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

Italy returned to winning ways in the second Longines EEF Series region west qualifier in Deauville, France, taking victory ahead of Belgium, who were second, and the host nation, who occupied third.

The three-time Longines EEF Series champions completed the two-round competition on a score of six to secure their first podium placing of the 2026 season. However, Italy did not score any points towards the semi-finals, as they were ineligible in region west. As a region south nation, they can only earn qualifying points within their designated region and will look to gain points on Sunday 7 June at the CSIO3* Thessaloniki, Greece.

“It’s a fantastic goal [to win the competition]. Looking at the competitors, looking at the venue, for sure winning here is something that we dreamed of and it came true,” said team member Filippo Tabarini who was also acting as chef d’equipe for the Italians. “It was easy to combine the two roles today. I have great companions; we worked together as a team. It might be an extra role but it’s not a difficult one.”

Federico Ciriesi riding the experienced 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding Quincy Juice (Quidam de Revel x Cristo) delivered a double clear for the winning team, while Filippo Bassan with the 14-year-old Selle Francais mare Cerruti de Kreisker (Conrad x Diamant de Semilly) picked up just one time fault in the second round. “It was an amazing feeling. She is on top form and it’s easy to do my job with a horse like this,” said Federico.

Their scores combined with solid performances from Matilde Giorgia Bianchi on the striking grey gelding RR Carcom (Cornet du Lys x Cardento) and Filippo Tabarini with the 11-year-old Belgian Warmblood stallion Crème de la Crème Z (Cornet Obolensky x Carthago) ensured the Italian quartet topped the leaderboard after a dramatic afternoon of showjumping in the French seaside resort.

USA led the way at the halfway stage on zero, just ahead of Italy who were on a score of one. Mexico and Great Britain had also fallen foul of early time faults to sit in third and fourth on two penalties, while Belgium and France occupied fifth and sixth positions on four faults. The leaderboard underwent a considerable shuffle in the second round however with USA being the biggest casualty.

Clear rounds from Belgium’s final two combinations, Katja Haep and her own 11-year-old grey mare Romy FZ (Baltic VDL x Indorado), who produced a double clear, and Constant Van Paesschen riding Louise Dalle’s Unaki de Bornival Z (Untouchable x Catoki), helped them to capitalise on the USA’s misfortune and climb into the runner-up spot.

France also ascended three places on the leaderboard thanks to clear rounds from Cedric Hurel and his own Fantasio Floreval Z (Florian de la Vie x Clinton), who posted a double clear, and Nina Mallevaey on Destine to Be (Diamant de Semilly x Grandilot), much to the delight of the home fans.

There were also fault free performances from Ivan Serrano Saez on Rain Man (Chacco-Blue x Pilot) to help Spain to fourth position and Finn Boerekamp with the exciting nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood Danny Boy 111 Z (Dominator 2000 Z x Chopin van het Moleneind) for Netherlands, who were fifth.

Great Britain, who had started so well, had to settle for seventh after they couldn’t reproduce their form from the first round. Jodie Hall McAteer and the 10-year-old KWPN mare La Gupardie (Van Gogh x Carrera VDL), who is owned by her mum Mandy Hall, came the closest to recording a double clear with one time fault in the first round and two in the second.

The Brits still qualified for the North-West semi-finals at Peelbergen (NED), as did Belgium, France, Spain and Portugal, who finished tenth.

Portugal also boasted one of the rare double clears after Rodrigo Giesteira Almeida aboard Herman Seiger’s Comme le Coeur (Comme Il Faut x Heartbreaker) finished both rounds on zero. The only other pairs to achieve the feat were United Arab Emirates’ Omar Abdul Aziz Al Marzooqi riding Enjoy de la Mure (Vigo Cece x Sable Rose) and Ireland’s Ethen Ahearne on LVS Goldrush H (Stakkato Gold x Arko III).