Thursday, 16 February 2023
The Longines European Equestrian Federation (EEF) Series is back for a new season, supporting European nations to develop their national teams through a summer-long Nations Cup competition.
The Series will kick off in Italy, home to the undefeated champions of the Series, before heading across Europe for the regional qualifiers. The top five teams from each region will then move forward to the semi-finals. From there we will welcome the best 10 nations for the grand final which returns to Warsaw on the 17th of September. In 2021 and 2022 the Italian team were victorious and will be looking to score a hat-trick this season.
Title sponsor Longines have supported the Series since its inception, helping to provide new opportunities for national federations to compete in team competitions. The Series aims to develop horses and riders and grow each country's talent pool to continue towards Championships while proactively encouraging the progression of riders through the ranks by requiring all teams to include an U25 rider in their squad. Kevin Gallagher (IRE) proved to be a stand-out young rider during the ’22 season, achieving two 0/4 results during the Regional Qualifiers, and a double clear at the Semi-Final and Final. With consistent team results in the Longines EEF Series, Gallagher went on to jump his first 5* Grand Prix last summer in Dublin, highlighting the power of the Series to help riders and combinations progress.
The new season also welcomes KEP Italia as the official Partner for Safety. Working with the EEF, KEP Italia is committed to protecting riders with a vision to grow the sport, enabling combinations to develop with safety at the core.
Theo Ploegmakers, EEF President, commented, "Last year we saw the first complete season of the Longines EEF Series and we were treated to some wonderful sport across Europe. This year we have a fantastic calendar, and we thank our National Federations and OCs for their continued support to bring the Series to life. Providing a competition at this level is integral to the EEFs ethos, to create a sustainable sport that continues to develop new talents and increase the strength of national teams.”
Complete Calendar:
| Date | Event | Country | Region | Round |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26-30 April | Gorla | ITA | South | Regional Qualifier |
| 4-9 May | Mannheim | GER | Central | Regional Qualifier |
| 25-28 May | Aalbord | DEN | North | Regional Qualifier |
| 25-28 May | Peelbergen | NED | West | Regional Qualifier |
| 1-4 June | Athens | GRE | South | Regional Qualifier |
| 1-4 June | Drammen | NOR | North | Regional Qualifier |
| 8-11 June | Bratislava | SVK | Central | Regional Qualifier |
| 22-25 June | Deauville | FRA | West/North |
Semi-final |
| 29- 2 July | Ebreichsdorf | AUT | South/Central | Semi-final |
| 14-17 Sept | Warsaw | POL | Final |