British vaulter Joanne Eccles wins individual gold at WEG
Britain’s Joanne Eccles won the individual gold medal in the female individual vaulting competition at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games today.
Joanne received the second highest score in today’s final freestyle round with her Candle in the Wind routine, which was enough for her to secure the top spot having led after yesterday’s technical test (left).
“I’m a little stunned — I was pleased with my performance today, but the other girls are so strong,” she said after learning she had won. “It’s going to take a while to sink in.”
Joanne was lunged on WH Bentley by her father John, who also received a gold medal. This is Britain’s first ever WEG medal in vaulting.
Germans Antje Hill and Simone Wiegele took the silver and bronze medals.
After personal bests in the three earlier rounds, Britain’s other individual female, Lucy Phillips, finished her WEG journey with some disappointment after being unable to pull off her dismount. She finished 13th.
In the male final, Britain’s Ross Foreman finished on a high with the sixth best score in the freestyle round, which raised him to eighth place overall.
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Switzerland’s Patric Looser’s spaceman routine kept him in the top spot overall in the male contest, even though France’s Nicolas Andreani actually received the best mark for today’s freestyle. Nicolas finished in the bronze position, behind the 2006 WEG champion, Germany’s Kai Vorberg.
Patric has been based with Kai for five years and said: “This is a strange feeling because Kai is my teacher, but I’m really satisfied with my performance.”
The vaulting team contest concludes tomorrow.
Log back on tomorrow for a report on the final vaulting team round, full report in H&H next week, out 14 October.
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