Edited press release from EEF

The final CSIO3* 1.45m Longines EEF Series Region Central qualifier got underway Friday afternoon at the X-Bionic Sphere venue in Samorin, Slovakia, culminating in a nail-biting three way jump-off between host nation Slovakia, Italy and Mexico. Mexico took the win, with Slovakia finishing in second place and Italy coming home in third. 

Friday’s competition was also the last of the eight Longines EEF Series regional qualifiers to take place. The top teams from Region Central and Region South will go forward to their semi-final in Budapest in July. With just Italy, Greece and Ukraine qualifying from Region South, this meant that there were seven Region Central semi-final slots up for grabs. 

Round two got underway with Italy, Slovakia, Denmark and Mexico tied for first place on a score of zero. Switzerland and Germany sat in joint second place with four penalties apiece, with Hungary just behind them on five penalties. The Netherlands, Slovenia and Austria rounded out the top ten. However, the order changed and changed again as the fast paced and exciting contest unfolded. 

Mexican Nicolas Pizarro jumped a lovely clear first round aboard Chacco’s Airman PS (Chacco-Blue x Con Air), but provided the discard score in the second round when faulting at both parts of the double at 11a and b. Team mate Ernesto Canseco posted two eye catching clear rounds riding the 12-year-old mare Haraminka P (Verdi TN x Voltaire Pref) as did Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia with his 11-year-old gelding Con-Cor (Starpower x Padinus). Mexican third line rider Jose Antonio Chedraui Eguia and the 18-year-old gelding Mighty Mouse (Quartz Adelheid Z x Codexco) were the discard score in round one, chipping out the back rail at fence 5 and faulting again at the second part of the double. They recovered brilliantly, posting a clear second round and ensuring Mexico remained in contention.

Host nation Slovakia were keen to perform well in front of their home crowd, and they did just that. Dominika Gaalova opened the account with a super clear aboard the 9-year-old stallion Kriek (Kannan x Heartbreaker). They picked up four penalties in the second round, frustratingly tapping out the back rail of the final fence. David Horvath and U2 Westeleven Z (Uto Kervec x Calypso) provided the discard score in the first round when knocking the final part of the double at fence 11b and picking up two time faults, but jumped a beautiful clear second round to keep the pressure on Mexico and Italy. Local hero Bronislav Chudyba could do no wrong, posting two outstanding clear rounds with his exceptional 10-year-old stallion Statis Conti (Stakkato x unknown). Slovakian anchorman Radovan Sillo then followed up with a masterclass of riding aboard the 13-year-old gelding Quadrosson Ask (Quadros x Carentan), also finishing fault free.

The Italian team were keen to build on their brilliant victory at the Region South qualifier in Athens earlier in June. Omar Bonomelli provided the discard score in round one, with team mates Angelica Canonici, Riccardo Pisani and Giacomo Bassi all jumping clear. In round two, Bonomelli made amends aboard Chippendel de La Tour (Conrad x For Pleasure), whilst Pisani picked up four penalties with Oliver Van’t Heike (Epleaser Van'T Heike x Argentinus). Angelica Canonici remained fault free with Vertigo Z (Vigo d'Arsouilles x Kannan) as did Giacomo Bassi with the impressive and consistent stallion Cape Cod (Tornesch x Kashmir van Schuttershof). 

A three way jump-off to decide the top placings got underway, with Mexican Ernesto Canseco and Haraminka P posting what proved to be an unbeatable and fast clear in a time of 35.47 seconds. Bronislav Chudyba and Statis Conti finished less than a second behind, with a clear round in 36.22 seconds. Italy's Giacomo Bassi and Cape Cod were hot on their heels, but picked up four penalties, leaving Italy in third place overall.