Ebreichsdorf, Austria - Bridget Kiernan (San Mateo, Calif.) and partner Janie Salisbury (Atherton, Calif.) have claimed the World Championship bronze medal in the Pas de Deux Championship, besting seven other pairs at the 2017 FEI World Vaulting Championships for Juniors, August 2-5, 2017 in Ebreichsdorf, Austria.
The pair, led by Chef d’Equipe Mary McCormick and Assistant Chef d'Equipe Jessica Garrod, vaulted with the borrowed horse, Diva 506 and Lunger Carolyn Bland. Scoring a 7.750, they finished just behind silver medalists Ronja Kahler and Julian Kogl from Germany with 7.824 and gold medalists Anna Krippl and Viktoria Feldhofer from Austria with a 7.938.
Performing to the classic ‘Singing in the Rain,' Kieran and Salisbury were a crowd favorite with their presence and choreography.
“We are very proud of Bridget and Janie for bringing home the bronze medal in the pas de deux class,” said McCormick. “They were up against some very tough competition and delivered beautiful freestyles in both rounds.”
U.S. athletes also had strong top-ten finishes in the squad division, as well as both the individual male and female divisions.
Luke Overton (Stanwood, Wash.) returned for his second FEI World Vaulting Championship for Juniors this year, scoring a 7.352 in the top ten. His experience showed as he cooly delivered a demanding and risky freestyle.
Her first year competing at this event, Ana Schult (Longmont, Colo.) made an amazing comeback after the compulsory test, not only qualifying for the final, but performing beautifully and finishing in the top ten with a score of 7.165.
The U.S. squad of Miki Yang (Los Altos Hills, Calif.), Audrey Kiernan (San Mateo, Calif.), Tessa Belardi (Aptos, Calif.), Kiernan, Annika Malmstrom (Palo Alto, Calif.), and Lena Nicoletti (Sunnyvale, Calif.) finished seventh with a score of 6.826.
“The squad had an unlucky fall in one of the freestyle rounds,” said McCormick. “But their high scoring compulsories still kept them in the top half of the class.”
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