Australian vaulter Ginger Kennett has completed her FEI Vaulting World Cup Final campaign with a beautiful freestyle performance in Basel, Switzerland.
The 22-year-old scored 7.169 in the Freestyle Test on Sunday with 17-year-old gelding Goldjunge and lunger Jacqueline Schonteich, placing seventh.
Ginger made history in Basel as the first Australian vaulter to compete in an FEI World Cup Final.
French, German and Italian colours fly high in Basel
FEI press release by Joanne Littlejohn
In a day for the record books, three nations took top honours at the J. Safra Sarasin FEI Vaulting World Cup Final. French, German and Italian colours flew high with Quentin Jabet (FRA), Kathrin Meyer (GER) and Pas-de-Deux, Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella (ITA) excelling in the St. Jakobshalle in Basel (SUI).
Tensions rose and the anticipation grew as the Male competition thrilled the audience. Final debutant, Quentin Jabet blew the competition away with his characteristic style, becoming the only competitor to score over nine points, setting a new FEI Vaulting World Cup Final record in its current format, a score of 9.180. In a class above the rest, he elegantly performed with new combination Goldjunge and Jaqueline Schönteich earning a perfect 10 from the artistic judge. “Competing with German teammates is different than French. I like it a lot. I found a good horse, with a good lunger”, he said.
Germany’s Julian Wilfling improved on his round one placing, engaging emotionally in his artistic concept, his dynamic Free test was well received by the judges, boosting him into second place with Aragorn 102 and Alexander Zebrak and scoring 8.683. Thomas Brüsewitz brought a different energy to the ring. Demonstrating an extremely high level of difficulty and intricate transitions his Freestyle was the second best of the day just 0.18 behind Jabet. He was hot on the heels of compatriot Wilfling and rounded out the podium with Maik Husmann and equine partner William II Z, 8.671.
Defending Champion Jannik Heiland (GER) had to accept the fifth place with his new combination, Rey Rubino and Lars Hansen, finishing just behind Davide Zanella (ITA) who landed in fourth.
In the Individual Female category, history maker – Germany’s Kathrin Meyer – continued her domination. She became the first female to consecutively win three titles and smashed the previous record score, breaking the nine-point barrier with 9.023 and showing her skill, this time with Capitain Claus OLD and Gesa Bührig. Showing her exercises with more power than her competitors, she continues to push her limits.
“It’s amazing for me to keep that success over three seasons now, to keep my level and still be able to continue growing,” said Meyer.
Emotionally, the second and third places went to Switzerland. In her swan song, and in a city incredibly close to her heart, Ilona Hannich performed with Rayo de La Luz and Monika Winkler-Bischofberger. She immersed herself fully in her freestyle concept, based around her grief after her father’s suicide seven years ago, drawing on true emotion while executing incredible vaulting. “It’s really special because my father lived here in Basel, and he would be so proud of me competing here in this stadium” she said. She took second place 8.895.
Tears of passion were also to be found with teammate Nadja Büttiker, who shared a horse with Hannich. Also choosing to end her competitive career in Basel her emotion over the event was evident before she even entered the circle. Her music reflected her decision and the feelings she has gained from Vaulting, and her passion showed as she encapsulated her signature moves within her program. Her experience, determination and hard work culminated in a third-place finish at her final event, 8.661, and the end of an era.
Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella upped their performance in Sunday’s Pas-de-Deux competition, while remaining perceptive to the feeling and needs of their horse, Orlando Tancredi. “The bond that we have together, we also share it with the horse, and I think that together it is even deeper” said Davide, adding “It took some years to get to know the horse perfectly and how to help him with our freestyle which is not easy at all.”
Lunger Claudia Peterson earned the top horse score for the Pas de Deux competition on Sunday with 8.156, which, combined with their artistic and technique scores secured back-to-back win for the Italians.
Swiss pairing Li Laffer and Ilona Hannich chose to perform their routine to different music than in round one, returning to their 2023 theme around their friendship. A fitting end to their competitive career. They finished second, 8.356, vaulting atop Calin, lunged by Alana Sohm, who coped expertly in his first major event. With incredible joy and an elegant performance, the third place was also won by Switzerland, this time Zoe Maruccio and Syra Schmid (8.254). They learned from their round one error and barely put a foot wrong with Latino V Forst CH a trusty steed, lunged by Michael Heuer.
A spectacular weekend at the J. Safra Sarasin FEI Vaulting World Cup Final saw new records set and barriers broken. The calibre of horses was outstanding and combined with the passion of the athletes has left a lasting impression over the hearts of the people in Basel.
