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

Germany gave the fans plenty to cheer about when they took a thrilling victory on home turf at the CSIO3* Longines EEF Series Region Central qualifier in Mannheim for the second straight year. Belgium occupied the runner-up spot while Ireland was third.

The German quartet, which featured eventing greats Michael Jung and Sandra Auffarth riding Fischerheros Z (Hotspot x Odermus) and Quirici H (FRH Quaid x Escudo) respectively, Stefan Engbers on his own and Stephanie Dolling’s Baju NRW (Balou du Rouet x Calido I), and Gerrit Nieberg riding European Youngsters E.K.’s IB Queen (Quasimodo Z x Whistler), were the only team to finish the two-round competition on a score of zero.

“That was a very balanced team that simply delivered. We had a great mix in the team, with two very experienced horses and two horses for whom this was their first Nations Cup. They were all incredibly focused, which was brilliant,” said chef d’equipe Ralf Runge.

“Our sport has become very demanding, and the series also gives younger horses and riders a chance to showcase themselves. That’s one side of it; on the other, many nations are also using the EEF Nations Cups to test their candidates for the World Championships this year. A big thank you from all of us goes to Longines, the EEF and Mannheim for allowing us to ride here at this fantastic venue.”

The Longines EEF Series Region Central qualifier was the first leg of the 2026 competition and took place at the Reiter-Verein Mannheim Club which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year.

“Victory in the Nations Cup to mark the 100th anniversary of our Reiter-Verein Mannheim. That’s a wonderful birthday present. We had a full house, a great atmosphere, brilliant weather – it couldn’t have been better,” said tournament director Peter Hofmann.

The competition went right down to the wire with the pressure heaped on the shoulders of the final combination, Gerrit Nieberg and IB Queen. The pair needed to jump clear to guarantee a German victory, four faults would have meant a three-team jump-off between the hosts, Belgium and Ireland, and anything more would have seen them drop out of contention.

Gerrit displayed nerves of steel as he piloted the 11-year-old KWPN mare to a picture-perfect clear around Christa Jung’s course to secure Germany’s place on top of the podium to the delight of the packed crowd.

“I was, of course, aware of the situation that I had to keep a clear round if we didn’t want a jump-off,” explained the 32-year-old, who was also part of the winning team last year.

“I knew about the tension and the expectations, but I simply focused on myself and my horse. Queen jumped well in the first round and in the second I had an even better feeling. She’s in top form.”

At the halfway stage Germany and Belgium were both on a score of zero while France and Ireland were hot on their heels on four faults. In the second round, Germany continued to produce fault free rounds. Both Stefan on Baju NRW and Gerrit with IB Queen rode double clears while Michael and his own Fischerheros Z finished their two rounds with just one time penalty.

“At first, I was a bit annoyed [about the time fault]. Sometimes the outcome of a jumping round depends on a time fault. I felt I was actually riding at a good pace, but I then watched the ride back on video and in the second round I rode the short-side lines a bit faster,” said the current Olympic eventing champion. “I am so proud of him. I think he is a very special horse with unlimited talent."

Four faults apiece in the second round from Belgium’s first two pairs - Yves Vanderhasselt on Pepper Vitseroel Z (Perigueux x Eldorado vd Zeshoek) and Anthony Philippaerts on Gabell d’Arvor (Kannan x Diamant de Semilly) - meant they gave Germany a bit of breathing room. Remaining team members Katja Haep riding Romy FZ (Baltic VDL x Indorado) and Jos Verlooy with Nixon van ’t Meulenhof (Denzel van’T Meulenhof x Carthago) both produced classy double clears to keep them in striking distance.

There were also double clears for Ireland’s Lt Michaeli Byrne with the striking grey mare MSH Claregalway (Cornet Obolensky x Acobat II) and Max Wachman aboard Tipperary (Arko III x Diamant de Semilly) to help the Irish to a final score of four.

Defending Longines EEF Series champions Switzerland finished just off the podium in fourth. Former world no. one Martin Fuchs and his own Fortjump du Beaumenil (Cornet Obolensky x Elan de la Cour) produced the team’s only double clear to lead the quartet to a final score of eight.

Eight faults was also the final score for France, whose best performing rider was Eden Leprevost Blinlebreton. The rising star coaxed a masterful double clear from the 12-year-old chestnut mare Barbie de la Roque Z EDB (For Hero de Hus x Heartbreaker), who is owned by Elevage Bellincamps, to secure fifth place for the team.

Katharina Rhomberg and Colestus Cambridge (Colestus x Cambridge) were the stars for Austria who wound up in sixth place. The Olympic rider and Gerhard Rauch’s 11-year-old Westphalian gelding were the only team members to produce two fault free performances.

Netherlands will have been disappointed with 16 faults and seventh place. The quartet struggled in the first-round amassing 12 faults. Despite improved performances in the second the quartet couldn’t make up the deficit. In positive news for the Dutch, Party In de Hus (Kannan x Coriano), the nine-year-old Selle Francais stallion who jumped a double clear under Willem Greve, looks like a star of the future.

A double clear from Ales Opatrny riding Vivo de Muze PS (Vivant x Loro Piana Filou de Muze) helped Czech Republic to eighth while Hungary finished ninth. Norway suffered a disappointing start when their first combination - Victoria Gulliksen and Moonshine van’t Ameldo Z (Marius Claudius x Casall ASK) – were eliminated after problems at the treble in the first round and finished eventual 10th. Slovakia was 11th.

The Longines EEF Series moves onto Lier (BEL) next week for the first of the Region West qualifiers taking place on Friday 8 May 2026.