Photo by Carole Dwinell (F.A.C.E.)
Scores were high in Saturday’s team compulsories, which again demonstrated that vaulters are paying attention to those required basic exercises that show strength and flexibility, connection to the horse, stretch, and balance. There can be a wide range in the team compulsory scores even within a team, but at El Sueño on the first day of competition, the scores were very close. The final scores are recorded differently for selection trials so the event posted scores will not be the same as those used for the WEG selection process.
In the trials scoring for this event, in first place after Compulsories: F.A.C.E. with 7.783; second was Sundae Rush 7.342; Mt. Eden came in third, less that 0.031 points behind with 7.311; Woodside 7.231 and Epic 6.996. Less than 1.0 difference separated first and second. The freestyle competition the next day would surely be close as well. But Sunday found a group of volunteers moving the team event to the outdoor dressage court. Unfortunately, the sprinkler heads inside the covered arena were deemed to be lower than is allowed by the USEF Rule Book, so judges and paraphernalia all had to be transported outside to the outdoor arena. It seemed to energize all of the team competitors into their best efforts. F.A.C.E. brought their rendition of Shakespeare to yet another level, but the teams of Sundae Rush, Mt. Eden and Epic all raised the level of their performances as well. After the final bell, the results were F.A.C.E. 8.442, Sundae Rush 7.871, Mt. Eden 7.736, and Epic 7.348.
In the Women’s Individual Gold competition, when the final scores were tabulated, Mary McCormick (8.477) continued to hold the winning position with her elegant moves in both the compulsory and freestyle. Elizabeth Ioannou (8.282) was strong in Round I and then brought her work to a new level in Round II to gain the reserve placing. In third spot overall, Katharine Wick was continuing to work on moves that were designed to show her skills. This commitment to practice paid off with a final score of 8.113 even though she needed to borrow Leslie Hamar’s horse, Soriva, for the final day of competition. Mt. Eden Vaulting Club’s Alexandra Thrasher (7.980) on Lanson 16 and Half Moon Bay’s talented Cassidy Palmer (7.920) on Hudson rounded out the top five in a very close competition. Less than 0.5 separated the top five women.
In the Men's Individual Gold competition, a score of 7.315, Half Moon Bay vaulter Kristian Roberts showed his consistent improvement with strong freestyle components, enough to take second place. We will see more of this young vaulter. Patrick Stevens took the third place with a score of 6.816. Competitions in Chilliwack, Canada, and in Europe continues to help Stevens progress. But it is international experience and a strong performance that Devon Maitozo of the host club brought in to play, which assured yet again his win with an overall score of 8.293. In the dance with his Westfalen warmblood, Palatino, Maitozo brought his acting skills to the equine stage for a memorable freestyle performance. The pair know how to please a crowd...and the judges.
Those judges will have only one more opportunity to do that nearly impossible job of scoring these promising vaulters. The road to the WEG is winding down, and the last U.S. scores will be tabulated during the USEF/AVA National Championships at the Earl Warren Arena, July 29-August 1 in Santa Barbara. It will be the premiere stage for the final act on the road to the WEG for equestrian vaulting.