Edited press release from CSIO Warsaw Jumping

On Sunday, the Longines EEF Nations Cup Final concluded CSIO4* Warsaw Jumping in Poland and it was a real cliff-hanger decided by a jump-off between the Czech Republic and Italy as both teams finished on a score of four faults after two rounds of competition. 

The Czech team decided to leave the jump-off task to Vladimir Tretera and Gangster v/h Noddevelt (Eldorado van de Zeshoek TN x Careful 28), Italy to Piergiorgio Bucci and Cochello (Casall x Cartani 4). Tretera finished on four faults, while Bucci delivered a clear round – taking Italy to the top of the podium with the help of his team mates Giulia Martinengo Marquet on Calle Delux (Cesano 2 x Con Air 7), Francesca Ciriesi on Cape Coral (Comme Il Faut 5 x Friedenstraum) and Antonio Alfonso on Donanso (Vingino x Manhattan).

About the responsibility given him by the Italian Chef d’Equipe Marco Porro, Bucci said: “To be honest, it’s a feeling I love. That’s what I like the most, we are made for that, we are waiting for a chance to prove ourselves something and to take responsibility. Of course, there is some pressure and there is stress, that’s why we do what we do. We are used to it – sometimes it goes superb and sometimes it is less so, but it is always nice to give our best.”

The Czech team – which in addition to Vladimir Tretera consisted of Filip Dolezal on Coup de Coeur GP Madame Z (Coupe de Coeur x For Pleasure), Alena Machova on Chacco Bella (Chacco-Blue x Quinctius) and Jan Stetina on Gylord (Mylord Carthago x Cash) – might have lost the jump-off to the Italian team, but were not at all disappointed as they for 2022 will step up to take part of Europe Division 1 in the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup series where Italy is already one of the participating nations. 

Third place went to Austria, that finished on a score of eight faults – with Katharina Romberg on Cuma (Comme Il Faut 5 x Ars Vivendi), Alessandra Reich on Loyd (breeding unknown), Gerfried Puck on Melody vd Smidshoeve (Epleaser van't Heike x Thunder vd Zuuthoeve), and Stefen Eder on Dr Scarpo (Sandro Boy x Carinue) as part of their team.