it took two rounds, a few cold sweats and a four-way battle to separate the contenders. At the end of a proper thriller, Germany laid down the law on Friday in Budapest by winning the Longines EEF Series Central Region qualifier. The surprising Czech Republic looked for a long time as though it might have the job done before finally giving way, while the Netherlands snatched third place from Ireland… by fifteen hundredths of a second.
A Nations Cup that never picked a side
Over two rounds, the lead changed hands almost as often as the score sheets on the judges’ table. Predicting the winner was impossible, with the margins remaining razor-thin throughout.
In the end, Germany let its collective strength do the talking. Tobias Meyer (Caillou 57), Justine Tebbel (Cote de Pablo), Britt Roth (Jeffrey 19) and Maximilian Lill (Kommandant 10kept their cool until the final fence to finish the day on just 8 points, four fewer than their three closest rivals.
Runge, the conductor of a team on the rise
This success was no accident. Already winners in Mannheim in the opening leg of the Central Region, the Germans made it two from two and moved alone to the top of the standings with 100 points, ahead of the Czech Republic on 90 and the Netherlands on 80.
Chef d’Equipe Ralf Runge was especially pleased with the mindset of his group.
« I am totally happy with the way the team worked together. If one had a problem, the next one stepped up. They were hungry to win. My job was very easy. »
The former rider also underlined the philosophy behind this team, a deliberate mix of experience and youth.
« We have more or less experienced riders, young horses and more established horses. This series is precisely what allows the younger ones to gain stability and progress. »
Kommandant 10, the perfect soldier
Among the four double clears of the day, the one produced by Maximilian Lill and the nine-year-old Holsteiner Kommandant 10 may well have carried the most weight. Just when the pressure reached its peak, the pair did not blink.
«With these teammates, I was able to focus only on my round. I trust them completely. In the second round, the pressure was higher, but luckily everything went well. ” explained the German rider after delivering victory for his team.
The Czech Republic may have regrets
Everything had seemed to be smiling on the Czechs halfway through. Leaders on a clean score after the first round, they saw their advantage melt away throughout the second act.
The one real ray of sunshine came fromOliver Pisarik andElixir de Hus, who produced an impeccable double clear.
The same goes for the Netherlands, who can thank Jur Vrieling and the young grey stallion VDL Mattias, also perfect over both rounds.
On the Irish side, Mark McAuley and Clooney van Spalbeek Z also signed off with a double zero, though not quite enough to climb onto the podium.
L’Italie complètement à côté
Further down the standings, Austria, champions in 2023, finished fifth ahead of Hungary, who had nevertheless sprung a surprise by sitting second after the first round.
Great Britain, unable to produce a single clear round, had to settle for seventh place ahead of Slovakia.
Poland, Switzerland and Brazil followed, while Italy, three-time winners of the Longines EEF Series, left Budapest with an anonymous twelfth and last place. A performance the Italians will want to sweep under the rug as quickly as possible.
Find the full results of the EEF Nations Cup in Budapest here.
(So Horse with EEF Photos ©EEF)
