Edited press release from the European Equestrian Federation

It all came down to speed as Team France held their cool in a fiercely fought contest at Peelbergen Equestrian Centre (NED), in the third leg of the 2023 Longines EEF Series. The result was decided by a jump-off with Team Argentina, where 32-year-old Maelle Martin and Bise des Bardellieres (Lamm de Fetan x Persan II) blazed to glory with a fast clear round, beating Matias Albarrachin and Full Option van'T Zand (Flamingo K x Lord Z) by more than a second. Eleven teams came forward to jump Bart Vonck’s fair, but challenging track and it was Spain and the Netherlands that ended up in third and fourth respectively. 

French Chef d’Equipe Edouard Couperie summed up their performance. “First of all, we came here to qualify for the semi-final in Deauville. We chose a team with quite good experience because it was a really important show for us and we know there are some really strong teams competing with us, and some teams able to compete at 5* so that’s why we did our best with good riders.”

Maelle Martin was chosen to jump-off for France on account of her success a year ago when she helped France to win under similar circumstances in Uggerhalne. Speaking after her winning performance on her 12-year-old chestnut mare Bise des Bardellieres, Martin said: “The first rider jumped clear so my main goal was to go faster, and it was our day. When we go second it’s easier, I had to give it my all. I’ve ridden her for three years now, and the more she jumps the better she jumps. So in the jump-off she gave everything she had, she’s amazing, always fast, always tries to be clear.”

Whilst most regions have two qualifiers, Peelbergen was the only Region West qualifier, which resulted in automatic qualification to the semi-finals for the top five eligible nations. Competing for these places were Belgium, Spain, France, Great Britain, Ireland and Portugal. 

Aalborg, Denmark, is the next Longines EEF Series event, and takes place on 26 May as a qualifier for the North Region. The semi-final for West and North Regions will take place on 23rd June, in the picturesque equine hub of Deauville. The final of this popular series will play out in Warsaw, Poland, in September and will include the top ten teams qualified throughout the Series.