Alice Layher (GER) with FBW Candy and lunger Daniel Zembrot © FEI/Daniel Kaiser

As the sun set, the world’s best Vaulters gathered at Sentower Park, Opglabbeek, Belgium for round one of the FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Final. Germany glowed as Alice Layher, Jannik Heiland and Philine Lindhorst and Cjell Aaron Richert danced to overnight victory in their respective categories.

Layher, competing with FBW Candy and Daniel Zembrot withheld nothing as she gave a masterclass of a technical performance in the Individual Female division, earning a top score of 8.742 for the test.

FBW Candy and Zembrot also scooped the best horse score receiving 8.357 for their efforts. The trio have some breathing room ahead of teammate and defending champion Kathrin Meyer who, despite showing an action-packed routine, had some performance faults and appeared short for time late on in her programme which affected the execution of her final element leaving her in second place with a score of 8.277. The USA’s Kimberly Palmer completes the overnight podium. She received the best artistic score of the night with her wonderfully engaging and harmonious routine, 8.071. Germany’s Alina Ross sits in fourth, 7.813.

The Men’s competition was a closer affair. 2023 and 2024 FEI Vaulting World Cup™ Champion, Heiland, squeezed enough out of his clean and flowing routine to win the round with Rey Rubino and Lars Hansen, 8.377, ahead of Frenchman and defending Champion Quentin Jabet, 8.259. With barely anything separating the athletes it was the horse score which sealed the lead. Jabet competed individually with French Squad horse, Furst Fridolin HDC, for the first time, after deciding to change horse ahead of the vet check on Thursday.

Switzerland’s Sven Ris took third place, 7.888. His elements were well performed, and he showed good consideration of his horse, Iwan. Ruben Delaunay (FRA) finished the test in fourth, 7.555. A challenging round for his horse Orlof de Conde left him unable to perform his exercises to his usual standard. Thomas Brϋsewitz’s partner, Max, also found the circle and the atmosphere too much today and after falling from the horse mid test he received a heavy penalty which leaves him in eighth place (6.073) with next to no possibility of a top finish.

Unfortunately, Italian defending Pas de Deux champions, Rebecca Greggio and Davide Zanella found themselves in the same position. They had a last-minute horse change and despite a positive training in the morning Calypso couldn’t manage the pressure of the competition.

It is now clear we will have new Pas de Deux champions. For now, Germany’s Philine Lindhorst and Cjell Aaron Richert have the lead. They gave everything in their dynamic and well performed Free Test. Competing with Chagall 269 and Andrea Lindhorst, they thrilled the crowd and were rewarded with a winning score of 8.511 for the round.

With a small loss of flow shown at the end of their test they have the potential to raise their score even higher tomorrow. Compatriots Arne Heers and Jella Hamann dug deep aboard Cleiner Onkel T OLD to hold their routine together. They couldn’t quite match the fluidity of their teammates but still scored a respectable 8.194. Switzerland’s Romy Schiess and Celine Wilde are close behind, 8.020, keeping the anticipation high ahead of the Final Round.

After a thrilling first round, excitement is building ahead of the Final which is worth 60% of the total score. There is plenty of room for movement at the top, so both the athletes and their equine partners will have to bring their very best to the circle and keep calm under pressure to be in with a chance of raising the trophy in Saturday’s Final.

FULL RESULTS