California Riding Magazine • August, 2010

Winner's Circle

Woodside Vaulters Win at World
Equestrian Festival

 The Woodside Vaulters A team captured the championship in the Prize of Sparkasse equestrian vaulting competition at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany on July 11. The Woodside team earned top marks for their freestyle routine performed to a medley of music from The Lion King.

The Woodside team members are Gabe Aniello, age 19, from Burlingame; Alyssa Bonora, 16, Portola Valley; Tessa Divita, 12, Redwood City; Yvonne Greenen, 15, Los Altos; Siddartha Kreaden, 12, Sunnyvale; Samantha Smith, 24, Saratoga; and Katharine Wick, 17, Hillsborough. The team is coached by Isabelle Parker, and co-coached by Samantha Smith. Krista Mack is the equestrian trainer. At the Aachen competition the Woodside team vaulted on Forrest Cump, a chestnut Hanoverian trained by Agnes Foerst of the Lingen Riding Club, Lingen, Germany, where the team practiced in the week leading up to the competition.

“I am extremely pleased with the team’s performance in their international debut at this prestigious invitation-only event,” remarked Coach Parker. “This group has worked hard and bonded in an exceptional way, which really showed in their performances in Aachen. They have made their mark in the international arena representing
the USA.”

In individual competition, Woodside Vaulters’ Ali Divita, 21, from Redwood City, placed 11th overall in the women’s group, and Patrick Stevens, age 18, from Martinez, finished 13th among the men.
Equestrian vaulting combines elements of gymnastics and dance on the back of a cantering horse. Vaulters perform compulsory moves and freestyle routines choreographed to music. The athletes are judged on form, performance, level of difficulty and harmony with the horse. 
Woodside Vaulters, founded in 1990, provides year-round instruction in recreational and competitive vaulting, emphasizing horsemanship, safety, team-building, communication skills and confidence between horse and vaulter. For more information, visit www.woodsidevaulters.org.

Lucy Davis on a Roll

Californian Lucy Davis continues her remarkable run of big time jumping success. The Champion of the European Youngster Cup in Germany last December, Davis won the $25,000 Memorial Day Grand Prix in Los Angeles at the end of May then turned up on top again in Germany, where she won the Pries Der Duetschen Kreditbank on July 11. This show is a big stop on Europe’s international tour. Davis and her horse Hannah were one of five pairs to go clear. Fellow Californian Gabby Salick was also clear with Gredo La Daviere; they finished fourth.

Riding True Love in her Los Angeles victory, the 17-year-old Davis logged her first Grand Prix win. She finished third aboard a second horse, Nemo 119, for good measure. Susie Hutchison and Cantano were among the tough competition from veterans. Hutchison finished second and Michael Endicott and Zico 13 wound up fourth.