Take a look at our Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games vaulting gallery — the moves performed coupled with some incredible costumes make for awe-inspiring viewing.
Germany took the squad gold medal in the vaulting at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
The German team’s routine, with one male in the six-person squad, displayed fantastic three-person movements, with the 11-year-old flyer being spun around the head of another team member standing on the horse. They scored 9.058 tonight for a final total of 8.724.
“It’s been quite hard for us to put it all together this year, but the team have been fighting well and improving throughout the season,” said lunger Jessica Schmitz.
Britain’s Joanne Eccles claimed the individual female vaulting gold medal at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
Lunged as usual on WH Bentley by her father John, Joanne successfully defended the title she won four years ago in Kentucky. Her performance in the final freestyle was flawless for a score of 9.119, giving her an overall mark of 8.712.
“To have done it again four years on is incredible,” said Joanne. “We were helped by the stunning arena. This is as close as we’ll get to a home games and we’ve had so much support — it’s been a pretty amazing four days.”
Meanwhile Joanne and her sister Hannah Eccles collected the bronze in the vaulting pas de deux.
The Scottish sisters scored 8.580 for their Fire and Ice routine for an overall score of 8.575. [View a video interview with Joanne and Hannah after their performance]
“We could have done one extra move at the end [when Hannah is standing on Joanne’s shoulders] but we had a little discussion on the horse and decided we’d rather finish on a high than push it further — everything had been so tight and we have enough difficulty in the routine,” said Joanne.
