Screaming fans, waving flags, raucous cheering and stomping feet are normally reserved for football games at the University of Kentucky’s nearby Commonwealth Stadium, but during the vaulting competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games, the Alltech Arena has been the loudest place in town.
However, absolute silence fell over the crowd when Joanne Eccles, 21, entered the ring and delivered an elegant and powerful performance to take home Great Britain’s first ever WEG vaulting medal.
“I think I’m a little bit stunned,” said Eccles, whose freestyle routine featured Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.” “I was really pleased with my performance today, but the other girls are so strong, and they all went so well. Everyone had a really great competition. I think it’s going to take a while to sink in.”
Eccles’ father, John is her longer and coach, and her younger sister Hannah also competed in this year’s individual final, making vaulting a serious family sport. Their horse, WH Bentley, has been with the family for the past 11 years.
“We have quite a special relationship there, but we work hard to keep it coach and vaulter in the ring,” said Eccles. “He’s my father, so he does his best for me and I do my best for him. My performance was not just me; he’s done so much in the background making sure we can pick up every single point.”
Eccles maintained the lead through the entire competition and finished on a total of 8.413. German teammates Antje Hill and Simone Wiegele finished second and third, respectively.
“I was able to ride the way I planned it,” said Hill. “It went exactly on course, and I was very pleased with the technical portions of it. The commotion [in the arena] was quite exciting, but because of my Aachen experience I was used to the noise and I calmed down.”
The atmosphere certainly contributed to some routines—some for the better—but pre-WEG favorite American Megan Benjamin’s horse, Urfreund Rosengaard, had a difficult time adjusting to the big atmosphere.
“My horse had a little too much energy, and I did the best with what I had,” she said. “Part of horse sport is dealing with the horses. You can’t do your risky moves when your horse is about to spring off.”
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However, her second freestyle today, performed to a mix of Aretha Franklin, was much improved, although it wasn’t quite enough to push her back onto the podium, and she finished fifth.
“I know why I chose [my horse] and why I’m with him. He’s so awesome, I’m really proud of him,” she said of the 15-year-old Danish Warmblood gelding, who had horse scores of 8. “I did my entire routine; that’s all I can ask for. I’m just glad I could give Kentucky that performance, and I’m relieved.”
The American contingent also contained Mary McCormick and Alicen Divita. McCormick missed the podium by a mere fraction, finishing fourth.
“It’s a bummer, but I came to this competition saying that all I wanted to do was my best, and I feel like I did that, and I’m not disappointed,” said McCormick, who vaulted to “American Woman.” “It’d be great to take a medal home, but this is some seriously amazing competition, and they would have had to make a mistake for me to get in there.”
Divita finished the competition in seventh place after a strong second-round freestyle.
Looser Blasts Off To Gold
Patric Looser of Switzerland created his Apollo 11 themed freestyle specifically for this year’s WEG, and it paid off with gold.
“One year ago when I saw this arena I thought I needed something special to perform because it’s such a great arena,” said Looser, who scored 8.498 aboard Record RS Von Der Winermuhle, an 18-year-old Hessian stallion. “I wanted something that shines inside, so that’s why I picked silver. I also wanted to bring the American people an American feeling, so that’s why I chose the astronaut space theme. It was the right decision.”
Kai Vorberg of Germany finished in the silver medal position, a spot that is relatively unfamiliar to the two-time world champion.
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“My current theme is ‘Winds of Change’ by the Scorpions,” said Vorberg, 28. “The wind of change is coming. I’m an old man now; I won’t stay like this forever, and I know that, and I’m happy that I’ve had this last peak here.”
Looser and Vorberg became good friends when Looser moved to Cologne to work with Vorgberg five years ago.
“I moved so I could learn so many things from him,” said Looser. “He is my teacher and I think my individual career started when I went to Cologne.”
France’s Nicolas Andreani moved into the bronze medal position after his freestyle scored the highest in both rounds.
“I am very happy with what I have done,” said Andreani. “But it could always be better. In our sport, it’s too bad that it’s about being graded, because for me, it’s what I have in my heart and in my soul. On the whole, I am leaving this championship totally delighted.”
The American representatives, Todd Griffiths and Kenny Geisler, finished 10th and 13th respectively, but they were both in good spirits after the competition.
“I did my freestyle the best that I could in front of a home crowd,” said Griffiths. “It was absolutely worth it. I feel like I have reached my goal.”
