AUGUST 2023 THE RIDER /3 Vaulting Continued from Page 1


then delivered an extraordi- nary free test scoring 8.644, just behind Layher’s 8.848, maintaining her second place overall to finish the competition with the silver medal, a Canadian first. “It’s really surreal for


me to win Canada’s first medal,” she said emotion- ally. “Mostly because it’s a monumental step forward for Canada in the sport, but also because of the signifi- cance of this event for me. The final freestyle day here in Flyinge was to the day, my 10th anniversary of being in the sport. It made it a little extra special.” The Championships


were not just special for Saunders. The whole team, everyone at home cheering and the entire vaulting com- munity were excited to see this first for the young woman and for Canada. For


Saunders and lunger as well as Rockemotion’s co-owner Nina Vorberg on the podium in Flyinge, SWE. Photo Credit: Kaiser Impressions


the tight-knit family of ath- letes and supporters, many were happy to be there in person to witness it. Like Chef D’equipe Charlene Kostecki who has known Saunders since the begin- ning of her journey. “Watching Averill dis-


mount after her freestyle was absolutely incredible - the look on her face when she knew she had completed what she had set out to do, it


was pretty magical,” said Kostecki. “For me person- ally, I have known Averill since she was a child and to witness her achieve a medal after her years of hard work was a truly extraordinary experience.” Reflecting on how she


felt leaving Sweden, to head back to her training base in Germany, Saunders had gratitude for the entire com- munity. “I’d just like to say that I’m incredibly grateful for


the overwhelming


amount of support that I’ve received from not only Canada, but all the other countries within the sport. It’s cool coming from such a small country vaulting to feel like I have the support and the encouragement from all of the other coun- tries as well.” Also appearing for


The Canadian Junior Squad were strong with a 6th place finish. Photo Credit: Kaiser Impressions


International Bromont Continued from Page 1


Last to enter the ring


for the short course, Esdale had watched both Thibault and Lamontagne’s rounds, each lowering one rail to finish on jumping scores of four faults. She knew “all” she had to do was produce a clean round with Ted to cap- ture her first FEI Grand Prix win.


“I definitely knew I


wanted to go for the win today,” exclaimed Esdale following the presentations. “With only three in [the jump off] that’s good odds! It’s always interesting to be the last to go - realizing you ‘only’ need a clear to win. In some cases I think that makes it almost a bit more nerve wracking! “All I had to do was


jump clean. I tried to keep a bit on-the-pace in case I had an early rail — I knew I would make up on the time. When I came to the last fence and I was still going clean, I saw [a long spot] and thought no, I better not today! Luckily it paid off and I couldn’t be happier.” Esdale and Ted have


been partnered together for nearly three years, and seem well matched with bubbly and energetic personalities. Esdale explained that Ted draws from the atmosphere and crowds, especially at the Bromont Olympic Eques- trian Park with its amphithe- atre design.


Canada in round one of the Individual Female Young Vaulter division was Megan Leeper, 20, of Strathmore, AB. Leeper finished with a


Daniel Klotz-Dedora had a top 10 performance in the Male Indi-


vidual Junior Division with Canadian Horse Zorro, the only Cana- dian horse to travel to Sweden. Photo Credit: Kaiser Impressions


final score of 6.997 for 16th place partnered with Don Zeno (Zofe x Zeus) a 9- year-old Hanoverian geld- ing lunged by Nicole Voithofer. In the Individual Male


Junior division, Daniel Klotz-Dedora,


16, of


Cochrane, AB, produced a top-10 finish for the maple leaf. Performing with Zorro, a 10-year-old Canadian Sport Horse gelding owned and lunged by Angelique Vick, he secured 9th place on a final score of 7.584.


In the Pas de Deux


Junior division, twins Selina Kromer-Anton, 16 and Julia Kromer-Anton, 16, of Nel- son, BC, produced another top-10 finish for the maple leaf. Performing with the German Flying Dutchman, a 13-year-old Dutch Warm- blood gelding lunged by Larissa Bleidistel, finished in 7th place on a final score of 7.086. The Canadian Junior


Squad of Katherine Van den Bosch, 14; Jaydee Fluet, 16; Lynda Van Noordenburg,


host international show


jumping, driving and dres- sage across multiple FEI levels up to 3*. For the In- ternational Bromont 2023, over 600 competed for over $350,000 in prize money over two weeks. Located in the beauti-


ful village of Bromont, Que- bec, the spectator-friendly venue is within easy driving distance of Montreal, Que- bec and Burlington Ver- mont. The event provides a wonderful family day out with a vendor area including food trucks. Young horse and riders regularly compete alongside the best in the world, where men and women compete on equal footing against one another.


the Government of Quebec Sunday afternoon, during the International Bromont at the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park. L-R: Louis Villeneuve, Mayor of Bromont; Honorary President Roger Deslauriers; Tatiana Contreras, Municipal Councillor Mont-Soleil. © Tom Von Kapherr Photography / Kelsey Jones Goyette


“Ted is always pretty


excited, he loves his job and loves to jump.” Esdale replied when asked about a few displays of exuberance shown on course by Ted today. “I wasn’t expecting there to be so many people here today. You got in the ring and the crowd was cheering! He was definitely being a little expressive about how excited he was. Then the crowd would cheer and I think that just egged him on more. He was for sure having a great time out there today.” Esdale and Ted posted


a fault-free jump-off round stopping the clock in a con-


servative 50.19 seconds, well behind Lamontagne and Thunderbird’s four-fault round in 43.10, and that of Thibault and Cidanos Z’s in 43.19. Sunday’s FEI Grand


Prix wrapped up two weeks of FEI CSI2* at


the


Bromont Olympic Eques- trian Park, marking the re- turn of FEI competitions since before Covid. Over 600 horses competed for over $350,000 in prize money across hunter, jumper, equitation and young horse sections (in- cluding everyone’s favourite the Canine-Equine Chal- lenge.) You


About decades, International


Bromont For more than four International


Bromont has welcomed renowned riders, the young up-and-coming, passionate amateurs and all horse lovers to the Bromont Olympic Equestrian Park. In 2023, the organizers of In- ternational Bromont will


can watch Sunday’s action from the International ring on the event’s Facebook page under “previous Face- book Live videos.”


www.facebook.com/inter- nationalbromont.


Canada’s Lauren Esdale captured the FEI CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix presented by


The Pas de Deux Kromer-Anton twins performed a strong final free test to secure 7th place Photo Credit: Kaiser Impressions


16; Daniel Klotz-Dedora, 16; Emma Sparrow, 11; and Emily Consaul, 17 – all from Alberta, partnered with Canadian Sport Horse Zorro and lunged by Angelique Vick, put on a great showing across three tests and fin- ished in 6th place on a final score of 6.805. In the Junior Individ-


ual Female division, Ryan Bracken, 17 from Caroline, AB did not continue to the second round but placed in 35 with Nugat, lunged by Michelle Kueng. Lynda Van


For more information


please visit www.interna- tionalbromont.org.


Thank you to our Spon- sors Public partners: Govern- ment of Quebec, Ministry of Education/Higher Educa- tion of Quebec (MEES), Ministry of Tourism Que- bec, Ville de Bromont


Private partners: Assante, Omega Alpha Canada, Co- fina, Soltek, Izada, Bruno Delgrange, Serres Yargeau, Jumps USA, Gazébec, AT- PLab, Aux Grains, Engel & Volkers.


$45,900 CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix presented by


Noordenburg, 17 from Didsbury, AB finished in 40th with Wallis lunged by Nienke De Wolff. Jaydee Fluet, 16 of Sundre, AB rounded out the juniors in 55th place. For more information


and full results from the 2023 FEI Vaulting World Championships for Young Vaulters & Juniors, visit https://vaulting.events/39/. Recordings of the perform- ances can be viewed on https://www.clipmyhorse.tv/ en_EU/events/10446


the Government of Que- bec Viamdios D’Avril / Lauren Esdale / CAN / 0/0/50.19 Thunderbird VH Scheefkas- teel / Francois Lamontagne / CAN / 0/4/43.10 Cidanos Z / Alexanne Thibault / CAN / 0/4/43.19 Ella V/D Helle / Nicolas Bayzelon / CAN / 4/75.58 Phil V/D Wezelse Heihoeve / David Arcand / CAN / 4/77.85 Conny 409 / Kama Godek / USA / 4/79.32 Donner / Peter Leone / USA / 4/80.64 Zambia Z / Maude Filia- trault / CAN / 4/83.55


Source: International Bromont News Release


Francois Lamontagne and Thunderbird VH Scheefkasteel finished second Sunday af- ternoon in the FEI CSI2* 1.45m Grand Prix at the International Bromont. © Tom Von Kapherr Photography / Kelsey Jones Goyette


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45