Eccles sisters dominate in World Cup Vaulting
Hamish Hutchinson • Published 16 Feb 2012 08:00
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THE Eccles sisters went head to head at the FEI World Cup Vaulting in France.
In the end it was elder sibling Joanne that took the individual female title at the final held in Bordeaux.
The British, European and World champion lead the competition throughout and won with a convincing performance and score of 8.84.
Younger sister Hannah, a late addition to the draw following a withdrawal, was not far behind, finishing second.
Joanne has a new routine in the pipeline for the forthcoming season and the final was to be the last performance of her winning marionette routine.
She said, "To have another title is just brilliant and made even better that Hannah did so well.
"Hannah thought her World Cup season was finished before Christmas so she came here totally relaxed and not expecting too much - and loved every minute."
The sisters' success was shared by father and trainer, John, and their 18-year-old horse Bentley, who has been with the Eccles family for 12-years.
Joanne, a dentistry student at Glasgow University, said, "None of it would have happened without Bentley - he is as steady as a rock and so trustworthy and he has been just brilliant throughout the season."
Joanne won her second consecutive European title at Le Mans, France last summer and was a sensation at the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010, in Kentucky, where she won the World Championship title.
Lucy Bell, chef d'equipe to the British Vaulting team said, "Both Joanne and Hannah produced stunning routines out in France and it's fantastic that they were both rewarded with such great scores and final placings. It's a fantastic start to the girls' 2012 season and a great achievement to both of them who have worked so hard to get there."
Individual female final results:
1 Joanne Eccles (WH Bentley) 8.83
2 Hannah Eccles (WH Bentley) 8.227
3 Anne-Sophie Musset Agnus (Harley) FRA 8.214
This article appeared in Alloa & Hillfoots Advertiser 15 Feb 12
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