Germany Triumph in Thrilling Longines EEF Series Qualifier in Budapest

Report: Emily Bevan

Germany came out on top in the hotly contested Longines EEF Series central qualifier in Budapest. Czech Republic came second while Netherlands just pipped Ireland for the remaining podium spot.

The lead changed multiple times throughout the two round competition but it was the German quartet of Tobias Meyer riding Caillou 57, Justine Tebbel aboard Cote de Pablo, Britt Roth with Jeffrey 19 and Maximilian Lill on Kommandant 10 who held their nerve right to the end to clinch victory.

It was a second victory this season for Germany, who also triumphed on home soil in the first central group qualifier in Mannheim. This leaves them at the top of the leaderboard for the Central Region on 100 points ahead of Czech Republic with 90 points and Netherlands (80 points).

“I am totally happy because how team worked together, how they helped each other. If something happens the next one is there. They were hungry for victory. It was very easy job for me,” said Germany’s chef d’equipe Ralf Runge.

“You can see the mixture we have in the team: we have more and less experienced riders, younger people with younger horses, older people with younger horses. [The series] helps the younger to improve, it gives the stability to improve.”

Maximilian and the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding Kommandant 10, who is owned by WOW Trading, were one of just four combinations to record a double clear around Elio Travagliati’s testing track.

“With these teammates it was easy for me to focus full on my round. I fully trust them. In the second round there was more pressure to jump clear, luckily it worked out,” said Maximilian.

Germany finished on a score of eight, four penalties ahead of Czech Republic, Netherlands and Ireland who all completed on 12 faults and had to be separated by time.

Czech Republic led the 12-team competition at the halfway stage on a score of zero but a disappointing second round saw them relinquish their advantage. Oliver Pisarik and Mariano Martinez Bastida’s Elixir de Hus were the team’s best performers, recording a double clear.

Just 0.15 of a second separated the third and fourth placed teams. Netherlands took third thanks in part to a quick double clear from Jur Vrieling and the nine-year-old grey KWPN stallion VDL Mattias.

Mark McAuley and Clooney van Spalbeek Z, a nine-year-old Zangersheide stallion, were the only other pair in the competition to jump a double clear, a result which helped Ireland to fourth.

Fifth position was awarded to 2023 champions Austria on 20 penalties, the same score as hosts Hungary who were second at the end of round one but finished sixth. Great Britain failed to record a clear round to wind up in seventh while Slovakia occupied eighth.

Poland, Switzerland and Brazil filled the next three places while three-time champions Italy had a disappointing day, finishing in 12th - and last - position.

Where to Watch and Follow
Full results of the CSIO3* Budapest Nations Cup can be viewed here.

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.

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

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