Vaulting Contingent for World Vaulting Championships Remains a Mistery

It remains unclear who will be selected for the American contingent to represent the United States at the World Vaulting Championships in Mannheim, Germany August 6-9, 2000. There are two weeks and two competitions remaining for American vaulters to collect AHSA (American Horse Shows Association) approved scores. The contingent of three men, three women and one team will be named in late May.

Valley View Vaulters hosted an AHSA recognized vaulting competition at the L. A. Equestrian Center, in Los Angeles, CA on May 7, 2000. 41 vaulters entered the event from Arizona, California, Colorado, Virginia and Washington. About one half of those entered had previously applied to AHSA by the January deadline to be considered for participation in the World Vaulting Championships.

The Woodside Vaulting Team of Woodside, California was plagued by musical difficulties in their compulsory performance. This disappointment was not the first of the season, after being dismissed from the ring in March when their horse was judged to be uneven. The team came back strong in the kur (freestyle) event with an imaginative and brilliantly choreographed Kur. The performance was smooth and strong. Panache Vaulters coach Patti Skipton and her Belgian, Cowboy Calvin, agreed to accompany the Woodside Team to this competition. Ms. Skipton said, "The vaulters really did a great job adjusting to a new horse. It was a difficult kur (freestyle) to perform and they did a spectacular job".

In a strategic move, Barronsgate coach Devon Maitozo decided to scratch his team prior to the competition. When asked about this strategy, Maitozo responded "It's been a hectic season, the team has worked hard and I want them to be well rested for the next competition." The Barronsgate team had placed first at the two previous selection trials.

In the Women's Individual Division, Pam Geisler finished with her strongest score yet, increasing her chances to again represent the United States. Pam represented the U.S. in Rome, Italy at the 1998 World Equestrian Games and at the World Vaulting Championship in Kapsovar, Hungary in 1996.

Devon Maitozo, current Men's World Champion, finished the competition in first place. Erik Martonovich and Kenny Geisler, who represented the United States at the 1998 World Equestrian Games in Rome, had strong and dramatic kurs. At present, Martonovich still needs one qualifying score and Geisler remains in contention for the U.S. contingent.

OVERALL SCORES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

Media contact: Jan Weber, Vice President of Development, American Vaulting Association (805) 494-4192 Fax (805) 379-0522 Email: janaj40@aol.com

Please visit our website at www.americanvaulting.org for more information about vaulting. The American Vaulting Association is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization dedicated to the promotion of Vaulting, an equestrian youth sport in which vaulters perform gymnastic movements on and in harmony with their equine partner.