As a consolidated tradition,the vaulting world celebrates Easter in Italy. The meeting this year was from 15 to 20 April in Villasanta (MB), near Monza, at the facilities of the C.I.M., Club Ippico Monzese, not new to events of this scale.An important event, one of the first CVI of the season, awarded with a large number of athletes looking for the first qualifications and feedback on the preparation conducted during the long winter break. Representatives from all over the world have come on the field: in addition to the Italian team, quite well-fed despite some defections, there was the participation of very many vaulters coming in particular from neighboring Switzerland, but the Austrian team was also substantial, several Germans and French, as well as some representatives from Eastern Europe, even one from Cyprus. In addition to these, however, we had the pleasure of applauding also athletes from overseas, US, Canadian, Australian and South African.
1* event
As usual, Thursday was devoted first to veterinary visits and then to tests of the various specialties of 1* class. Both boys and girls showed a good level, confirmed by the fact that many of them have obtained the necessary qualifications and the admission to the 2* class competition, which began the following day. Needless to say that all these athletes have put in a great competitive and physical effort, but they have been rewarded with an equally great satisfaction.
Among the highlights of this 1* competition, it is worth mentioning the podium of the very fierce, young ladies in the Children class. The top three ranked are particularly distinguished, in order they are Amelie Linda Fischer (SUI, R. Klöti, Reno), Aurelie Richter (GER, K. Wagner, Samor) and Maya Matteini (ITA, M. Callegari, Nova), all with scores very close to 7.
The ranking of the Junior 1* girls, is completely coloured in red: Switzerland places four female athletes in the first four positions. The podium was occupied, in order by Yael Winkler (M. Winkler-Bischofberger, Rayo de la Luz), Lena Bollhadler (M. Winkler-Bischofberger, Rayo de la Luz) and Yara Metwaly (A. Löwy, Fiall Raven). They all qualified for 2* class and tried their best in the following competition: Lena Bollhadler, in particular, even took third place.
Too bad for the Senior competition, which, in truth, has a completely distorted ranking: the first four positions are occupied by athletes (very good indeed!) already classified 3* and 2* Young Vaulters. FEI rules allows them to participate, with another horse, in any category, even lower, and this fact is often exploited to make “practice” to horses, whose preparation is perhaps not quite complete to withstand tests at the highest levels. This, in our opinion, should not happen.
Even if the horse is “raw”, at its first international competitions, if you bring it to an important tournament it means that you think it is reasonably ready for it. Since in vaulting 75% of the score does not depend (at least directly) on the horse, we do not think it is very nice that some very experienced vaulters compete with those of a clearly lower level, taking away their pleasure to compare (and possibly win) among equals.
For a Young Vaulter or a 3*, competing in 1* class does not bring any advantage, does not apply to qualifications of any kind; in our opinion it would be more correct that, even with a new horse, if a high level vaulter would participate in his own class, making the compulsory 1*, if necessary, taking also “0”, just evaluating the horse, which is ultimately the purpose of the race. In conclusion, congratulations to Michelle Brugger (SUI, S. Graf, Dressage Royal Junior), Leandra Stadelmann (SUI, S. Graf, Dressage Royal Junior) and Luana Nienhuser (SUI, M. Hagmann, Pralin di M’Lin), but above all honor to Eleonora Casali (ITA, M. Callegari, Dublin VDM), fifth in the official ranking, but triumphant in the ranking of true female individual senior 1* class.
In the Pas de deux Junior 1*, the Germans Clementine Mandelsloh and Carlotta Prislin (J. Handel, Amontillado 9) win by a clear margin, who, with the qualification achieved, get the pass to participate (and win) also in category 2*. In the squares of honor two Italian couples: Aurora Girelli and Gaia Davoli (N. Vidoni, Dante), and Maria Mescalchin and Alessandra Tietto (C. Petersohn, Dorian).
2* event
The three days of competition for 2* and 3* classes were as usual very intense, a real tour de force that put to the test both competitors and judges.
From France always come guys, many more than other nations, and it’s great having always new recruits. The podium in the male individual Children 2* class completely belongs to France: Yannis Guyot Gay (J. Guyot, Maesmynac Mr Jazz) won, followed by Louis De Abreu who participates first with Guimove de Bournier (lunger D. Nousse), then with Ursus de la Folusiere.
Among women’s class, two athletes are definitely on a rapid rise, Aurelie Richter (GER, K. Wagner, Samor) and Amelie Linda Fischer (SUI, R. Klöti, Reno), two female athletes who have swapped their positions on the podium with regard to category 1* which they had also played. Following Giulia Scattolin (ITA, M. Varago, Chelsea) whose excellent placement confirms her as one of the young promises of the Italian vaulting.
The individual 2* Junior female class is, we will never stop saying it, a real lion’s den, where you begin to recognize the rising stars of this sport. The scores awarded to the winners are really noteworthy, and the athletes will be future protagonists of the equestrian vaulting world. Fanny Seidl (AUT, K. Moneuse, Filon) was really extraordinary, unsurpassed in the freestyle, but also Polina Shovkova (UKR, C. Raddatz, Belasco) is achieving significant results, not to mention Lena Bollhadler (SUI, M. Winkler-Bischofberger, Rayo de la Luz), fresh from category 1*.
The results obtained by the two athletes Ettore Arena (ITA, K. Moneuse, Filon) and Tommaso Comi (ITA, N. Vidoni, Dante), respectively gold and silver in the men’s individual class, bring great satisfaction to Italy. Ettore and Tommaso showed up at the appointment in full form, both have shown considerable growth, remarkable safety on horseback. They are followed by Noe Guyot Gay (FRA, J. Guyot, Bossanova).
Noemi Licci (SUI, R. Blieske, Acomets Neo) tests her new horse in category Senior 2*, and, as forecast, she wins ahead of the excellent Silvia Damasco (ITA, L. Monico, Cranach’s). The Australian Tegan Davis follows on Chomelix de la Pomme lunged by Matteo Bartalini.
Another “hot” category is the 2* Young Vaulter, bridge between the Junior 2* and the top division Senior 3*. Noemi Licci (SUI, R. Blieske, Nashville Grandia Z) is again ahead of all others, with three tests technically and artistically superior to each other. Immediately behind her there are Lisa Marie Wagner (GER, K. Wagner, Cascais) and Giorgia Fanucci (ITA, E. Lambardi, Sperlari Gold), whose tests were judged a little’ less sure, but still remarkable.
Only two competitors in male class, but both them of excellent level: first of all Leonel Gelke (GER, J. Stelzer, Dr. Grunow), but also Romain Simonet (SUI, M. Degiorgi, Livanto CHA CH). Beyond the undoubted technical qualities, they both amazed judges and public thanks to their interpretative abilities.
As previously anticipated, Clementine Mandelsloh and Carlotta Prislin (GER, J. Handel, Amontillado 9) are also the protagonists of the challenge in the Pas de Deux Junior 2* class: they have kept the command in both tests, which were performed with ease, without note errors. Satisfactory also the tests of Lea Maeder and Lena Nyffenegger (SUI, S.N. Nyffenegger, C Limited Edition), thanks to which they are positioned on the second step of the podium, and those of Francesca Costantino and Isabella Frione (ITA, I. Magnani, Star Walker), classified as third.
Numerous Junior 2* teams went down in arena. The German team of Jennifer Reichert, Tamina Kittler, Anni Mittmeier, Emma Gille, Aurelie Richter, Amari Santamaria Diaz (P. Wagner, Samba’s Argument Von Ka), takes on the Swiss Daria Ziegler, Yael Winkler, Miria Kleger, Mona Muller, Hanishe Aliu, Lena Bollhalder, Tiziana Fini (M. Brander, Solitaire). Both teams presented a freestyle exercise with great attention to detail, with acrobatic movements. The bronze medal went to another Swiss team, the one formed by Seraina Foster, Tina Marti, Julie Muntener, Jill Gruber, Amelie Linda Fischer, Ayona Diethelm (R. Blieske, Karlito), who also got excellent marks.
3* event
So we come to the queen category, the 3*.
In the men’s individual, the final ranking has substantially respected the predictions, but it should be noted that the “partial” ones, the results after the first and second day, have reserved many surprises. Davide Zanella (ITA, K. Moneuse, Eclair du Logis) manages to prevail only with the excellent free, after a technical exercise, for him a little ‘disappointing’, had made him fall back (after the second day) in third place. With his freestyle, Davide manages to pass the Helvetian Lukas Heppler (M. Hagmann, Colonel V. Forst), initially first. Sven Ris (SUI, M. Winkler-Bischofberger, HCHC’s Fuerst Fabelhaft) was the real protagonist of the second day, author of the best technical test, which had made him temporarily rise up a position.
In the women’s class, a Kimberly Palmer (USA, L. Carnabuci, Rosenstolz 99) in state of grace, overcomes every other competitor. In spite of the good results in their freestyles, the direct pursuers, Michelle Brugger (SUI, M. Winkler-Bischofberger, Acardi Van de Kapel) and Ronja Kahler (GER, K. Wagner, Cascais), can do nothing.
The pas de deux competition was completely a one-way tournant. Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella (ITA), are imposing themselves without but, even presenting a simpler exercise than usual, suitable for Fran d’Alme, the horse lunged by Laura Carnabuci, who would replace Orlando Tancredi in case of need. Rebecca and Davide are followed at a distance by Michelle Brugger and Rémy Brunner (SUI, M. Winkler-Bischofberger, Acardi Van de Kapel) who precede Romy Schiess and Céline Wilde (SUI, P. Mischol, Royal Lotti).
To conclude the teams. Only two of them were able to conclude the competition: the first one was formed by Enya Rawyler, Leonie Linsbichler, Maria Klosin, Kirsten Sennett, Yara Metwaly, Sarah Linder (SUI, A. Löwy, Fjall Raven) who performed excellent tests, both in the compulsory and freestyle. The Seefeld team (AUT), consisting of Sophie Pittl, Lena Bachbauer, Sophia Wackerle, Sarah Gollubics, Rebecca Friesser, Dominik Eder, Georg Gabl (M. Seyrling, Fuerst D) was definitely bent by the intemperance of the four-legged companion, who has let them work very little.
