As every year at Easter time, the Equipolis Tiziana in Fossalta di Portogruaro (Italy) fills of the colours of the nations committed in the first CVI of the season. As always, sun, rain and wind interchanged themselves, as they were underlining the different performances of this year’s competitors, which were many and high-levelled. Not only Italy, Austria, Germany and Switzerland strongly participated (they have been regulars of the important Italian event for years) but there were also athletes coming from Czech Republic, Russia, Spain and Morocco.
Nine nations, over 250 athletes and about 80 horses. Not bad for the first event of the season, which took place at the same time as the French CVI in Saumur. As always, the competition begun with the 1*s categories, you can read about it here.
They were three intense days, in which well-known athletes and rising stars gave everything they had. Austria took the lion’s share, winning twenty medals (nine golds). Germany secured the second biggest medal collection with fifteen medals (six golds), then Italy with eleven medals (five golds).
The organizing committee had the satisfaction of seeing competing 18 individuals female, 9 individuals male, 3 squads and 7 pas de deux at the highest level.
INDIVIDUAL FEMALE
The individual female competition was definitely a harsh battle. Austria’s Katharina Luschin (Maria Lehrmann, Fairytale) gained the highest step of the podium climbing a step on every entrance. Marina Mohar from Switzerland on For Ever du Chalet, lunger Simone Aebi, closed second followed by Germany’s Regina Burgmayr, third with Feliciano and Lars Hansen on the lunge. Italy’s Silvia Stopazzini ended up just outside the podium, fourth with Rosenstolz 99 and lunger Laura Carnabuci. Jasmine Lindner (AUT), one of the favorites to win, and second-ranked after the technical test, had to withdraw due to a fall in the dismount. Unfortunately, Anna Cavallaro could not take part to the competition either, due to a bronchitis. We wish both a fast recovery.
INDIVIDUAL MALE
Just as the women, also the men battled in a competition full of twists that led to Francesco Bortoletto’s (ITA) victory in the event. This was Francesco’s first gold medal in an international competition at the highest level. Suisse champion Lukas Heppler (Kathrin Mumprecht, First Nobody), who just won the silver medal at the World Cup Finals in Dortmund, ended up second and Italy’s Giovanni Bertolaso (Nelson Vidoni, Monaco Franze 4) closed third at his debut in the 3* class.
SQUADS
Team Wildegg from Austria (Maria Lehrmann, Alessio L’Amabile) has been in the lead of the squad competition since day one. The team proved to be able to perform three clean tests and showed once again a great degree of creativity in their freestyle. The second place went to Germany’s Team Ingelsberg with Lazio 9 and lunger Alexander Hartl. The Italian team lunged by Laura Carnabuci had to make do with the third place, since Hot Date Tek could not keep up with Lazio 9 and Alessio l’Amabile.
PAS DE DEUX
The German anthem finally played for the pair formed by Michael Walker and Nadja Wiesemberg (Nicole Wahl, Rochford 26), followed on the second place by Austria’s Eva Nagiller and Romana Hinter (Klaus Haidacher, PLI Oreille). The third place went to Switzerland’s Seline Walder and Svenja Lehmann with Bentley II and lunger Rita Blieske. Italy top pair Silvia Stopazzini and Lorenzo Lupacchini, 2017 European champions, decided to withdraw before the beginning of the competition not to jeopardize Lorenzo’s full recovery after this winter’s injury.
