Team Neuss celebrates after finishing first in the CVI 3* Squad  Compulsory Test at the CHI Al Shaqab 2014 yesterday.


By Sports Reporter/Doha


CHI AL SHAQAB 2014 began with a great fanfare yesterday, also hosting the Vaulting event for the first time in the Middle East.
Fahad al-Qahtani, director of AL SHAQAB and the president of CHI AL SHAQAB welcomed all riders, with their horses and teams as well as all guests to witness the second edition of CHI AL SHAQAB at the extraordinary facilities of AL SHAQAB in Doha, Qatar. HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Khalifa al-Thani, one of the patrons of CHI AL SHAQAB honoured the 62 vaulters from 10 nations with her attendance. She was very excited to host Vaulting as a new discipline for the first time in the Middle East being performed in her home country Qatar at CHI AL SHAQAB.
Barbara Torok, the Discipline Manager of Vaulting, was excited to witness the first competitions yesterday at CHI AL SHAQAB. She said, “I am proud to be part of this wonderful and exciting event, as well as making history by introducing this discipline into this region for the first time ever.”
Torok also said that she was happy to welcome Team Neuss again to Qatar. Last year they put on an exciting show and this year they came to CHI AL SHAQAB to actually compete in their discipline. Yesterday, Team Neuss finished in first place in CVI 3* Squad Compulsory Test.
Sabine Kuntner of Austria placed 11th in the Compulsory Test of the individual female competition. She said: “I’ve been working very hard for the competition, but unfortunately my lunge horse was unable to compete. I have had to borrow a horse in order to take part, but I have only been on it three times.”
She further explained that it’s very difficult to adjust to a new animal as the canter varies from horse to horse but she planned to do her best.
Team Svea Voliteklubb of Switzerland had to make a last minute substitution last week when a vaulter became unable to compete. However, coach Daniellea Fiskbeak, who is a mother of two, came to the team’s rescue, literally jumping in to the saddle and becoming a part of the team.

Results:
CVI 3* Squad Compulsory Test – Vaulting:
1. Team Neuss Grimlinghausen from Germany, on Delia 99, with Lunger Jessica Schmitz scored 7.616
2. VV Köln Dünnwald I from Germany, on Holiday on Ice e, with Lunger Alexander Knauf scored 6.999
3. Harlekin from Switzerland, on Pady de Jean Bel, with Lunger Rita Blieske scored 6.270

CVI 3* Individual Female Compulsory Test – Vaulting:  
1. Corinna Knauf from Germany, on Fabiola W, with Lunger Alexandra Knauf scored 7.869
2. Simone Jäiser from Switzerland, on Luk with Lunger Rita Blieske scored 7.745
3. Kristina Boe from Germany, on Don de la Mar with Lunger Winnie Schlüter scored 7.664

CVI 3* Individual Male Compulsory Test – Vaulting:
1. Thomas Brüsewitz from Germany, on Airbus 1, with Lunger Irina Lenkeit scored 8.059
2. Viktor Brüsewitz from Germany, on Sir Bernhard RS VD Wintermuhle, with Lunger Nina Vorberg scored 8.019



Germany’s Thomas Brusewitz performs in the CVI 3* Individual Male Compulsory Test at the CHI Al Shaqab 2014 yesterday. Germany’s Corinna Knauf in action during the CVI 3* Female Compulsory Test yesterday.