Italy claim their third Longines EEF Series title!
Report: Emily Bevan
Images: Dava Pala / Warsaw Jumping
Italy made it three victories in four years when they triumphed in the final of the 2024 Longines EEF Nations Cup Series which took place under sunny skies at the Sluzewiec Racecourse in Warsaw. Ireland was second while Germany occupied third.
“I am very proud of the team. They really worked together and gave a strong performance. Three clear in the first round then in the end a jump-off, and we are very happy to win for a third time here,” said chef d’equipe Marco Porro.
Italy and Ireland were neck and neck throughout the competition. They jointly led the 11-team field at the end of the first round on a score of zero, four faults ahead of Sweden, and it remained tight throughout the second round.
The Italians boosted their chances with a double clear – the only one of the class – courtesy of their second rider Alberto Zorzi and the 12-year-old Zangersheide gelding Cortez van’t Klein Asdonk Z but eight faults from their next rider Emanuele Camilli on Chacco’s Girlstar allowed Ireland back into the competition.
“I felt good this morning, we have a very good, very strong team with top horses so I trusted and we had the luck so it was good,” said Alberto.
Piergiorgio Bucci aboard Hantano, Italy’s fourth combination, needed a clear round to secure victory and looked like they were on course to achieve it but they clipped the final fence to force a jump-off.
The pair redeemed themselves in the jump-off however after they produced a speedy and confident clear to pip Ireland’s Seamus Hughes Kennedy on ESI Rocky, a nine-year-old Irish Sports Horse, by less than a second and secure a hat trick of titles for the Italians.
“I was not thinking about the pressure, as I was still a bit annoyed with myself about the last jump in the previous round. I could have finished it before, but I guess we all had more fun like this right so it went good, a fast time, trying to make up for the mistake before,” said Piergiorgio.
Also in the Italian team was Giulia Martinengo Marquet on Scuderia 1918 Calle Deluxe.
“It’s nice to win, it’s always nice to win, nice to share this with these amazing teammates, and actually I had the same horse in the final a few years ago and again now, which proves it is a good relation. I’m so happy to be here again,” said Giulia.
While there will be disappointment among the Irish ranks after coming so close to victory, there are many positives to take following some impressive performances from a young and relatively inexperienced team. Joining Seamus, last year’s Young Rider European Champion, and ESI Rocky in the team were former maths teacher Jessica Burke with Express Trend, who recorded the first clear of the day, Jenny Rankin riding the 11-year-old KWPN gelding Ibiza and 20-year-old Francis Derwin aboard Flexi K.
Germany rounded out the podium in third after climbing from fourth at the halfway stage. Sweden was fourth and Great Britain fifth. There were disappointing results for defending champions, Austria, who ended up ninth and Netherlands, who won the semifinals, who occupied 11th after opting not to jump in the second round following a poor first round.
“We’ve been so lucky to witness some excellent sport again here in Warsaw. The jump-off was a great end to the competition and it was very unlucky for Ireland who showed some real talent with some very young riders,” said Theo Ploegmakers, EEF President.
“It is a big honour to see also from the other nations, some really impressive under 25 riders giving great performances for their country. Italy have shown themselves before in the Final and again today they have taken the win. I cannot thank Longines and KEP Italia, our partners, enough to support our Series and we are already looking forward to 2025.”