Italy has won the two most important classes at the CSI3*-W in Bojourishte. After winning the World Cup Grand Prix on Friday thanks to Gianluca Apolloni riding High Tea (Cento x Landos), today the Italian Team has won the Longines EEF Nations Cup Bojourishte, the fifth regional qualifier of the Series.
The Italian team formed by Francesca Ciriesi/Cape Coral (Comme Il Faut 5 x Friedenstraum) (0/0), Gianluca Apolloni/High Tea (0/12), Nico Lupino/Fabalia (Bustique x Starsky de Brix) (4/0) and Paolo Paini/Chaccolie (Chacco-Blue x Cellestial) (8/0), led by chef d’equipe Marco Porro, finished the first round with a total of 4 faults and the second round with none. An excellent 5 clear rounds were ridden by the team including a double clear by Francesca Ciriesi and Cape Coral.
“We are delighted with today’s result – said Italy’s chef d’equipe Marco Porro – Of the four riders on the team Nico Lupino was making his Nations Cup debut today, while Francesca Ciriesi was at her second experience. Gianluca Apolloni had ridden in a Nations Cup many years ago, while Paolo Paini instead was our veteran. Together with the Italian Federation we are working on creating a group of young horses and riders and during these past few years I have selected 21 young riders to make their Nations Cups debut. For the semi-final we will try and select those who most deserve to come and ride in the final and do our very best to achieve a good result. I would also like to thank Bulgaria for giving us such a warm welcome”.
“I am really happy for the whole team and really proud of my horse as it is improving every day. I hope this is the first of a long series of Nations Cups since it really is an extraordinary experience,” said Francesca Ciriesi.
Bulgaria finished second with a total of 8 faults, with the team stopping the clock at 214,31 while Romania was third after having two fences down but a slightly slower time of 222,75. These teams were followed by Hungary on 12 faults, Greece on 40 and Turkey on 48. The course built by Spanish chef de piste Elena Boix Gracia saw a total of 19 clear rounds, of which 9 in the first round and 10 in the second. In addition to Italy, also Romania finished the second round with no faults at all, also thanks to a double clear round by Damian Cojocariu riding Huracan Rc (Cortez Poleander). Bulgaria’s Ruslan Petkov with Chaccolino (Chacco-Blue x Heartbreaker) also rode a double clear and therefore contributed to the team’s second place.
It was a wonderful week-end of sport at this CSI3* organised by the Bulgarian Equestrian Federation, thanks to the efficiency and cooperation between the Organising Committee and the Horse Riding Centre General Krum Lekarski. Such commitment was gratified by the many spectators who enthusiastically supported all those competing in the show.
Source: Press Release