The first competition of the year is always a bit special because often it is not a CVI but a Worl Cup competition. And sometimes, as for this year, it is also the last competition, the one that closes the previous season.
Basel (SUI), St Jakobshalle, 11-14 January World Cup Final.
The WC competitions are always difficult both for the horses and the vaulters, because the race conditions are very different from the usual ones: the arena is much more “closed”, lights are very intense, but above all the tournament starts with a bang, since there is no compulsory round and one starts immediately with the technical test, followed by a longer freestyle. For the horses is especially hard, but also for athletes who vault on them.
The competition in Basel promised to be extremely interesting from the start. Almost all the best athletes from last season are competing. Unfortunately, it was not possible for The Vaulting Review to attend the competition live, we talked about it having seen it on video.
Commitment and comeback. It sounds like the title of one of Jane Austin’s novels, and the beginning is also very similar. There are “disadvantaged” protagonists who, thanks to their willpower, get what they want. And that’s what happened!
An ancient Italian proverb says that leap-years are bad, but at least for Claudia Petersohn – the lunger – and her team, Rebecca Greggio, Davide Zanella and of course Orlando Tancredi, the beautiful dapple grey, the proverb was definitely disproved. They won the 2024 World Cup in the Pas de Deux category. This beginning of the year brought them the satisfaction and serenity that had been brutally taken away from them in 2023. This victory has blown away the bitterness and disappointment that had hovered for many months in the Italian team. They were all fantastic. They cameback by beating the best in the world. Orlando Tancredi, their grey, also got more than good ratings. Now they are ready to start again stronger and more determined than ever. The German pair formed by Diana Harwardt and Peter Künne (A. Harwardt, Sir Laulau) ended up again on the second step of the podium, but given the great potential that they have shown until now we have no doubt that they will continue to be one of the of the two favorites in the next season. On the third step of the podium is the stainless Swiss duo Zoe Maruccio/Syra Schmid (M. Heuer, Latino V. Forst), who have been on the scene for years now and are always able to offer an excellent show. In particular, thanks to an excellent first round, Zoe Maruccio and Syra Schmid beat the reigning European champions Romana Hintner and Eva Nagiller (AUT, K. Haidacher, Idefix 25). Perhaps since Romana Hintner announced her retirement after this competition the Austrian couple Hintenr/Nagiller, who have so often alternated successes and disappointments, presented their iconic and cute puppet freestyle in the first round, leaving for the second round the most serious black and white theme which last year earned them the gold medal at the European championships.
Jannik Heiland (GER, B. Rosiny, Dark Beluga FRH) also had his “revenge”.
Theo Gardies (FRA, S. Langlois, Sir Sensation) had beaten him at the European Championships thanks to an exceptional freetest, but this time his performance, although excellent, was not enough to prevail over the German. Heiland performed two splendid rounds, while Gardies was just not as perfect in the technical test. On the third step of the podium ended Viktor Brüsewitz (GER, J. Schönteich, Goldjunge). After the excellent performance at the last European Championships, he confirmed his excellent form by winning the bronze medal. But does he really want to retire now?
In the girls’ class the podium is a copy of that of Flyinge 2023.
Alina Ross (GER, J. Schönteich, Goldjunge) had toyed with the idea of a victory after an outstanding first round, but in the free she really had one hesitation too many and Kathrin Meyer (GER, S. Meyer, San Classico S Old) was instead perfect and confirms herself as queen, defending her title from last year. Ilona Hannich’s (SUI, M. Winkler-Bischofberger, Rayo De La Luz) freestyle was amazing, clearly her best, thanks to which she climbed a ranking that seemed truly compromised, reaching the podium.
We conclude with some encouragement. Even if this competition didn’t go as they would have liked, we must congratulate the two Canadian athletes, Averill Saunders (CAN, N. Vorberg, Rockemotion) and Daniel Klotz-Dedora (CAN, K. Haidacher, Lavalino) because it is really difficult compete at such levels at their very young age. It’s really nice that Canada is building a competitive team, we will certainly hear a lot more about these athletes in the years to come. They must not be discouraged because it is clear to everyone that maturity (including age) plays a fundamental role in vaulting.
