium

1° Anastasia Nielsen (MON) & Tailormade Contou

2° Tom Wachman (IRL) & Cathalina S

3° Nick Nanning (NED) & Bandia

Young Riders Individual Podium

1° Seamus Hughes Kennedy (IRL) & Esi Rocky

2° Beata Hermelin (SWE) & Obsession Night

3° Skye Morssinkhof (NED) & G-Vingino-Blue

Children Team Podium

1° Germany (Brianne Beerbaum/Carlucci 20, Maximilian Fimpel/Cartagena, Luise Konle/ Dressed For Success, Jolie Marie Kühner/Dialo e Colin Sorg/Casillas 11)

2° France (Louise Anquetin/Ucello de Hus, Maxime Birkle/ Balenciaga du Gandy, Melina Bouillot/Canabis d'Albain, Luis Louan/Silver des Peux, Zoe Vageon Ledy/Arkana Messipierre)

3° Great Britain (Darcy Honeybunn Daisy/Kunis, Emily Gulliver/Fleur de Nuit 8, Sienna Lanni/Bermudez BDA, Ruby Payne/Whitesparke Pepper, Sula Von Bülow/Dabella)

Juniors Team Podium

1° Ireland (Eoin Brennan/Eskola M, James Brennan/MHS Im The One, Tom Wachman/Cathalina S, Coen Williams/Conthanja)

2° Netherlands (Thijmen Vos/Ive Got The Keys, Emma Bocken/ Kadessa Z, Wesley de Boer/Kaphira, Nick Nanning/Bandia, Finn Boerekamp/ Mimosa)

3° Great Britain (Lauren Caroline/Gait L, Maisy Williams/Devil v/d To Jo Pe Hoeve, Noora Von Bülow/Interstar B, Tabitha Kyle/Desterly, Sophie Evans/Csio Bel)

Young Riders Team Podium

1° Ireland (Seamus Hughes Kennedy/Esi Rocky, Niamh Mcevoy/Templepatrick Welcome Limmeric, Ciaran Nallon/Fifty Shades Of Grey, Max Wachman/Quintini, Rhys Williams/Playboy JT Z)

2° Belgium (Jules Van Hoydonck/Minte Vd Bisschop, Mathieu Bourdeaud ́ Hui/Oscar The Homage, Leon Brutsaert/Corleone Tour Vidal, Tristan Guisson/Naturelle Vh Legitahof Z, Aaron Tijskens/Hurricane)

3° Great Britain (Oliver Fletcher/Iv Willem, Nicole Lockhead Anderson/Chatondo, Claudia Moore/Hardesther, Alexander Mclean/Gino F, Red Morgan/Golia)

Check the full results here

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The FEI is the world governing body for horse sport recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and was founded in 1921. Equestrian sport has been part of the Olympic movement since the 1912 Games in Stockholm.

The FEI is the sole controlling authority for all international events in the Olympic sports of Jumping, Dressage and Eventing, as well as Driving, Endurance and Vaulting.

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The home side dominated the French leg of the FEI Eventing Nations Cup™ from beginning until end. Their overall score of 101.5 put them well ahead of Belgium who completed on 142.8. Third place went to Great Britain who finished on 149.9. 

This was the fifth leg of this popular series which took place for the first time at Haras de Jardy this weekend, and attracted nine European nations as well as Australia. The victorious French team was made up of experienced team members Maxime Livio and Gwendolen Fer, together with up-and-coming talent, Julie Simone and Camille Lejeune. All four riders performed well enough to put them inside the top ten with Livio winning the CCIO4*-NC individually on the impressive grey, Api Du Libaire, and Lejeune finishing in second place aboard Dame Decoeur Tardonne. 

Speaking after the event the triumphant Livio summed up the result for his team and his own performance with his Selle Francais gelding. “It’s always a great feeling to have such a win, especially when we are in France for the French team. I am very pleased especially for this horse because he has come back at the high level just this week and he concluded with a win and I am so happy. It was his first big show of the season so the pressure was a little higher. It is always a pleasure to ride at Jardy because it’s a nice place for the horses and it was a pleasure to come back with one of my top horses and I was pleased. I really appreciated his mentality because he was really connected with me”.

With world-renowned course designer Pierre Michelet in charge of the cross-country, riders knew they would face a tough test. The French designer has designed a number of championship courses, including the Rio Olympics, the 2014 FEI World Championships in Haras Du Pin and Pau CCI 5*. Whilst France led throughout, the cross-country course shook up the order beneath that. Germany, who were second behind France after the first phase, had only one rider complete the competition and therefore finished in 10th, the bottom of the table. 

Camille Lejeune commented on the complexity of the cross-country course, which proved to be particularly influential and saw a number of eliminations, retirements and both jumping and time faults throughout the day. “That was the first time for the Nations Cup in Jardy. It was a very tough course, very twisty, lots of fences and a lot of jumps. Something like 40 jumps in six minutes 38 so it was a very quick race. Everything was great with my horse”.

Livio was happy to be riding a more experienced horse on the cross-country. “The course was technical with many combinations and big angles and different striding with many choices for the riders but my horse is very experienced so I was quite confident. The time here is always difficult so I decided to go for the time at the beginning of the course and then just feel my horse. From beginning to end he was very motivated and focused on each fence so he finished inside the time and I think he enjoyed a lot, the course”.

The sixth leg of the Nations Cup plays out in Avenches, (Switzerland) which takes place from 20-23 July. The Series will conclude at Boekelo (NED) from 4-8 October, where a Paris Olympics team place will be awarded to the highest place nation not already qualified. Belgium, who are one of those nations looking for a place in Paris, continue to lead the series on 440 points. They have targeted the Nations Cup for the purpose of helping their chance of qualification, and have sent a team to everyone so far. 

FULL RESULTS HERE