Josephine Vedel Sondergaard Nielsen (DEN) and Sultan EG, Lunged by Hanne Haagen Hansen at the FEI Vaulting World Championships for Juniors and Young Vaulters, Stadl-Paura (AUT) © FEI/Lukasz Kowalski

30 July 2025

One day in and Germany lead the way in three of the five competitions underway, with Henry Frischmuth, Bela Lehnen and defending European Champion Kathrin Meyer outshining their rivals, alongside Denmark’s Josephine Vedel Søndergaard Nielsen and Switzerland’s Noemi Licci who each topped their individual classes. 

The FEI World Championships for Juniors and Young Vaulters was opened this morning by Germany’s Henry Frischmuth. The Junior Male performed an excellent compulsory round gaining top scores for both him and his horse, Capitain Claus, lunged by Gesa Bϋhrig. With a total score of 8.286 he set a target which proved too tough for the rest of the class. Teammate, Lukas Heitmann sits just behind on 8.100. A score which he shares alongside the equal second place with Italian, Jan Stellahaegi.

The top three are already proving very strong contenders and lead the rest of the field by almost 0.4. Germany’s Luca Fuchslocher currently occupies the fourth place, 7.706.

In the female competition, defending World Champion Clara Ludwiczek took an early lead for Austria, 8.072, and retained it for almost the whole class. However, current European Champion Denmark’s Josephine Vedel Søndergaard Nielsen proved to be stronger in the compulsory exercises and went straight to the top, scoring 8.298. Third place is currently occupied by Austrian, Fanny Seidl, 7.859, but Germany’s Amari Santamaria Diaz and Lara Andrew and Slovakian Katarina Nagyova all lie within 0.053 points of each other. Tomorrow’s freestyle round will see many changes in the leaderboard in both competitions. Only 20 will make the final round so the pressure is truly on. 

Young Vaulters

In a tough and talented Young Vaulter Male class, the quality kept on coming with the top six competitors all scoring over 8 points. Germany took the top spot once again. Bela Lehnen showed his quality and that of his horse, Formel 1 D.C., becoming the first of the day to score over 8.5 (8.560). Dutchman Sam dos Santos did a well-balanced test with his new horse, Hero, to end the day in second place, 8.356, and France earned their first overnight podium position as Baptiste Terrier performed very smoothly scoring 8.267. Arne Heers (GER), Jakub Roguski (POL) and Ben Lechtenberg (GER) compete the leading six.

The show of excellence continued into the female competition. This time it was Switzerland’s turn and Noemi Licci won the test with superb exercise scores. Austrian Anna Weidenauer had a higher overall horse score but couldn’t match Licci’s technicality. She is currently second, 8.297, just ahead of Germany’s Lisa Marie Wagner (8.064). Akin to the junior competition there is little to separate second to tenth place, however in this case they will first compete a Technical Test before all 37 athletes progress to the final round. 

Seniors

The final competition of the day was the opening round of the individual females in the FEI European Championship for Seniors. Defending champion Kathrin Meyer (GER) clearly laid down the gauntlet early on with near perfect exercises rewarding her with an incredible and potentially unreachable 8.796. Not to be outdone, teammate Alice Layher almost matched Meyer, the judges finding them difficult to separate scoring Layher 8.737. Third place also currently sits with Germany. Alina Ross couldn’t quite equal the dominant duo but stays in touch with a score of 8.382 pushing Switzerland’s Danielle Bϋrgi into fourth (8.343). Bϋrgi had a last-minute horse change following the vet inspection. She teamed up with Drillian and Selena Brummund for the first time, a fact which was imperceptible as she performed in complete harmony with the pair, showing her quality of vaulting and horsemanship making such a connection within only 24 hours. 

Day two the competition continues with the first round for the senior Males and all the squads. The standard so far is noticeably higher than ever before. With athleticism, horsemanship and excellence on show the best is still yet to come.

FULL RESULTS