The CVI that took place in Fossalta di Portogruaro in the Easter week was a good one. The Equipolis Tiziana is back to host the important event of equestrian vaulting, after the break of last year, and did it in style. The high popularity of the event was confirmed by the high number of competitors coming not only from Europe, but also from the United States, Canada and Australia.
The 1* athletes were the protagonists of the first two days. As always many, especially since Portogruaro, being one of the first competitions of the season, gives the opportunity to obtain the qualifications to move to the upper category, the 2*, which for the youngest constitutes the highest category available; the one that, possibly, would allow them to try their hand for the Europeans next summer in Bern (SUI).
Let’s start the report as usual with the results of the youngest, the promises of the individual 1* Children.
The performance of Diletta Caldart (ITA, E. Lambardi, Bambola), who won the category with merit, is remarkable. In particular, the freestyle was executed smoothly and with a good interpretation. Second place for the Austrian Emilia Beck (M. Neubauer, Killoughter Water Lilley) and, somewhat detached, the bronze medal went to the German Stella Pfaffenzeller (A. Hartl, Stirling 3).
In the men’s field we start from the Junior, and here too the premises for the future seem good, at least for Germany, which ranks two young athletes: Sebastian Renkl (S. Peisl, Captain Curtis) stands in particular for the high technical quality exhibited, and is followed by Felix Whole (A. Harwardt, Crashkurs), who will instead shine in the Pas de Deux.
The ranking of the Junior 1* women is uncertain until the end, a prelude to the most competitive category ever, the Junior 2*. During the course of the competition, it was possible to witness radical reversals in the positions in the standings, due to very close evaluations between the competitors, sometimes hundredths of a point made the difference. None of the competitors really dominated from start to finish, but the gold went to Aurora Bellinato (ITA) led by Anna Cavallaro, here as the lunger of her Monaco Franze 4. Satisfaction for the Australian Sahara Weil (L. Carnabuci, Fran D’Alme CZ) that has been repaid of the long and important trip with the silver medal. Bronze to the Austrian Sarah Koroschets (C. Petersohn, Opus of the Van D’Bay).
Among the Senior 1* the gaps in the scores of the two tests were sharper, but it can be said that the freestyle made the difference. In fact, except Hannah Schulz (GER, P. Wagner, Sandox), who was second after the compulsories and kept the position after the freetest, the other two medalists, Arianna Di Paola (ITA, L. Carnabuci, Fran D’Alme CZ), the winner, and Anna Luschin (AUT, S. Nussmuller, Vielleicht) bronze medalist, have climbed the ranking from positions in the rearguard.
In the Senior 1* male, Paul Ruttkovsky (AUT, M. Lehrmann, Irresistible), unusual guest in this category given his established career at much higher levels, ended up on the first step of the podium, with a new horse still in training. He is followed by Filippo Garbinetto (ITA, C. Petersohn, Dorian) and Vitaly Davide Vertua (ITA, K. Moneuse, Star Walker).
The winners of the Pas De Deux 1*, both Junior and Senior, went on to compete in the 2* class. In particular, the Junior winners Felix Wohe and Greta Helene Liebig (GER, A. Harwardt, Crashkurs) won the 1* event thanks to a freestyle decisively superior to their opponents. Wohe and Liebig also proved their strength in the upper category where there are no compulsories. Selina Look and Sebastian Renkl (GER, S. Peisl, Captain Curtis) and Lena Ramberger with Hanna Reiter (AUT, K. Herk, Miss Barcelona) complete the podium. In the Senior category, Laura Luz and Veronica Frey (GER, A. Hartl, Rocco 467) impose themselves quite clearly on Emily Scherer and Valentin Schmid (AUT, S. Frauenschuh, Aragorn Elmar XV).
The 2* individual categories have always been the most competitive, and not only because of the high number of participants.
Matilde Resente (ITA, N. Vidoni, Robert Redford 5) imposed herself in the female children 2* class from the very beginning. In the second freestyle she was a little less performant due to a fall in training that caused her some discomfort in the back. The gap however was high enough for her to maintain the first position even with a “safer” freestyle. Germany’s Jennifer Reichert (GER, K. Wagner, Samor) ended up second, whose strength is certainly given by the compulsories. However, since the freestyle also was remarkable, hers will certainly be a name that will meet again in the future. The trip was certainly very positive for Neea Kostiainen (FIN, C. Petersohn, Opus of the Van D’Bay) who won the bronze medal, and even close to the second place.
Jan Stellahaegi (ITA, N. Vidoni, Monaco Franze 4) and Leonel Gelke (GER, J. Stelzer, Dr. Grunow) fought in the junior male class. Jan definitely dominates the first phase of the race, while the second freestyle sees Leonel as protagonist. It is a pleasure to see Jan in full shape: he really seems to have overcome the bad period he went through last year, studded with injuries and accidents, and now we hope that he is finally ready to express all his potential. Endowed with exceptional elasticity and abandoned his traits as a child, he is also developing the power that characterizes the male exercises, all without forgetting the interpretation that had so distinguished him from the beginning. Ettore Arena (ITA, L. Carnabuci, Fran D’Alme C Z) takes the third position.
In the women’s field Clara Ludwiczek (AUT, K Haidacher, Domino), reigning world champion, certainly does not disappoint. Perfect in execution, strong and graceful at the same time, she gave the audience a great show. The performance of Giada Samiolo (ITA, L. Carnabuci, Fran D’Alme C Z) was also excellent and earned her the place of honour and proved to be able to compete at the highest level. The third step of the podium was occupied by Dana Benedict (AUT, AUT, M. Lehmann, Calcifer). Dana Benedict was the protagonist of a great comeback thanks to a freestyle in the second round that touches the eight and a half points and catapulted her from the rear to the podium.
Giorgia Fanucci (ITA, E. Lambardi, Bambola), Lisa Wagner (GER, K. Wagner, Cascais) and Leonie Koller (AUT, K. Haidacher, Idefix 25), fought point by point for the final ranking of the Young Vaulter Female event. The three of them showed great technical skills, but Giorgia Fanucci has literally shone.
In the men’s field, the Austrian Paul Ruttkovsky (AUT, M. Lehrmann, Chivas 14), finally in his own category, was able to fully demonstrate his expertise.
Overall, the victory was easy for Rebecca Greggio (ITA, C. Petersohn, Eclair du Logis) in Senior 2*, where she competed to train Eclair du Logis, a future companion of adventure. Rebecca is not the only star to participate in categories lower than their usual to prepare for the most important competitions a new horse. Scrolling through the complete ranking you can see several names repeated in different categories for this reason. To be beaten only by Rebecca Greggio is therefore an enormous satisfaction for Chiara Tavoso (ITA, N. Vidoni, Monaco Franze 4) who with the gracefulness and grace that are her own, won the jury. Berenike Einspieler (AUT, L. Kalcher-Prein, Asti Royal XL) can also be considered satisfied, in particular with the last free test, the best exercise after that of Rebecca Greggio.
Like Rebecca, her team-mate Davide Zanella (ITA, C. Petersohn, Eclair du Logis) also competed in the 2* for the love of the new horse Eclair du Logis, and even if he had no opponents, he gave the public a taste of great skill.
Pas de Deux Junior 2*. The German pair of Leonel Gelke and Jennifer Reichert (J. Stelzer, Grunow) clearly prevailed, followed by another German pair, that of Felix Wohe and Greta Helene Liebig (GER, A. Wardhart, Crashkurs) protagonists of the 1* event. In third place another pair from the competition 1* that of Lara Scherer and Julia Hasse (AUT, S. Frauenschuh, Izadora 16). Similar situation in the Pas de Deux 2* Senior, where in first place we find Laura Lutz and Veronica Frey (GER, A. Hartl, Rocco 467) followed by Emily Scherer and Valentin Schmid (AUT, S. Frauenschuh, Aragorn Elmar XV). Leonie Auracher and Charlotte Storey (GER, J. Storey, Wildcard) follow on the third place.
One of the aspects that made this CVI particularly enjoyable, was the high number of participating teams, even of high level. It hasn’t happened in a long time. Austria returns in style and with a well-built Junior team masterfully led by Nicole Voithofer, lunger of PLI Oreille. The Austrian team was firmly in the lead from the first test and proved to be solid and well structured. Another Austrian team follows, that of Ursula Freund with Chantor Deux, then a German, with Bento 252 at the lunge of Hannelore Leiser. Austria also has a Senior 2* team that performed on Django, led by Melanie Neubauer.
Also present at the competition were various 3* teams, where a challenge between Austria and Germany, nations where vaulting is of great tradition. The Austrian Martina Seyrling and Fuerst D set the bar, which stood out for having good compulsories and a freetest well-structured and with original moves. It is followed by the German team that performed on Fider Rock at the lunge of Alexander Hartl. The German team, a veteran of the arena, is always extremely reliable in the compulsory, while in the free test has not been as good. At the end of the first round in the lead was another Austrian team, lunger Maria Lehrmann and horse Irresistible, but the team had to settle for the third place because of a second free somewhat messy and certainly not up to expectations.
To conclude the roundup of the protagonists of this Italian competition, we focus on the individual category 3*.
The 3* competition saw the participation of numerous “stars” of the vault firmament. In the women’s field, the winner was the Austrian Eva Nagiller (K. Haidacher, idefix 25), whose performances were all exceptional: precise and powerful the compulsory exercises, as well as those of the technician and of the freestyle where it has been noticed the great safety and elasticity of the athlete. In recent years Eva Nagiller has unfortunately alternated exceptional performances with burning disappointments. Finally, here in Portogruaro, she did not “quarrel” with the horse, and the exercises were – finally – smooth and safe. On the second step of the podium an excellent Rebecca Greggio (ITA, C. Petersohn, Orlando Tancredi), constantly growing. The bronze medal goes to another Austrian, Cornelia Pikl (M. Neubauer, Enjoy the Moment), also very regular in the results of the various performances. It is worth spending a word for Kimberly Palmer (USA, L. Carnabuci, Fran D’Alme C Z), one of the favorites of the competition, which ran into a series of bad days, where she just couldn’t find the necessary harmony with the horse for a performance at her level.
Clash of Titans in the individual male: five competitors, all of the highest level and all who gave the best. The overall test of Julian Wilfling (GER, A. Zebrak, Aragorn 102) was excellent, clearly dominating the race, while the other competitors, despite exhibiting excellent tests, were not as constant. In second place we find Philip Clement (AUT, L. Kalcher-Prein, Asti Royal XL), followed by Davide Zanella (ITA, C. Petersohn, Orlando Tancredi). Dominik Eder (AUT, L. Kalcher-Prein, Asti Royal XL), fell in the freestyle and had to settle for the fourth position, after performing magnificent compulsories and technical test, while the “veteran” Lukas Heppler (SUI, M. Neubauer, Enjoy the Moment), present at the highest levels of the international circuit of vaulting since time immemorial, has the great satisfaction of obtaining one of the highest scores in the technical judgment of the free test.
