Italy’s Anna Cavallaro took lead in the Individual Female Competition on the opening day of CHI Al Shaqab at Al Shaqab Indoor Arena yesterday. PICTURES: CHI Al Shaqab

By Chris Hoover/Doha

Italy’s Anna Cavallaro came up with a near perfect routine to take the lead in the Individual Female Competition of the International Vaulting Championship held on the opening day of the CHI Al Shaqab 2015 championship at the Al Shaqab Indoor Arena yesterday.
Harley 915 put in an amazing performance with lunger Nelson Vidoni as Cavallaro sparkled with an overall tally of 8.284 points to start the championship on a glorious note.
“Today the performance was very good and it was very satisfying. I am very happy with the way I performed and look forward to tomorrow. This is going to be a very tough championship as there are many brilliant competitors in the fray. It is nice to start off with a lead and take it from there,” the 29-year-old Cavallaro told the Gulf Times.
Speaking about the championship ahead, the Italian said. “Tomorrow we have a new element, the technical which is going to be very difficult for all of us as it is being introduced for the first time. We are looking forward to it and hopefully I can come out in flying colours. This is an amazing facility and I am glad that I had the opportunity to take part in this prestigious event in such wonderful settings.”
In second place was Britain’s Joanne Eccles, who managed a tally of 8.070 points with horse WH Bentley and lunger John Eccles.
Germany’s Corinna Knauf and Switzerland’s Simone Jaiser also stayed in contention while finishing a close third and fourth respectively. Knauf garnered 7.972 points with lunger Alexander Knauf and horse Fabiola W, while Jaiser partnered chestnut For Ever du Chalet to take finish a close fourth with 7.960 points.
In the squad competition, Lutisburg got team Switzerland off to a winning start as she partnered Will Be Good with lunger Monika Winkler Bischofsberger to take the first place with a tally of 7.706 points. Team Italy were second with 6.542, Sweden (6.509) were third, while Denmark fourth with a tally of 5.816 points.
In the Individual Male Competition, Germany’s Thomas Brusewitz topped the 13 men field with a score of 8.082 to take the lead and start the championship on a confident note. Brusewitz performed his routine on Airbus I with lunger Irina Lenkeit for support.
“It was a great beginning in this brilliant weather. I am very satisfied with my performance even though I felt my horse was a bit fast. Hopefully we can come out with a much better performance in the technical tomorrow and improve my points tally. This arena is simply out of this world and brings out the best in us. I wish to improve on my third finish last year and clinch the championship,” Brusewitz said.  
Austria’s Stefan Csandl was placed second (7.860) while partnering Nofan and lunger Marjo Sneekes. German vaulters dominated the event with five of them finishing in the top six. Erik Oese (7.760) astride Down Under was third, while Daniel Kaiser (7.731), Victor Brusewitz (7.647) and Julian Wilfing (7.578) completed the German dominance in the event.
Csandl was happy with his performance and looking forward to a better show today. “So far I’m really satisfied with my performance. I just had one training session and I am getting to know him. I think we made a good match together and I am really happy how I went. I’m feeling confident that I can do my stuff the way I want to do. So I don’t know how I went but it looks very good time and I’m happy with the score.”
“This arena is just amazing, there are no words to describe this place. It is just incomparable to all the other places that I’ve seen till now. I am really blessed to be part of this championship. I am so happy to be here. Doha has become the highlight for me in the vaulting season.”
“I will just try to do my best tomorrow. The cards have been shuffled this year. We have new tech moves to do which looks to be exciting for the spectators and competitors. Doha will be the first audience to see those moves tomorrow.”
Qatar Foundation Group Executive Director, Capital Projects and Facilities Management Jassim Mohammed A Telefat was delighted with the huge presence of spectators. “We are encouraged with the way the public has responded to this event. We are expecting more fans coming in later this week,”
“We have the spectator zone so that families can turn up at this event. There are special areas for kids. There are a lot activities planned. I would assume that we will have bigger crowds in the coming days. We have also arranged for transport so that fans could have easy access to the venue,” Jassim added.

BELOW:

1) In the squad competition, Lutisburg got team Switzerland off to a winning start as she partnered Will Be Good with lunger Monika Winkler Bischofsberger to take the first place with 7.706 points.

2) In the Individual Male Competition, Germany’s Thomas Brusewitz topped the 13 men field with a score of 8.082 to take the lead and start the championship on a confident note.

3) Team Italy were second with 6.542 points.