A neck-and-neck race for the medals

In the women’s individual competition, the Prize of Sparkasse is heading toward a nail-biting finish. After Alice Layher achieved the top score in yesterday’s Compulsory Test, Kathrin Meyer turned the tables in the Technical Test today. Before performing her routine in the electric atmosphere of Stadium 3 at the Allianz Park, the 25-year-old appeared visibly tense initially. “My legs were shaking,” the German athlete openly admitted after her performance. Yet, the moment she swung onto the back of her equine partner, Capitain Claus OLD, she was fully focused. “My horse carried me beautifully. I was able to deliver everything I had prepared,” beamed Meyer, whose tension gave way to tears of joy – on both her and her lunger Gesa Bührig’s part. Then, came the judges’ verdict: 8.669 points – the highest score of the day!

Alice Layher, competing next, was unable to top that mark, although she came very close. Aboard FBW Candy, the 24-year-old scored 8.663 points to come second in the day’s standings. Whereby, she managed to hold onto her overall lead heading into the decisive Free Test round tomorrow. “I am really looking forward to the Free Test,” Layher said, looking ahead. “We intend to give it our best shot,” she stated, whilst her lunger, Daniel Zembrot, added: “…and have fun.”

The Prize of Sparkasse thus promises maximum excitement and not just in the battle for Gold; the race for the remaining podium positions is still wide open too. With a spectacular Technical Test (8.470 points), the American vaulter, Kimberly Palmer, competing with her 19-year-old gelding Rosenstolz and lunger Laura Carnabuci, vaulted from sixth place into the provisional bronze medal position. “I tried to stay calm and block out where I was and what was at stake,” the 31-year-old said, revealing her secret to her success. However, Canada’s Averill Saunders and the third German competitor, Annemie Szemes, also aim to have a say in the matter in the race for the precious medals.

Tearful finish for the men

He had travelled to the Allianz Park as the clear favourite and entered the second round with a significant lead following the Compulsory Test. But, after his technical performance, Quentin Jabet could not hold back the tears of disappointment. Midway through the routine, his highly-experienced horse, Estado IFCE, broke into a trot. The result was a score of 8.236, putting him into fifth place in the Technical Test, which pushed the French vaulter back into second place in the overall standings. Despite this his first move after dismounting was to hurry straight over to his horse, where he affectionately stroked his four-legged partner and buried his face in its flank.

He thus heads into tomorrow’s Free Test final behind Sam dos Santos from the Netherlands, who is leading by one-tenth of a point. Dos Santos, competing on Hero and lunged by his sister Emy, delivered the best performance of the day, with 8.607 points flashing up on the scoreboard at the end of his harmonious routine. “I was quite tense, so I have to thank my horse; he was really steady. I can trust him and my sister,” said the exceptional talent amid the frenzied cheers of the large crowd. “I really felt the energy. I hope to carry that momentum forward.” However, two German athletes are also contending for the medals in the Prize of Sparkasse: Bela Lehnen, who remains in third place overall, and Thommy Brüsewitz, who launched a comeback after finishing tenth in the Compulsory Test and is now close at the heels of his fellow countryman. “We got through it well from start to finish. My horse and Alex on the lunge delivered a fine performance and gave me the necessary confidence today. I am incredibly proud of my team,” said a visibly relieved Brüsewitz after the Technical Test.

Pas de Deux favourites deliver

The competitions of the Pas de Deux pairs have also commenced at the FEI Vaulting World Championship. The favourites dominated the first round of the Prize of Sparkasse: The French and Italian duos demonstrated their championship ambitions with a significant lead over the third-placed Austrians, Anna Hladik and Hubertus Witzmann. Theo Gardies and Noely Thibaudat presented an elegant and technically demanding Freestyle routine that earned them top marks and an overall score just under the nine-point mark – the pair that performed on Sir Sensation, lunged by Sirine Abousaid, were awarded 8.947 points. The runners-up, Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella, performing on Malleret Romulus TS, lunged by Maud Bousignac Dumont, opted for a completely different style for their routine. At the start dynamic and almost dance-like, then calmer and graceful – their reward was a score of 8.724 points. The race for the medals in the Pas de Deux will be decided on Sunday.