10 September '25
Main role for Chelsea Z in Longines EEF Nations Cup Final
© Longines EEF Series
Much attention was focused on the five-star competition at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Canada, last weekend, but in addition to that, the final of the Longines EEF Nations Cup also had a second important competition on the programme. This denouement of the season took place in Avenches, Switzerland, and guaranteed excitement until the very last jump. It also turned out to be a great afternoon for our blue and yellow colours, with a Z-level horse claiming the leading role.
The best ten countries from the semi-finals in Budapest and Deauville had qualified for this grand final and made their appearance in Avenches on Sunday afternoon. Swiss course designer Gérard Lachat and his team had carefully mapped out a course that provided plenty of challenge. That meant that of the 40 combinations that appeared at the start, only six of them ensured a flawless first round. Halfway through the competition, it was the Swiss équipe in the lead with an impressive score of four points, ahead of France and Germany, who were both on 12 points. But eight penalty points in the second round put them in an exciting jump-off with the French to determine who would win the title.
In that decisive jump-off, one combination per country was delegated and for Switzerland it was Gaëtan Joliat and 12-year-old chestnut gelding Chelsea Z, a son of Chellano Alpha Z and Cicero Z who was bred in the Netherlands by Willy Sijbers. As the very last combination at the start, Joliat and Chelsea Z showed iron nerves, as with a whirlwind round in 39.08 seconds they were more than a full second ahead of their French colleague and ensured a fantastic home victory!
The final of this Longines EEF Nations Cup was of course the absolute highlight of the weekend, but some Z-horses also managed to put their best foot forward in the other classes. On Saturday afternoon, for example, the 1.50m main class saw a stunning victory for Belgian champion Gilles Thomas and the 9-year-old mare Lavanoche T&L Z, a daughter of Lavallino Ter Klomp and Bentley van de Heffinck from the breeding farm of Guy Vandeven. In a jump-off for which only six out of fifty-seven combinations managed to qualify, no one managed to stay clear again. Thomas and Lavanoche T&L Z also saw a fault, but with their sharp time of 40.17 seconds they still managed to take victory.
During the Grand Prix Longines on Friday, Gilles Thomas was also successful in Avenches with the 10-year-old grey gelding Chuck Marienshof Z (Colestus x Emerald van 't Ruytershof), bred by Johny De Coninck and Sandra Ecker. Thomas and Chuck Marienshof Z stayed clear in the basic round and were among the seven combinations who managed to qualify for the ultimate jump-off. There the duo experienced a déjà vu moment, as they narrowly missed out on victory, just like at the Brussels Stephex Masters a week earlier. With a top time of 39.73 seconds they set the fastest time again, but a jumping fault on the way kept them from victory and made them settle for 4th place.
During the opening day on Thursday, the busy 1.40m class was divided into two sub-classes and in both sub-classes we saw a Z horse shine in the top three of the standings. Thus, in the first sub-classification there was a 3rd place for Swiss rider Roger Umnus with the 13-year-old grey mare Clear Love Z (Clarimo Z x Ultimo van ter Moude - Breeder: Komar Dusan) and in the second sub-classification a handsome2nd place for his compatriot Franck Goubard with the 9-year-old mare Ionella Il Mondo Z (I M Special de Muze x Baloubet du Rouet - Breeder: Tim Naessens).
Finally, there was also a top ranking in Avenches for Swiss rider Noah Keller and the 11-year-old mare Carina Z (Carthino Z x Guidam - Breeder: J.R.J. Evenhuis & L.G. Morsink). During the 1.45m class against the clock they did not show any faults and this result was finally good for 4th place.