Mill Spring, N.C. – In its debut at the world games level, the Vaulting Nations Team Competition took place today at the FEI World Equestrian Games (WEG) Tryon 2018. Led by U.S. Vaulting Team Chef d’Equipe Emma Seely, Elizabeth Osborn, Colton Palmer, and the Pacific Coast Vaulting Club represented the U.S. Vaulting Team in the Nations Team competition, each performing the Nations Team Freestyle Test. U.S. Vaulting’s Nations Team put in solid performances to finish in fifth place on a score of 24.521.
“[Elizabeth Osborn] has been one of our top freestyle competitors all season, [USEF/AVA Vaulting] national champion, really solid,” said Seely. “The individuals selected were Colton [Palmer] - Colton, Kristian [Roberts], and Daniel [Janes] were kind of in the same range and Kristian and Daniel were both on the squad - it made more sense to have Colton out there. I am quite pleased with them. I think they vaulted really solid and the horses were good. I’m thrilled for them!”
Osborn (Menlo Park, Calif.) with Atterupgaards Sting, James and Linda Bibbler’s 12-year-old Oldenburg gelding, and longeur Krista Mack, led off for the U.S. Vaulting Nations Team. Her freestyle theme, the depiction of a doll, earned high marks with the judges, scoring an 8.191, at the time the highest individual score of the evening. Palmer (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) with Zygo, Jill and Kimberly Palmer’s 14-year-old KWPN gelding, and longeur Maurits de Vries vaulted superbly for the home crowd, finishing with a backflip off Zygo that contributed to his score of 8.136.
Finally, the Pacific Coast Vaulting Club marched into the ring with Diva 506, Pacific Coast Vaulting Club’s 15-year-old Oldenburg mare, and longeur Carolyn Bland. Telling the story of the seasons, Daniel Janes (Monroe, Wash.), Audrey Kiernan (San Mateo, Calif.), Maggie Long (Seattle, Wash.), Kristian Roberts (Moss Beach, Calif.), Emily Rose (Santa Cruz, Calif.), and Haley Smith (Parker, Colo.) produced a very technically correct freestyle, earning a score of 8.194.
The U.S. individual female and individual male vaulters also competed today in the Non-Nations Team Individual Freestyle Tests. Scores from Tuesday’s Individual Female and Individual Male Compulsory Tests will be combined with the Individual Freestyle scores to complete the first round before Thursday’s Individual Female and Individual Male Technical Tests. The combination of these three tests will produce a top 15 that will move forward to compete in Saturday’s Individual Male and Individual Freestyle Tests for a chance at the podium.
Mary McCormick (Cañon City, Colo.) with Paris, her 14-year-old Percheron mare, and longeur Christian Ramos, were first in the ring for the U.S., giving a dazzling performance to finish fifth in the Individual Female Freestyle Test with a score of 7.813. McCormick’s final standing after round one is seventh overall with a score of 7.427. Tessa Divita (Portola Valley, Calif.) with Romeo, Summit Equestrian LLC's nine-year-old Westphalian gelding, and longeur Christoph Lesing were next in the ring, finishing just two spots away from McCormick. Scoring a 7.622 for seventh place in the freestyle, Divita’s final standing after round one is sixth overall with a score of 7.505.
For the U.S. Individual Male Non-Nations Team vaulters, Janes, with Sir Charles, Sydney Frankel’s 14-year-old Hanoverian gelding, and longeur Carolyn Bland, scored a 7.509 for 14th place. After round one, Janes sits 14th overall with a score of 7.462. With a vast amount of experience at hand, Kristian Roberts (Moss Beach Calif.) with Sir Charles and longeur Bland, put on a show for the home crowd, earning an 8.186 for seventh place in the freestyle. Their overall placing after round one is 11, with a score of 7.804.
The first Pas de Deux Freestyle Test also took center stage on Wednesday. U.S. Vaulting Team Pas de Deux pair Janes and Smith with Diva 506 and longeur Bland put in a solid performance with poise and grace. Their performance earned them sixth place with a score of 8.313. Just behind them, Kathryn Keville (Cotati, Calif.) and Florence Rubinger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) with Revlon, Kathryn and Sean Keville’s 20-year-old Warmblood gelding, and longeur Mary McCormick, finished in the eighth position with a score of 7.946, a personal best for the duo!
Individual Female Freestyle Test Results
Individual Female Current Overall Results after Round One
Individual Male Freestyle Test Results
Individual Male Current Overall Results after Round One
Competition Information
Competition continues at the Tryon International Equestrian Center on Thursday, September 20, and begins with the Non-Nations Squad Freestyle Tests at noon ET. The Nations Team Individual Male and Individual Freestyle Tests will follow beginning at 2:00 p.m. ET, followed by the final Pas de Deux Freestyle Test at 6:45 p.m. ET. The vaulting championships will be streamed live on FEI TV.
Competition Schedule
Live Scoring
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