Triumph for Turkey at the Longines EEF Series Athens

Making an amazing comeback the Turkish team won the Longines EEF Nations Cup Athens, held today at the Olympic Equestrian Center in Markopoulo and the third regional qualifier of the Longines EEF Series.

The Turkish team rose from last-but-one after the first round to then win the Nations Cup with a total of 19 faults thanks to an outstanding performance by Hasan Senturk riding Lycon (1/1), the young Taha Yedikardes riding License (13/4), Necmi Eren riding Unique d’Elbe (8/0) and Husnu Dinc riding Downing Street (5/ret.). The Turkish team was delighted and the still not 19-year-old Taha Yedikares said :“This was my first ever Nations Cup and my first win with the Turkish team and I could not be happier. I would like to thank the team for helping me achieve such a result!”. His team mates were equally happy. “I am really young to be on the Turkish team – added Necmi Eren – this was my second Nations Cup ever and I would like to thank everybody for contributing to this result!”. “I would like to thank the Hellenic Equestrian Federation – said Husnu Dinc – for organizing such an important and successful event after the Covid pandemic. It was an amazing result for all of us.”

Coup de Theatre

Round one had ended with Greece and Romania in the lead with a total of 11 penalties, followed by Bulgaria on 12, Turkey on 14 and Italy in last position on 17. The second round ended with the ranking overturned thanks to Turkey’s comeback to win by adding only 5 faults to those of the first round, also thanks to a clear round by Necmi Erene riding Unique d’Elbe and one time fault for Hasan Senturk riding Lycon. Italy too, last after the first round, made an excellent recovery finishing second with an overall total of 21 faults thanks to clear rounds by Francesca Arioldi riding Icos and Emilio Bicocchi on Flinton. Romania finished third with 24 faults followed in fourth and fifth place by Bulgaria and Greece on a total of 25 faults but ranked according to time. The Chef de Piste for Longines EEF Nations Cup Athens was Elio Travagliati and there were five clear rounds in all in the two rounds of the competition. In addition to Turkey’s Necmi Erene and Italy’s Francesca Arioldi and Emilio Bicocchi, Bulgarian rider Angel Niagolov also left all the fences up in the second round with his Chaccato PS. The only clear in the first round was also ridden by a Bulgarian Ivaylo Bonev on Dendence VDL.

Following the legs held in Gorla (ITA) won by France, in Peelbergen (NED) won by Ireland and Athens (GRE) won by Turkey, the Longines EEF Nations Cup Series now moves on to Bozhurishte (BUL) for the fourth leg to be held in two weeks time from June 17th to June 20th.