Press release from Longines EEF Series, edited by World of Showjumping

Italy made it two wins in three days when they successfully defended their title at the CSIO3* Longines EEF Series Region South qualifier in Thessaloniki (GRE). Germany finished second while Hungary rounded out the podium in third.

The Italians continued the impressive run of form which saw them win the Longines EEF Series Region West qualifier in Deauville, on Friday, leading Sunday’s competition in Thessaloniki from start to finish.

“I’m very happy. In Greece we always have a good result. This year it was very difficult to win as there were 10 teams but we fought very well,” said the Italian chef d’equipe, Marco Verheyden.

Andreas Stoiber’s tricky course meant clear rounds were at a premium - there were just 16 in total - and only two combinations produced a double clear.

One of those to record two fault free rounds was Italy’s Matteo Zamana on the 13-year-old stallion Captain Conner (Connor x Acobat). Joining him in the winning team were Roberto Turchetto riding Bubalou (Balou du Rouet x Chico’s Boy) and the father and daughter duo of Bruno and Elisa Chimirri riding Je Suis Godot d’Acheronte (Toulon x Corland) and Cornico (Cornet Obolensky x Conte della Caccia) respectively.

It was the first time Bruno and Elisa Chimchirri were representing Italy on the same team as Elisa, who is only 22, was making her senior Nations Cup debut.

“It was amazing to do my first senior Nations Cup with my father. I’m very emotional about that, very happy. I will keep this in my heart forever,” said Elisa, who struggled with nerves in the first round and amassed 21 penalties but found her feet in the second with a superb clear. “I’m very happy about this experience, about how my horse jumped because he’s only nine years old and he jumped amazing. He jumped his heart out. I’m super proud of him.”

At the halfway stage Italy were out in front on four ahead of Germany and Türkiye who were tied on eight faults, just ahead of Brazil on nine.

Three clear rounds from Italy’s first three riders - Matteo on Corte Moline S.R.L’s Captain Conner, Elisa with Tower SRL’s grey stallion and Roberto riding Lozar Sas’ 15-year-old Hanoverian gelding - meant they added nothing to that score in the second and secured victory without final rider - Bruno and Tower SRL’s 11-year-old stallion - being required to jump.

Germany finished second on 16 faults. Thomas Mang and Jacqueline Wunderer’s 12-year-old mare Grand Zara (Uriko x Casall) proved the stars of the German team as they were the only other combination in the competition to record a double clear.

Clear rounds from Hungary’s final two riders – Aliz Alasztics on My Way VL (My Lord Cartha x Verdi TN) and Anna Simicska aboard Dikanno PS (Diarado’s Boy Z x Kannan) – helped them climb from fifth at the end of round one to finish third on a score of 20.

Fourth place went to Brazil, who were represented by four members of the same family. Olympic medallist Luiz Felipe de Azevedo on Adagio (Adagio de Talm x Con Air) combined with his son Luiz Felipe Cortizo Gonçalves de Azevedo Filho on Sir 99 du Piedroux Z (Sir Obolensky Z x Scendix) and grandchildren Luiz Francisco de Azevedo aboard Quito (Baltic VDL x Clarimo) and Luiz Felipe Neto de Azevedo with Valentino Massuere (Canturo x Galoubet A) to complete on a score of 28.

Romania, who were fifth, Bulgaria, who came sixth, and Türkiye – the biggest casualties of the second round – who finished eventual seventh, all qualified for the South-Central semifinal along with winners Italy and Ukraine, who were 10th.