Longines EEF Series Final Field Set as Switzerland and Belgium Dominate Semi-Finals

The stage is set for Avenches. The 2026 Longines EEF Series has concluded its grueling regional qualifiers and high-stakes semi-finals, officially locking in the ten nations that will battle for the European show jumping championship this September.

Designed by the European Equestrian Federation to bridge the gap between national-level sport and the elite Longines League of Nations, the EEF Series serves as the continent's premier developmental circuit. Operating at the CSIO3* and CSIO4* levels, the series forces federations to build depth by mandating the inclusion of rising combinations, making it a vital pipeline for future Olympic talent.[3]

The pathway to the Final culminated over the past two weeks in a pair of dramatic semi-finals that tested the resilience of Europe's top squads. The North-West Semi-Final took place first at the Peelbergen Equestrian Centre in the Netherlands, a venue recently confirmed to host the prestigious event through 2030.[1][2]

In Peelbergen, Belgium delivered an absolute masterclass. Navigating two demanding 1.50-meter rounds designed by Bart Vonck, the Belgian squad finished on just six penalties to comfortably secure their ticket to the Final and establish themselves as the team to beat.

Sweden followed in second place with 13 faults, while Spain, France, and Great Britain claimed the remaining qualifying spots from the region. The margins at the cutline were razor-thin, with Norway suffering the heartbreak of missing qualification by a single penalty.

A week later, the spotlight shifted to the X-Bionic Sphere in Šamorín, Slovakia, for the South-Central Semi-Final. Competing on the venue's spectacular championship-standard grass arena, Switzerland successfully defended their 2025 Šamorín title with a commanding eight-penalty performance.[1]

The Šamorín leaderboard saw wild swings between the two rounds. Hungary and the Netherlands held the top two spots after the opening effort, but a highly technical second round from Spanish course designer Elena Boix shuffled the deck and tested the stamina of the developing horses.[1]

Switzerland's consistency ultimately won the day. Behind them, Austria and Italy tied on 12 faults, with Austria taking second place on the time tiebreaker. Hungary and the Netherlands managed to hold on to fourth and fifth, respectively, punching the final two tickets to Avenches.[1]

The most shocking storyline to emerge from Šamorín was the elimination of Germany. After dominating the Region Central standings with victories in Mannheim and Budapest earlier in the season, the German squad faltered in the semi-final, missing the cut and opening the door for rising programs to seize the spotlight.[1]

As the ten finalists prepare for the CSIO4* showdown in Avenches from September 3-6, the host nation Switzerland looks formidable on home soil. However, the flawless execution shown by Belgium in Peelbergen makes them a dangerous co-favorite to lift the trophy.[1]

Beyond crowning a 2026 champion, the Final will serve its ultimate purpose: unveiling the next generation of European show jumping stars ready to make the leap to the sport's highest echelon.[3]