CHIO Aachen (GER): Vaulting has started

22 June 2013

What a coincidence: At the start of the vaulting competitions in the Albert-Vahle Arena, the reigning Vice World Champions headed the field in all competitions of the Prize of the Sparkasse. The RSV Neuss-Grimlinghausen (Rhineland) left their entire international top-class competitors trailing behind in the team competition.  In the individual classification the Danish vaulter, Rikke Laumann, and Erik Oese from Dresden topped the rankings.  After the compulsory and technical routine – i.e. two of three rounds in total – they are all aiming to maintain their lead in the final freestyle competition tomorrow.

A fortunate twist of fate: Denmark is the partner country of this year’s CHIO Aachen.  And promptly a representative of the Kingdom has taken pole position in the ranks of the equestrian acrobats.  Rikke Laumann surprisingly beat the CHIO series winner Joanne Eccles from Great Britain.  Achieving a score of 7.499 Eric Oese left all of his fellow competitors trailing behind in both rounds.  In the technical competition of the men’s individual classification he ranked first, beating among others the World Champion Nicolas Andreani from France (7.181/4^th place).  In the team competition, RSV Neuss-Grimlinghausen repeated its impressive series of CHIO victories (unbeaten since 2007).  The Rhineland team coached by their lunger Jessica Schmitz lies in first place after the compulsory test, followed by VV Ingelsberg.

The first round of the pas-de-deux competition in the Prize of the Sparkasse kicks off at 9.30 am on Saturday morning.  The team freestyle competition follows at 10.30 am, before the individual vaulters perform their freestyle routines at 2.30 pm (Ladies) and 5 pm (Men).  The competitions are sold-out.

Source: CHIO Aachen