France and Germany win on double day of Longines EEF series
Today, Friday May 20th, was a day of grand sport for the European Equestrian Federation with two legs of the Longines EEF Series (LES) in Aalborg (Region North) and Bratislava (Region Central) stealing the attention of fans in the show jumping world.
In these two events, there were many noteworthy performances by the under 25 “next generation” riders who are proving that they are increasingly competitive at top level shows such as those in the Longines EEF Series.
These were two competitions that emphasised how different locations can influence the tracks built and set different challenges, albeit following the same goals, allowing new horse and rider combinations now competing at this level to make progress.
Aalborg, in fact, is a modern facility created specifically for sport with a large arena; while Bratislava was set in a natural setting with an arena built specifically for this occasion surrounded by trees and with often changing shadows.
Aalborg: the winner is France
After the first round for the Central-Region in Mannheim, it once again took a jump-off to declare the winner of the Aalborg CSIO3* Longines EEF Series (LES).
This time France, Japan and Denmark played the lead roles in a jump-off in which there were many clear rounds!
After the first two rounds, all three nations were boasting clean sheets, and they all jumped clear in the decisive third-round jump-off. The riders who returned to the arena for the jump off were Maelle Martin riding Bise des Bardellieres who stopped the clock at 36.41 seconds guaranteeing victory for France, with Japan finishing second with Eiken Sato and Saphyr des Lacs JRA (0/0/0; 36.69) and the host nation Denmark’s colours defended by Linnea Ericsson-Carey and Skorphults Baloutendro (0/0/0; 40.13).
Ten teams competed in the Longines EEF Series Aalborg 2022 Nations Cup presented by Radisson at the modern facilities of the Helgstrand Event: Belgium, Finland, France, Japan, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Turkey and Denmark. Chef de Piste was Germany’s Peter Schumacher. Five of the ten teams jumped clear in the first round: Sweden, France, Denmark, Japan, Belgium and there were twelve clear rounds in the two first rounds.
Quotes:
French Chef d’Equipe Eduard Couperie
“I am extremely happy to be here with the team. The Nations Cup is always a very special class. This is the first time I have been here and it is a wonderful and very welcoming facility also for the horses, which is very important. The decision to field Maelle in the jump-off had been planned in advance and proved to have been the correct choice.”
Maelle Martin, France: “I was very lucky to be able to watch the other riders go first so I had a little more information about the course. I had nothing to lose so I could go for it and everything went well. The whole team was perfect. My mare jumped extremely well although it was all rather new for her; this was her first CSIO and she is showing constant improvement. I am really very happy with her.”
Andrea Schou, Denmark: “It was a wonderful day for the Danish team. Three of our horses jumped double clear rounds. This was an important experience for the horses and some of the horses that jumped here may perhaps go to the World Championships, so it was important to see them jump so well at this show. We were first to go in the jump-off and Linnea had a great round but without putting too much pressure on the other riders. So, we finished third, but it was however very important for planning the other legs in this series also thinking ahead to the WEC.”
Andreas Helgstrand, Helgstrand: “It has been a super exciting day. Just like last year, there were many clear rounds also in the jump-off. I hope to continue show jumping throughout the season. Let’s hope more and more people come to watch shows in this spectacular location."
Chef de Piste Peter Schumacher: “It was a great Nations Cup with three teams in the jump-off, and I have to say three super teams on the podium. Everything went extremely well.”
Germany wins in Bratislava
Meanwhile, in Bratislava, it was to be another jump-off to decide the winners with Germany, who finished second in Mannheim, winning the class with a team that included two Under 25 riders, Sophie Hinners and Cedric Wolf.
A leading role was once again played by Germany’s 24-year-old Sophie Hinners, who riding the stallion Million Dollar handed her team a win when she beat Irish rider Alexander Butler riding Eindhoven GH in the jump-off.
Germany and Ireland had finished the first two rounds on 4 faults with Switzerland finishing third.
There were seven double clears among the eleven teams competing (Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Hungary, Ireland, the Czech Republic, the Netherland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland) in a Nations Cup with courses built by Uliano Vezzani. These double clears included that of the young local her, 23-year-old Michaela Jeskova riding Incredible W.
Quotes
German Chef d’Equipe Marcus Döring: “It was a very exciting competition ending with a dramatic jump-off, which our team won. I am extremely proud of the team, the riders and the horses. It was not easy. This is a great venue with views of the river Danube. The river very close and liked it very much”
Sophie Hinners, Germany: “After seeing Alexander Butler’s round, I tried to jump a good clear with Million Dollar but I ended up having a fence down in the double. I am delighted that we won and very proud of my horse.”
Kendra Claricia Brinkop, Germany: “This is a very beautiful venue and I think some show organisers would be very jealous about having the river next to the show ground. Of course, it also affected the horses who at times lost concentration a little, but I think this makes it extra special for the show. In my opinion, it is one of the best shows we have had in the Nations Cup Series. ”
Sven Schlüsselburg, Germany: “I‘m so happy and very proud of my horse. This was my first time in a competition like this one. But I have to say a big thank you to our trainer, to the whole team, they did an amazing job. I must also thank my groom; she did an amazing job too. Thank you also for this beautiful facility and the amazing arena. It has been fantastic to ride here, it was a pleasure.”
Cedric Wolf, Germany: “I’m a young rider, but I did not feel at all nervous. I ‘m very lucky in that way. I can remain very calm when I ride and be fully concentrated. It was an amazing show, an amazing Nations Cup for us and I’m really happy about it. ”
Chef de Piste Uliano Vezzani: “It was a great competition. There were many names I was not familiar with and it gave me great pleasure to see the horses jump so well. It turned out to be a very interesting class. This Series is an excellent opportunity for riders to compete in the best class there is, the Nations Cup. ”
Full results available at Longines timing:
Aalborg: https://www.longinestiming.com/equestrian/2022/longines-eef-nations-cup-aalborg-uggerhalne/#area4
Bratislava: https://www.longinestiming.com/equestrian/2022/longines-eef-nations-cup-bratislava-bratislava