Decisive jump-off gives Switzerland victory at the CSIO in Avenches

Under a generous sun and in front of a passionate crowd, Switzerland won the final of the Longines EEF Series in Avenches, achieving a historic success in the 4-star level show jumping competition.

A solid start

From the first round, the Swiss team, led by team leader Peter van der Waaij, took the lead. With only 4 penalty points , they were ahead of France and Germany, both on 12.

• Barbara Schnieper and her horse Canice conceded a fault at the river, but the other members - Alain Jufer (with Dante MM ) and Anthony Bourquard (with Everest d'Ellipse ) - completed clear rounds. The young Gaëtan Joliat, 20, collected 12 points, but this score was the one to discard.

  
  

A second round full of suspense

The second round was more difficult for Switzerland: Barbara Schnieper incurred 8 penalty points, and Alain Jufer and Anthony Bourquard each added 4 points. To stay in the race, all attention was focused on the last rider: Gaëtan Joliat. With Chelsea Z , he achieved a crucial clear round under immense pressure. Thanks to him, Switzerland qualified for the play-off against France.

The decisive dam

The final duel pitted two youngsters against each other: Sara Brionne for France (with Grand Duc du Paradiso ) and Gaëtan Joliat for Switzerland. Sara Brionne began the jump-off with a perfect run. But Joliat, with Chelsea Z, entered the arena with confidence, calm, and precision. He also recorded a clear round, and made the difference on the clock: more than a second faster than Brionne. He thus gave Switzerland its first victory in this final.

A collective and symbolic victory

This victory represents more than just a title: it marks the transition to a new generation. Gaëtan Joliat, at just 20 years old, is the young hero of the day, but the entire team contributed, each bringing their own performance to each round.

The local public, the officials, the organizing staff, but also the IENA (National Equestrian Institute of Avenches) executives were all praised for what they brought to the competition.

In conclusion

With this victory, Switzerland has set a strong benchmark for the future of show jumping in the country. The team not only demonstrated talent, stamina, and speed, but also depth and cohesion that make it a promising force in upcoming international competitions.