Paolo Paini, Nico Lupino, Marco Porro (Chef d´Equipe), Francesca Ciriesi, Gianluca Apolloni (L to R)
photo credit: Liyana Pandelieva
Sunday, June 20 2021
Italy takes it all at the Longines EEF Series Bojouristhe (BUL)
by Susanna Cottica and Luca Paparelli
Italy has won the two most important classes at the CSI3*-W in Bojourishte. After winning the World Cup Grand Prix on Friday thanks to Gianluca Apolloni riding High Tea, today the Italian Team has won the Longines EEF Nations Cup Bojourishte, the fifth regional qualifier of the Series.
The Italian team formed by Francesca Ciriesi/Cape Coral (0/0), Gianluca Apolloni/High Tea (0/12), Nico Lupino/Fabalia (4/0) and Paolo Paini/Chaccolie (8/0), led by chef d’equipe Marco Porro, finished the first round with a total of 4 faults and the second round with none. An excellent 5 clear rounds were ridden by the team including a double clear by Francesca Ciriesi and Cape Coral.
“We are delighted with today’s result – said Italy’s chef d’equipe Marco Porro – Of the four riders on the team Nico Lupino was making his Nations Cup debut today, while Francesca Ciriesi was at her second experience. Gianluca Apolloni had ridden in a Nations Cup many years ago, while Paolo Paini instead was our veteran. Together with the Italian Federation we are working on creating a group of young horses and riders and during these past few years I have selected 21 young riders to make their Nations Cups debut. For the semi-final we will try and select those who most deserve to come and ride in the final and do our very best to achieve a good result. I would also like to thank Bulgaria for giving us such a warm welcome”.
“I am really happy for the whole team and really proud of my horse as it is improving every day. I hope this is the first of a long series of Nations Cups since it really is an extraordinary experience,” said Francesca Ciriesi.
Bulgaria finished second with a total of 8 faults, with the team stopping the clock at 214,31 while Romania was third after having two fences down but a slightly slower time of 222,75. These teams were followed by Hungary on 12 faults, Greece on 40 and Turkey on 48. The course built by Spanish chef de piste Elena Boix Gracia saw a total of 19 clear rounds, of which 9 in the first round and 10 in the second. In addition to Italy, also Romania finished the second round with no faults at all, also thanks to a double clear round by Damian Cojocariu riding Huracan Rc. Bulgaria’s Ruslan Petkov with Chaccolino also rode a double clear and therefore contributed to the team’s second place.
It was a wonderful week-end of sport at this CSI3* organised by the Bulgarian Equestrian Federation, thanks to the efficiency and cooperation between the Organising Committee and the Horse Riding Centre General Krum Lekarski. Such commitment was gratified by the many spectators who enthusiastically supported all those competing in the show.
On the straight and with the finish in sight
The Nations Cup also established the names of the Region South nations that will compete in the semi-finals of the Longines EEF Series 2021 in Budapest (July 8th – 11th). Bulgaria, Greece, Italy, Romania and Turkey will compete in the Longines EEF Nations Cup in Budapest together with the Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Slovakia, already qualified for Region Central.
The top five nations in the Budapest semi-finals will qualify for the Warsaw finals (July 22nd – July 25th) reserved to the best ten 10 teams on this circuit.
At the moment five countries already have a place guaranteed in the Polish finals; three from Region West (Ireland, Great Britain and Spain) and two from Region North (Denmark and Norway). We will have to wait for the Budapest semi-finals to discover the names of the remaining five nations.
EUROPEAN EQUESTRIAN FEDERATION
The EEF (European Equestrian Federation) was founded in 2009 with the aim of addressing the issues of the equestrian sports at a European level. Formally established in February 2010 with the adhesion of 27 National Federations (NF), including Italy, the EEF began to work with the International Equestrian Federation (FEI) to increase the influence of European nations within the FEI which, at the 2018 General Assembly, unified the FEI I and II groups within the EEF Group. 2015 saw the start of a partnership between the European Equestrian Federation and Longines - the title sponsor, timekeeper and official clock provider of the Longines EEF Series. The EEF currently includes and represents 38 European National Federations.
LONGINES
Based in Saint-Imier in Switzerland since 1832, the watchmaking company Longines wields expertise steeped in tradition, elegance and performance. With generations of experience as official timekeeper of world championships, and as partner of international sports federations, Longines has built strong and long-lasting relationships in the world of sport over the years. Known for the elegance of its timepieces, Longines is a member of Swatch Group Ltd., the world’s leading watch manufacturer. The Longines brand, with its winged hourglass emblem, is established in over 150 countries.
The Longines EEF Series is a show jumping Nations Cup circuit created by the European Equestrian Federation which replaced the FEI Nations Cup Europe Division 2. Launched last year, but postponed to 2021 due to Covid-19, it is divided into four European regional areas - North, South, Central and West - including the 38 National Federations, members of the EEF. The Longines EEF Series includes a qualifying CSIO3 *, two semi-finals and a final, scheduled at the Warsaw CSIO4*. The winner will be admitted to compete at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup (that is, Division 1) in 2022.
