Italy win the 2022 Longines EEF Series!

Following their win last season, Italy has once again won the Longines EEF Series.

Today’s final held at the beautiful and well-organised equestrian centre set in Warsaw’s Sluzewiec Racecourse was an exciting event, bringing to an end in the best of ways, the second season of this Series launched by the European Equestrian Federation (EEF), providing an opportunity for young talented riders and horse and rider combinations to gain experience and improve their technique in top-level competitions.

The eleven teams competing in the Longines EEF Series Final rode against one another in a class characterised by a balanced selection of riders. After a first-round held mainly under the pouring rain, which did not however affect the outcome of rounds thanks to the arena’s excellent footing, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Germany, Italy and Ireland all lead the ranking on 4 faults.

The selection was tougher however in the second round thanks to well-balanced technical difficulties posed by the 1.50m course built by Italy’s Andrea Colombo.

The Italian team fielded by chef d’equipe Marco Porro - Riccardo Pisani riding Charlemagne JT Z (0/4), Senior Airman Lorenzo De Luca on Scuderia 1918 Highlight W (0/0), Emanuele Camilli on Chadellano PS (4/0) and Piergiorgio Bucci riding Carpe Diem J&F Champblanc (4/0) – beat all the others finishing on just 4 faults in front of Ireland (8 faults) and Austria (12 faults) taking the final podium place.

There were only four double clear rounds coming from Lorenzo De Luca (ITA) on Scuderia 1918 Highlight W, a horse making its Nations Cup debut, Kevin Gallagher (IRE) on Ballypatrick Flamenco, Katharina Rhomberg (AUT) on Cuma 5 and Duarte Seabra (POR) on Dourados 2.

Alongside claiming the Series title, Italy has also earnt promotion to the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™️ 2023 - Europe Division 1.

QUOTES

Theo Ploegmakers, EEF President
“First of all congratulations! Last year was all right but this year has been special. We have had a first full year of the EEF Series and I think it has been an amazing journey because last year, due to Covid, we restricted the number of qualifiers and there was only one semi-final. All the shows were held this year and I believe it has been a success.

Next year, however, it will be far more challenging because the Italian Team is moving up while three teams from Division 1 are coming down, so the competition will be far more stable than it is now. To go up next year will be a much bigger job.

The final will be held here for the next three years, which is amazing, and I can only say that I expect more and more teams to come and join us, we have the three teams coming down and other teams from the Balkans will be joining us. So the Series is growing and that is amazing.”

CLARIFICATION: For 2023 the rules state the 8th, 9th and 10th place teams will move down from the Division 1. In 2022 only 9 teams are competing, following the Czech Republics withdrawal, so 8th and 9th place will be relegated.

Chef de Piste Andrea Colombo
“I think everything went very well today. There were four double clear rounds and we saw various jumps distributed all over the course came down, so I am extremely satisfied with this event.”

Bogdan Pukowiec, Member of the Totalizator board
“It has been a wonderful day for us all, for the Totalizator, for the riders, the owners, the equestrian centre and it provided the Organising Committee with a wonderful opportunity to host a show of this level. I would like to thank the FEI, EEF, and Longines for the trust they placed in us.”

Italian team quotes

Marco Porro Italian Chef d’Equipe
“I am very pleased for our riders and their horses. This is our second win in a row! I would rather let the riders speak now.”

Lorenzo de Luca
“Today's course was very technical, and there were only four double clear rounds. It was a tricky course without posing problems for the horses so the course builder did a great job. My horse jumped very well and this was his first Nations Cup. It’s a fantastic result for our team.”

Piergiorgio Bucci
“I am very happy and proud of our result. It was important for us to win today so the pressure was high, but we knew we could do it. I would like to thank the FEI and the Organising Committee for this splendid show. It was wonderful last year, but this year they improved it even more. We greatly appreciate the efforts made to guarantee sport at such a high level. When one rides good horses and rides well at a show like this one, everything becomes easy.”

Riccardo Pisani
“I am delighted with today’s result. My first round went extremely well while in the second I got a little too close to jump number 3, but ultimately it all went well and I am happy for our team.”

Emanuele Camilli
“It was a very delicate course and the second round proved to be a little more testing for the horses.”