German rider Corinna Knauf performing on horse Fabiola W during the Female Individual Compulsory Test at the CHI Al Shaqab 2014 in Doha yesterday. CENTRE: Thomas Brusewitz, also of Germany, in action during the Male Individual Compulsory Test at Al Shaqab Arena. RIGHT: Corinna during her routine yesterday. PICTURES: ABDUL BASIT
DOHA: Vaulting history was made yesterday when team Nuess Grimlinghausen topped the first round of squad competition at Al Shaqab Arena.
Horse Delia 99 managed a near-perfect routine with lunger Jessica Schmitz as Nuess Grimlinghausen sparkled with an overall tally of 7.616 points on day one of 2014 Al Shaqab International Equestrian Competition.
The annual event - sponsored by ExxonMobil and Qatar Airways - remains the only CHI-level competition in the Middle East and Asia, with jumping, dressage, vaulting and endurance competitions.
In second place was team VV Koln Dunnwald I who managed a tally of 6.999 points with horse Holiday On Ice and lunger Bamdad Memarian.
The third best tally out of four teams went to Swiss side Harlekin (6.270) on horse Pady De Jean Bel. Rita Blieske was the lunger.
Swedish side Svea Voltigeklubb - who kicked off the proceedings - ended in fourth spot with 6.208 points. The lunger for the Swedish side was Ronja Persson with horse Achim.
In the female individual vaulting, German rider Corinna Knauf topped the 12-team field with a score of 7.869. Knauf performed her routine on horse Fabiola W along with lunger Alexandra Knauf.
In second place was Swiss rider Simone Jaiser on horse Luk. Jaiser ended with a tally of 7.745 in the company of lunger Blieske.
In third place was Kristina Boe of Germany. Bow finished her routine on horse Don De La Mar for an overall tally of 7.664.
In the men’s individual vaulting, Germany’s Thomas Brusweitz was the star rider with a tally of 8.059 on horse Airbus. Irina Lenkeit was the lunger.
Viktor Brusweitz, also of Germany, was placed second (8.019) on horse Sir Bernhard RS VD Wintermuhle. Nina Vorberg was the lunger. The third best tally of 7.954 was cornered by Stefan Csandl of Austria.
Csandl performed his routine on horse KCM Vaultinghorses ZYGO.
Today, Vaulting CVI3* Squad competition kicks off at 4:00pm followed by the Vaulting Pas de Deux Freestyle at 5:30pm.
Competitions in dressage, show jumping and endurance rides will feature tomorrow onwards. The six-day equestrian gala ends on Saturday. THE PENINSULA
