Edited press release from EEF 

Poland scored an impressive victory when coming out on top after a jump-off against Norway to win the CSIO3* 1.45m Longines EEF Series qualifier in Drammen, Norway, while Sweden finished third to round out the podium. 

It was the first time Poland had won a Nations Cup competition in eight years and the result secured them a spot in the semi-finals alongside Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.

Marek Waclawik and the 12-year-old bay gelding Kathmandau (Zinedine x Samurai M) were the stars of the team, producing a rare double clear to secure Poland’s place in the jump-off and then recording a quick fault free round. The pressure proved too much for Norway’s jump-off pair, Oda Charlotte Lyngvaer and Carabella VD Neyen Z (Carrera VDL x Lux Z) who amassed eight faults to hand victory to Poland much to the disappointment of the home fans.

“I like to go under pressure. With each round I was getting better and better. I knew at least we would be second which is still a good result so there was nothing to lose and I could go for speed,” Waclawik commented. 

“I’ve had Kathmandau since he was a foal and I rode his father so it’s a special day for me. He wasn’t easy when he was younger as he was so hard to teach and he was so spooky but since he has grown up and he has more confidence he’s been perfect," he continued. 

Double clears were few and far between. As well as Marek and Kathmandau, only his teammate Michal Tyszko on Colinero (Cola x Escudo), Norway’s Therese Søhol Henriksen and Santos Z (Spartacus TN x San Patrignano Cassini), Sweden’s Ottilia Lundgren aboard Comeonconrad (Comme Il Faut x Come On) and Ireland’s Diarmuid Howley with Absolute Du Mio (Mylord Carthago x Cylverado d'Inxent) achieved the feat. 

Joining Waclawik and Tyszko on the victorious Polish team were Przemyslaw Konopacki riding the ten-year-old Pure Pasion From Second Life Z (Picasso Z x Calato) and Msciwoj Kiecon aboard the nine-year-old grey gelding Cicero (Cordess x Capitol).