Scottish vaulter takes Gold at FEI Vaulting European Championships
Joey Eccles (20) from Tillicoultry, Scotland, took first place at the European Vaulting Championships held in Sweden this weekend (29 July - 2 August).
Crowned senior female vaulting Champion of Europe, Joey took the title, Team GBR’s first ever vaulting medal, on her horse WH Bentley, while being lunged by her father John Eccles. This follows a fantastic season of wins for her both in Europe and the USA.
On her victory Joey said; "I am delighted to have won Team GBR’s first vaulting medal and ecstatic that it was gold."
Lucy Philips (18), from Solihull finished 8th in the senior competition on her horse Pitucelli, while Joey’s sister Hannah (17), took 7th in the junior Championships and Louise Sinclair (15) from Fife,13th.
Stephanie Hunter finished 18th in the Junior competition and Harriet Nicol 31st in the Senior.
In the team events, the senior Team GBR finished 8th and the Junior Team GBR 5th.
Lucy Bell, Chef d’equipe British Equestrian Vaulting (BEV), said; “Joanne performed fantastically, I don’t know anyone who has worked so hard and can remain so controlled and focused throughout. Her performances were rewarded with not only our first ever vaulting medal, but to make it a gold one really made it a fabulous week!
“The results across the board are absolutely fantastic, Team GBR has improved in all classes this year, everyone has worked extremely hard and the results show this.
”It’s the first time we have had four individuals through to the second round in the individual classes - (senior and junior) and specifically in the senior female class where we had two vaulters finish in the top ten. Both teams performed well and Lucy Phillips’s horse Pitucelli won the best horse in the entire Championships.”
These vaulters will now roll straight into preparations for the British selection trials for the World Equestrian Games in Kentucky 2010.
A full set of results can be viewed here
Video clips of the championship can be viewed here
The full Team GBR Vaulting contingent
Joanne and John Eccles win Gold