After a second round full of surprises, it was the Brazilian team that won the seventh leg of the Longines EEF Nations Cup Series held Friday June 10th, during CSIO3* Drammen in Norway.
The course, built by Anders Hafskjold, was linear and flowing, with all the characteristics of a Nations Cup, giving the horses the best possible conditions in this regional qualifier. It was a top-level Nations Cup, with nine horse-and-rider combinations posting double clear rounds in the Gjelsten Arena.
With the requirement for each team to field an under-25 rider, it was encouraging to see many previous successful pony, junior and young riders competing in Drammen.
The first round saw five teams sitting tied in the lead on a score or zero, leaving all to play for in the second round. Adding only one time penalty to their total score in round two, the Brazilian team of Marlon Modolo Zanotelli and Heureuse Nouvelle WH (Cardento x Indoctro), Victor Mariano Luminatti and Idette (Eldorado vd Zeshoek TN x Namelus R), Thiago Ribas Da Costa and Kassandra van 't Heike (Epleaser van't Heike x Grandeur) as well as Joao Victor Castro and Dispo Cece (Tornesch x Quouglof Rouge) managed to win the Nations Cup. Ireland and Belgium completed the podium, as second and third, with four faults each.
“We had a strong team here and all the riders have been jumping consistently at this level. We just stuck to the plan to jump clear rounds one at a time. Everyone knows their horses pretty well. We were lucky today that things worked out. It was a special event with excellent facilities,” said Brazil's Marlon Modolo Zanotelli.
The Drammen leg of the Longines EEF Series was the second and final qualifier for Region North, and the five teams that have qualified for the Deauville semi-finals (June 23-26) are now confirmed: Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Poland and Lithuania.
These nations will join Ireland, Spain, Belgium, France and Portugal, that have qualified from Region West. The top 5 from the semi-final will progress to the Finals in Warsaw on the 11th of September.
The final qualifier will be held next week in Italy with the Longines EEF Series 2022 Nations Cup in Gorla Minore, marking the final leg for the Region South and completing qualifications for the Budapest Semi-Finals that runs from June 30 – July 3.
source: Press Release - Ph. © Helene Gjerde Aamdal / Equine Sport Photography