Serbia Secures Double Victory at 2026 Balkan Driving Championships in Kovačica

The 2026 Balkan Championship in Driving concluded from 30 April to 3 May at the Anči Stud Farm in Kovačica (SRB), with the host nation delivering a dominant performance to win both the individual and team titles.

One of the region’s leading equestrian events, the championship brought together top drivers from across the Balkans, competing over three phases—dressage, marathon, and cones each testing the harmony between horse and driver, as well as endurance, control, speed, and technical accuracy. The championship held over three days, was conducted under FEI rules, ensuring the highest standards of fairness, horse welfare, and international competition integrity.

Results

Individual Classification (Pairs)
Milan Đurđević (Serbia) – 1st
David Sušac (Croatia) – 2nd
Eduard Bartha (Romania) – 3rd

Đurđević secured victory with a consistent performance across all three phases, highlighted by a leading score in dressage.

Team Classification
Serbia (Milan Đurđević, Oliver Bunford, Milan Gaković) – 1st
Croatia (David Sušac, Dario Dorušak, Vinko Katić) – 2nd
Romania (Eduard Bartha, Kalman Babo) – 3rd

The team result marks Serbia’s fifth Balkan Championship title, underlining its continued strength in the driving discipline.

Additional notable performances included Marijan Kozak (Serbia), third overall at intermediate level, and 17-year-old Ana Aleksandra Cicka (Serbia), who finished fourth. A total of 14 athletes competed across intermediate and advanced levels, judged by an international ground jury from France, Italy, Poland, Slovenia, and Hungary.

“This year’s Balkan Driving Championships in Kovačica once again demonstrated the strength, tradition, and continued development of our sport in the region,” said Alan Andabaka, EEF Board Member and President of the Balkan Equestrian Council.

“The level of competition, the quality of organisation, and the success of the host nation reflect the positive momentum of driving across the Balkans and its growing role within the European equestrian community.”

The Balkan Championships for Driving remain a key fixture in the Southeast European equestrian calendar, supporting athlete development and regional cooperation. While nations such as Hungary, Germany, and the Netherlands dominate at the global level, events like the Balkan Championships play a crucial role in developing athletes and strengthening regional competition.

The successful organisation of the 2026 edition further strengthens Kovačica’s role as a regional hub for driving and equestrian sport.

Full results here

About the Balkan Championships

With more than 60 years of tradition, the Balkan Equestrian Championships represent the premier competitive platform for equestrian sport across 12 nations in Southeast Europe. Organised under the umbrella of the European Equestrian Federation, the championships cover multiple disciplines—including jumping, dressage, endurance, and driving—and provide a vital pathway for athletes progressing to international competition.