Horse Illustrated Magazine

The countdown to the FEI World Cup Final in Leipzig, Germany is inspiring a flurry of excitement amongst Vaulting fans. The first-ever FEI World Cup Vaulting Final will take place from April 29-30.

The inaugural FEI World Cup Vaulting Final promises to be a real thriller with a stellar line-up of seven female and seven male vaulters, who will battle it out in a Freestyle-to-Music climax.

Vaulting aficionados will be treated to the grace and agility of four medalists from the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky last October – World Champion Patric Looser (SUI), silver medallist Antje Hill (GER), Nicolas Andreani (FRA) and Simone Wiegele (GER) who were both awarded bronze.

The remaining vaulters earned their places at the Leipzig final after riveting performances at four qualifying CVI 1* and CVI 2** FEI-approved events in Munich, Dresden, Salzburg and Paris as legs of this brand new series.

In addition, two Wild Cards have been handed out by Leipzig’s Organizing Committee, which has put fans on the edge of their seats.

Hamburg’s Ines Jückstock is ecstatic at being awarded the ladies’ Wild Card. She is one of the world’s most consistent vaulters – with a career spanning over 20 years, she has competed at four World Championships winning bronze twice (2002 and 2004) and two European Championships in which she carried off a further two bronze medals.

Leipzig’s 25 year-old vaulting star Daniel Kaiser will also be claiming his limelight after securing a Wild Card for the men’s Final. He has already won the Masters Class in Leipzig twice, secured bronze at the FEI World Vaulting Championships 2008 and placed fifth at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky.

Vive la Voltige!
Vaulting drew sell-out crowds at last year’s Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games – testament that it has claimed its place among equestrian sports with a dynamism and vitality setting it apart from other disciplines.

The FEI World Cup Vaulting Final starts on Friday, April 29 coming to a crescendo on Saturday, April 30 when the athletes with the most points accumulated over the 2010/2011 season will be crowned World Cup champions.

Fab Four
For the first time in the history of equestrian sport, the Rolex FEI World Cup Jumping, Reem Acra FEI World Cup Dressage, FEI World Cup Driving and the inaugural FEI World Cup Vaulting will take place under one roof during the Partner Pferd in Leipzig (GER) from April 27 to May 1, bringing together four world-class disciplines for a fabulous festival of sport.

Competitions will be broadcast at /redirect.php?location=www.feitv.com