Edited press release from EEF

In a thrilling competition at the Danish leg of the Longines EEF Series in Uggerhalne, event guests USA finished on top of the podium while host nation Denmark secure themselves the maximum 100 qualifying points to lead the Northern Region when ending second.

The 1.45m course designed by Switzerland’s Gerard Lachat saw USA and the Netherlands finishing on a clean sheet at the halfway stage of the competition, followed by Denmark, Sweden and Poland – all carrying four penalties apiece into round two.

Looking like they were never at risk of touching a pole, and eventually adding absolutely nothing to their perfect first round score, USA secured their place at the top of the podium with a perfect zero from their first three riders in round two to take the win. Alise Oken and Gelvera (Quality Time TN x Numero Uno) had the drop-score the first time out to return clear in the second round, while Jacob Pope and Highway FBH (Plot Blue x Cornet Obolensky) as well as Nikko Ritter and Aquiles del Caribe Z (Action-Breaker x Gerlinus) jumped double clear for the US team. Alessandra Volpi and Berlinda (Berlin x Gento) did not even have to return for the second round after her team-mates had all jumped clear the second time out.

Chef d’Equipe Anne Kursinski said of the young team; “We’re very thankful and very proud to be competing here, thank you to the Longines EEF series for having us. Today was great sport from top riders with Olympians competing. This is a young team coming for experience and I am very proud of them, I thought they could maybe win and they did, so we’re very excited!”

Unfortunately, round two saw it all fall apart for the Netherlands, with the team unable to secure a clear round between them, meaning that they had to add 16 penalties to their perfect first round score, resulting in an eventual seventh place.

Taking the second place on the podium was host nation Denmark after a near-faultless round for the team saw them add just four penalties to their first-round score to finish on a score of eight. Rikke Belinda Barker and the 11-year-old stallion Tabalou PS (Taloubet Z X Balou du Rouet) provided the team with a perfect double clear, whilst Lars Bak Andersen and Ethene (San Patrignano Corrado x Cayado) – first in for the team – and anchor man Andreas Schou onboard I Know (Arezzo VDL x Hors La Loi II) both had one clear round and one on four faults. Martin Dinesen Neergaard and Carpe Diem van de Geeneinde Z (Connor x San Patrignano Cassini) carried four faults in each. “It was absolutely great, we came here as one team and really hoped for the win but in the end, it was good that we could secure 2nd spot and maximum points [for the Longines EEF Series Qualifier] on home soil,” Schou said of the team’s performance.

The third place went to one of the most consistent teams of the Longines EEF Series so far, Germany. 

Longines EEF Series Peelbergen: Region North qualifier 
 

1. Denmark 100 points

2. Poland 90 points

3. Lithuania 80 points

4. Sweden 70 points

5. Finland 60 points

6. Norway 55 points