Following their win last season, Italy has once again won the Longines EEF Series. Today’s final held at the beautiful and well-organised equestrian centre set in Warsaw’s Sluzewiec Racecourse was an exciting event, bringing to an end in the best of ways, the second season of this Series launched by the European Equestrian Federation (EEF), providing an opportunity for young talented riders and horse and rider combinations to gain experience and improve their technique in top-level competitions.
The eleven teams competing in the Longines EEF Series Final rode against one another in a class characterised by a balanced selection of riders. After a first-round held mainly under the pouring rain, which did not however affect the outcome of rounds thanks to the arena’s excellent footing, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Germany, Italy and Ireland all lead the ranking on 4 faults.
The selection was tougher however in the second round thanks to well-balanced technical difficulties posed by the 1.50m course built by Italy’s Andrea Colombo.
The Italian team fielded by chef d’equipe Marco Porro - Riccardo Pisani riding Charlemagne JT Z (0/4), Senior Airman Lorenzo De Luca on Scuderia 1918 Highlight W (0/0), Emanuele Camilli on Chadellano PS (4/0) and Piergiorgio Bucci riding Carpe Diem J&F Champblanc (4/0) – beat all the others finishing on just 4 faults in front of Ireland (8 faults) and Austria (12 faults) taking the final podium place.
There were only four double clear rounds coming from Lorenzo De Luca (ITA) on Scuderia 1918 Highlight W, a horse making its Nations Cup debut, Kevin Gallagher (IRE) on Ballypatrick Flamenco, Katharina Rhomberg (AUT) on Cuma 5 and Duarte Seabra (POR) on Dourados 2.
Alongside claiming the Series title, Italy has also earnt promotion to the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™️ 2023 - Europe Division 1.
source: Press Release