Budapest, Hungary – July 12, 2024 – Eight rounds jumped and eight clears produced gave The Netherlands a decisive win in the second of the two €90,000 Longines EEF Nations Cup Series Semi Final – Budapest CSIO 3*, held on Friday in Budapest, Hungary. This was the qualifier for the Central and South regions with five places up for grabs for the Final in Warsaw. Germany finished in second place on just one time penalty with Hungary in third, Austria in fourth, Italy in fifth and Slovakia in sixth.
Hungary, as host nation were entitled to put forward a team even though they had not qualified for the semi-final. It was perhaps bittersweet that they finished third on a score of one but could not receive a qualification for the final this year, hence Slovakia took the final qualification spot.
Eleven teams turned out for the competition but the Dutch team consisting of younger and more senior members- both in terms of riders and their horses, were untouchable. 34-year-old Ruben Romp (NED) was riding his experienced horse ESI Toulouse whilst 24 year old Lars Kersten (NED) was riding the talented nine year old Chuck Marienshof Z. The rookie of the team was 22-year-old Mans Thijssen (NED) who ably partnered the 10-year-old Joviality.
The most senior of the team was 41-year-old Henk Frederiks (NED) on Impian D. All four riders looked quite at home jumping both tracks, finishing clear and inside the time in both rounds. A feat which has not yet been seen in this year’s Series. The Dutch have been consistent throughout which surely puts them in good stead for the Final.
Chef d’Equipe Vincent Voorn, summed what their performance meant: “I think we had a very good team, with very good riders and some young horses and some more experienced so I think it was a good combination. This is what we come for, to qualify for the Final. We start the season with trying to develop new combinations and of course the aim in Warsaw. If you have a bad day, you don’t know who will qualify even if you’ve had good pre-qualification. So yes, Warsaw was the aim and luckily we can go there now, the last two years were not super successful so I hope we can change that.”
Frederiks was thrilled with the Dutch performance around a challenging course and gave praise to his horse, the KWPN Impian D. “You see in the Longines EEF Series the sport is always beautiful, its always a close call, and the tight time was deciding. So it was a good decision I believe, when we first walked it it didn’t look so big and we asked to make it a little bit bigger because I think its fair to have enough jumping. The time was deciding so as others were rushing and it turns into a fault, and in the end I think the best team won.
“Impian won already five nations cups, he’s a great horse, really a horse of a lifetime. A couple of years ago I wasn’t doing so much international, and because of Impian, I’m getting everywhere. Last year he jumped the finals, he was runner up in last years Series’ Horse of the Year so I hope he might go one better this year!”
Final Results – €90,000 Longines EEF Nations Cup Series Semi Final – Budapest CSIO 3*
1) Team Netherlands – 0 / 223.64
2) Team Germany – 1 / 221.84
3) Team Hungary – 1 / 226.40
Source: Press Release (edited) by Eleanore Kelly for the EEF – European Equestrian Federation & Longines EEF Series
Photos: © EEF / Krisztina Hajdu
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Categories: CSIO 3*, English, Jumper News Nederland
