Belgium Crowned 2026 Longines EEF Series Champions in Avenches

Report: Emily Bevan

Belgium prevailed in a dramatic Longines EEF Series Final at l'Institut Équestre National d'Avenches (IENA), lifting the trophy ahead of Sweden, who led for most of the competition. Austria finished third.
 
Fourth at the end of round one on a score of 12, Belgium, who won both the Region West qualifier in Lier (BEL) and the semi-final in Peelbergen (NED) and stood on the podium a further four times, raised their level in round two.
 
Three of their team members, Roy van Beek and Charleston-H, who were members of the victorious team in Peelbergen, Katja Haep riding Romy FZ and Jeroen Appelen aboard King CJS, who helped the team to glory in Lier, produced clear rounds in the second round to pile the pressure on those teams above them.

“For sure after the first round we knew it [the chance to win] was still alive, but we had to ride well in the second round to make it happen and then at the end we knew we were, I think we were second already when we rode,” said Belgium’s chef d’equipe Filip Lacus.
 
“We needed faults from Sweden but we were ready to go for the jump off already, so we were prepared but we got lucky.”
 
The trio combined with Mathieu Bourdeaud’Hui and Krismar Stables’ 12-year-old stallion Oscar the Homage, who were clear in the first round, to take victory and ensure a new name will be etched onto the trophy.
 
“First round, he jumped very good. I think I tried to do the same in the second round, but then I rode bad to the water and then the oxer before the jump combination, I also didn't ride good, so I can't say anything about my horse only about myself. That's how it is. It's the win, so enjoy it,” said Mathieu.
 
Sweden held the lead for most of the competition and had their chance to take victory. Their final rider, Marcus Westergren, riding Jonas Lenman’s 12-year-old stallion Airco de L Esprit Z, had to jump clear to secure the win, one fence down would have forced a jump-off, but two down meant the Swedes lost the top spot and had to settle for second with 16 faults.
 
Austria, the 2023 champions, finished on 20 faults – the same score as the Netherlands - but took the final podium spot by virtue of a quicker time.

Gerard Lachat’s track proved testing - just two horse and rider combinations achieved a double clear. They were Sweden’s Amanda Landeblad with Jaconsbergs Stuteri Ab’s 13-year-old Oldenburger stallion Springfield 21 and Cyril Bouvard on Marie Rose Theisen’s 13-year-old Selle Francais mare Diva du Rozel, who helped the French team to fifth. The final line of fences, which consisted of an upright into a treble, caused many problems and was the scene of several eliminations.
 
"It's a fantastic course to build, and I'm lucky that Edwin trusts me — I've been building the courses in his shows for a very long time,” said Gerard.
 
“This is a really important final, and I tried to do the best job possible. Today, I thought it was genuinely a good course - I didn't expect the triple combination to cause so many faults.
 
“We made a few adjustments between the two rounds, and in the end, it turned out to be a really beautiful class."
 
There was drama from the outset when the first pair into the arena, Switzerland’s Adrian Schmid and his own Chicharito 11, were eliminated at the treble. The reigning champions and hosts never recovered, despite the presence of newly crowned world champion Steve Guerdat and his young horse Hadj de Bliniere, in the team. Switzerland finished seventh just behind Great Britain, who couldn’t recover from a disappointing opening round. Spain was eighth, just ahead of Hungary.
 
Italy also had a day to forget. The three-time former champions were in contention at the halfway stage in equal second place but when Roberto Previtali and Quirinus 27 were eliminated and Giuseppe Rolli and Eiffel de Hus withdrew, Italy’s hopes of another title were over.
 
“You see Belgium every time they come again with new combinations, with new horses. It's a big applause to them because they did the structure, how they work with the breeding programme, with making the riders, giving the chance, you see every time new riders come up and it's just fantastic to see that, I'm very happy for them,” said event director Edwin Smits.
 
EEF president Quentin Simonet added: “Huge congratulations for the team [Belgium] this time and for the full season and also on other shows.
 
“Thank you also for the organising committee, all the team, the officials and the volunteers and also all the sponsors.
 
“Special thank you for Longines because I think what we can do here and over the season is really thanks to Longines so that's very much appreciated and we are really much looking forward for the coming season.”

Full results

Where to Watch and Follow

Watch all replays on ClipMyHorse.TV, the official livestream partner of the Longines EEF Series.

For the latest updates, team announcements, and behind-the-scenes content throughout the 2026 Longines EEF Series, follow the Longines EEF Series website and the European Equestrian Federation. Join the conversation on the Longines EEF Series social media on Instagram and Facebook.

Download the Longines EEF Series press kit here.

Full results from the regional qualifiers and semi-finals of the Longines EEF Series 2026 season can be viewed here.