Press release from Eclat Agency for LES Series Final, edited by World of Showjumping

Under a radiant Swiss sky and in front of a packed and enthusiastic crowd, the CSIO4* 1.55m Longines EEF Series Final delivered all the emotion, suspense and excellence that make equestrian sport so unique.

Ten nations had earned their place in the final, following the CSIO4* semi-finals held in Budapest (HUN) and Deauville (FRA). The stage was set for a spectacular showdown. Course designer Gérard Lachat (SUI) had carefully imagined a course that reflected the level of riding skills present in Avenches: Technical, demanding, and unforgiving.

The beautifully designed set of fences included a tribute to Switzerland’s three major five-star events, with fences representing the CSIO5* of St. Gallen, illustrated through its famous tapestry, the CHI Geneva with its iconic Molard Towers, and the CSI5* of Basel, with its Rathaus.

Only six riders completed the first round with clear rounds: Alain Jufer (SUI) on Dante MM (Diarado x Luxius), Anthony Bourquard (SUI) and Everest d’Ellipse (Vagabond de La Pomme x Kannan), Sara Brionne (FRA) and Grand Duc du Paradiso (Vagabond de La Pomme x Toulon), Hannes Ahlmann (GER) and Cayadino (Cayado x Quick Fire), Jur Vrieling (NED) on Kiliman Sitte (Comme Il Faut x Button Sitte) as well as Marcus Westergren (SWE) aboard Airco de L Esprit Z (Air Jordan Alpha Z x Quantum).

Team Switzerland ended the first round with a strong lead, totalling four faults, ahead of France and Germany, both sitting at 12 faults. However, the second round would prove to be a whole new story.

An early eight-fault round by Barbara Schnieper and Canice (Cascadello x Cornet Obolensky) seemed to threaten Switzerland’s advantage. Meanwhile, three of the four French horse-and-rider combinations — Sara Brionne on Grand Duc du Paradiso, Mégane Moissonnier on Crooner Tame (Conrad x Quaprice Boimargot Quincy) and Robin Lesqueren aboard FBI d’Ellipse (Vagabond de La Pomme x Kannan) — delivered brilliant, faultless rounds, forcing the Swiss to respond. Brionne and Germany’s Ahlmann were the only two to deliver a double clear.

Everything came down to Switzerland’s anchor, the 20-yaer-old Gaëtan Joliat and Chelsea Z (Chellano Alpha Z x Cicero Z van Paemel). The pressure was immense: Only a clear round would allow Switzerland to tie with France and force a jump-off. And they delivered, with composure, precision, and not a single hesitation – clear.

The chef d’equipes — Olivier Guillon for France and Peter van der Waaij for Switzerland — had just minutes to choose their representatives for the jump-off.

Both selected their U25 rider, setting the stage for a thrilling face-off between Sara Brionne and Gaëtan Joliat.

Riding Grand Duc du Paradiso, the 9-year-old gelding who had already jumped clear in Friday’s Grand Prix and both rounds of the Nations Cup, Sara Brionne delivered once again: Fast and flawless. But Gaëtan Joliat, carried by the energy of the home crowd, knew what he had to do. A clear round was not enough — he had to be faster. With Chelsea Z, his 12-year-old gelding, he attacked the course with precision and a daring attitude, taking every risk.

And in the end, it was Switzerland that took the win, with France in second and Germany in third.