Portugal Dominate in Lier to Launch 2025 Longines EEF Series Campaign with Flawless Victory

Report: Emily Bevan
Images: Portugal triumphs at Longines EEF Series opener in Lier, Belgium! L to R: Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida, Mario Wilson Fernandes, Chef d’equipe Antonio Frutuoso de Melo, Duarte Seabra, Rodrigo Sampaio Peixoto © EEF/ Pegasus photo / CSI Lier

Portugal got their 2025 Longines EEF Series campaign off to a flying start when they took a resounding victory in the first qualifier of the season which was held in the Belgian town of Lier. Great Britain was second while Ireland took third.
 
Impressive performances from Mario Wilson Fernandes aboard the 10-year-old bay gelding Krachtpatser and Rodrigo Sampaio Peixoto on the 11-year-old chestnut gelding Orion AS, who both recorded double clears, and Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida riding Karonia L, who completed on four faults, ensured Portugal secured the win on a score of zero with a round of riders to spare.
 
Fourth team members, the former event rider Duarte Seabra riding Dourados 2, who competed at Paris 2024 and who jumped clear in the first round in Lier, weren’t required in the second as Portugal already had an unassailable lead.
 
“For Portugal [this win] it’s special. We are a small country in Europe and we all worked a lot to get where we are. For sure this is the best ever start on this league for us so we have big hopes for what is coming next,” said Duarte.
 
Chef d’equipe Antonio Frutuoso de Melo added: “This is a special team that I have tried to build. I know them very well. I’m very proud of them and of all the other team members that are here and all the supporters which is very important and to have this fantastic ambiance around us.” 

Great Britain and Ireland Rise to the Podium
Great Britain climbed the order from fourth after the first round to finish as runners-up, thanks in part to a double clear from Jodie Hall McAteer with Kingsborough Kasper.
 
Joining Jodie and the 12-year-old Irish stallion in the team were Harry Charles, who was part of Great Britain’s gold medal-winning team at last summer’s Olympic Games in Paris, riding the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion Kannandillo, his sister Sienna with Stardust, and Robert Murphy aboard Catch-Me Van Berkenbroeck.
 
Great Britain finished on a score of eight, the same score as Ireland who rose from seventh at the halfway point to complete the podium.
 
Second-Round Struggles for France and Sweden
After round one, Portugal was tied for first place with France and Sweden but while the Portuguese maintained their strong form in round two, there was disappointment for the other two nations. Sweden notched up 16 faults to leave them in eventual ninth while France tumbled down the order to 10th after they amassed 24 penalties.
 
The second round caused more problems than the first and double clears around Henk Linders’ testing track were few and far between. The only other combination to achieve the feat were Mariano Martinez Bastida riding Origi Van’t Geyzeven whose fault free performances helped Spain to fourth just ahead of Germany.
 
Hosts Belgium couldn’t recover from a disappointing first round which left them in 10th place and wound up in eventual sixth.
 
Portugal Take Early Series Lead
Victory for Portugal in the first regional qualifier of the year puts them at the head of the Region West qualifying table on 100 points ahead of Great Britain on 90 and Ireland with 80.
 
Where to Watch and Follow
Full results from the Lier qualifier can be viewed here.

For the latest updates, team announcements, and behind-the-scenes content throughout the 2025 Longines EEF Series, follow the European Equestrian Federation and the Longines EEF Series website. Join the conversation on the Longines EEF Series social media on Instagram and Facebook.
 
All competitions in this year’s series can be watched live on ClipMyHorse.TV, the official livestream partner of the Longines EEF Series.