Edited press release from EEF

At Jumping Warsaw, Italy won Sunday’s CSIO4* 1.50m final of the Longines EEF Series.

The final was held at the beautiful and well-organised equestrian centre set in Warsaw’s Sluzewiec Racecourse, and it was an exciting event, bringing to an end in the best of ways, the second season of this series launched by the European Equestrian Federation (EEF) which provides an opportunity for young talented riders, as well as horse-and-rider combinations, to gain experience and improve in top-level competitions.

Eleven teams competed in the final of the Longines EEF Series Final. After a first-round with pouring rain, Portugal, Spain, Austria, Germany, Italy and Ireland were tied on four faults.

With three clears in the second round, Italy proved to be unbeatable though, and Chef d'Equipe Marco Porro's team consisting of Riccardo Pisani riding Charlemagne JT Z (Catchas x Cathago Z) (0/4), Lorenzo De Luca on Scuderia 1918 Highlight W (Berlin x Clearway) (0/0), Emanuele Camilli on Chadellano PS (Chacco-Blue x Centadel) (4/0) and Piergiorgio Bucci riding Carpe Diem J&F Champblanc (Casall x Concerto II) (4/0) finished on four faults ahead of Ireland on eight penalties and Austria on twelve.

There were only four double clear rounds, coming from Lorenzo De Luca (ITA) on Scuderia 1918 Highlight W, Kevin Gallagher (IRE) on Ballypatrick Flamenco (Je T'aime Flamenco x Cruising), Katharina Rhomberg (AUT) on Cuma 5 (Comme Il Faut x ARS Vivendi) and Duarte Seabra (POR) on Dourados 2 (Diarado x Cornet Obolensky).

“Today's course was very technical, and there were only four double clear rounds. It was a tricky course without posing problems for the horses, so the course builder did a great job. My horse jumped very well, and this was his first Nations Cup. It’s a fantastic result for our team," De Luca said. 

“I am very happy and proud of our result. It was important for us to win today so the pressure was high, but we knew we could do it. I would like to thank the FEI and the Organising Committee for this splendid show. It was wonderful last year, but this year they improved it even more. We greatly appreciate the efforts made to guarantee sport at such a high level. When one rides good horses and rides well at a show like this one, everything becomes easy," Bucci said. 
 
Alongside claiming the series title, Italy has also earnt promotion to the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™️ 2023 - Europe Division 1.