Theo Gardies takes the Men’s title back to France

It was medals galore on what was super Saturday at the FEI Vaulting Championships. Five nations picked up gold medals in a day full of spectacular horse sport.

In a mind-blowing Senior Female final, Austria’s Eva Nagiller took home the Senior World title. She connected with borrowed horse Bastion and lunger Tomasz Ogonowski to produce a gentle and strong freestyle, 8.786. The silver medal went to Germany’s Alina Ross whose connection with family horse Baron R was obvious as she effortlessly performed her zombie Free test, 8.635.

For German sisters Alice and Helen Layer it was a dream come true at their first Senior Championship. Alice held her nerve throughout her routine and was rewarded with the bronze medal, 8.546. Nadja Bϋttiker had to settle for sixth place for the home nation after a time penalty proved incredibly costly.

It was a nail-biting finale in the Men’s competition. Once again, impeccable Vaulting led to an impressive final. Germany’s Thomas Brϋsewitz won his first Senior World medal, performing with character to take home the bronze, 8.636. Then it was all down to France. Theo Gardies entered second to last and with musicality and precision he earned top scores from the judges, piling the pressure onto teammate Quentin Jabet. Jabet moved seamlessly and was fully engrossed in his concept, however it wasn’t enough to hold the gold. Theo Gardies became the World Champion aboard Sir Sensation lunged by Sebastion Langlois (8.881), with the silver medal going home with Quentin Jabet for the second time (8.859).

There was glory for Switzerland in the Pas de Deux, with Zoe Maruccio and Syra Schmid stunning even themselves as a near flawless performance saw them sweep the silver medal (8.491). Germany’s Gisa Sternberg and Linda Otten had some performance errors dropping them one place but winning the bronze medal at their first Championships (8.397). The world title went home to Germany for the third consecutive time. Diana Harwardt and Peter Kϋnne proved themselves to good to be beaten (8.761).

FEI European Championships for Juniors and Young Vaulters

It was an historic day for Denmark as Josephine Vedel Sondergaard Nielsen vaulted her way to victory, winning the Danes their first Junior gold medal, 8.621, with Hanne Hagen Hansen and Tophoejs Geleto Lieto. Mara Hofer delighted the home crowd and with a delicate performance she rose to the occasion and finished in second place 8.329. The bronze medal went to German youngster Amari Santamaria Diaz, 8.280. No mean feat for the thirteen-year-old.

The Male final had a more tense ending. Small errors crept in to the performances of the final competitors leaving everyone on edge ahead of the results. Jakub Roguski won the Bronze medal and the first FEI Junior medal for Poland, 8.115, only a fraction behind Germany’s Lukas Heitmann. Heitmann’s horse trotted at the end of the test before the final dismount, however he managed to complete the test in time and just held on to the Silver medal for Germany, 8.177.

The gold went to Sam dos Santos from the Netherlands and he now has a European title to add to his two world titles. Doemaar struggled a little however Sam’s impeccable body control saw him through, and he was the clear winner with 8.490. 

There are still four medals on offer tomorrow on the final day, which will climax with the Nations Team competition. As the energy rises, we will see who has the nerve to be crowned World Champions and the Ultimate team.

FULL RESULTS