Only one more to sleep until the most important jumping competition of the year at the National Riding Hall, the CSIO3*W International Show Jumping Competition, the semi-final of the Longines EEF Nations Cup. Let’s take a look at what you need to know about the four days ahead!
Over the four days of competition, riders will compete in 17 events. The two featured ones are:
- Friday, 27 June 2025, 3 P.M. CSIO3*Big Tour – EEF Longines Nations Cup Series, semi-final 1,50m
- Sunday, 29 June 2025, Sunday, 3:30 P.M. CSIO3* Big Tour – 155m Szerencsejáték Zrt. Grand Prix and World Cup
Almost 350 horses have arrived to the National Riding Hall for the tournament. Most riders will be competing with several horses. Some athletes will even ride five horses in different categories.
A total of 210 riders from 23 countries will be taking part in the event in Budapest. The participating countries are: Austria, Brazil, Cyprus, Czechia, the United Arab Emirates, Finland, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Croatia, Qatar, Poland, Latvia, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Palestine, Romania, Switzerland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey and the USA. Among these, riders from Brazil, Hong Kong and the United States are really exceptional, as they are rare visitors in the National Riding Hall, let alone other regional competitions.
Interestingly, Henri Kovács, who competes for Finland, lives and trains in Hungary.
Among the Austrian riders, Max Kühner and Gerfried Puck are the real heavyweights, having competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
In the Longines EEF Nations Cup, which is the semi-final of the series, teams from 12 countries will compete: Austria, Brazil, Czechia, the Netherlands, Qatar, Hungary, Germany, Italy, Romania, Switzerland, Slovakia and Turkey. Brazil and Qatar will join the competition as invited participants, but their riders cannot qualify in Budapest for the final. This time, among the official participating teams five nations will qualify for the series final in September.
The total prize money for the competition is an impressive: €213,000 – which, of course, would not have been possible without the dedicated support of the event’s sponsors. In addition to Longines, the most significant sponsors are the Ministry of Defence, Szerencsejáték Zrt. and Zsolnay Porcelain Manufactory. Each competition is named after one of the sponsors.
Riders and spectators will be welcomed in the National Riding Hall’s park by the exhibition tents of Tu Go and More, Imperial Horse Feed, Horse Feeds Hungary, Equi Terra and Quality Lovasbolt.
On Friday evening from 9 P.M., music and dancing will entertain both riders and spectators. The Panorama Party Show Band will provide the music and a lively atmosphere.
Admission is free on all four days. Experience the excitement of the competition on site and cheer on the Hungarian riders from the stands!
The first competition starts at 8 A.M. on Thursday morning.
Photo: CSIO Budapest / CSIO Budapest / Krisztina Hajdu
Main sponsor of the event is the Szerencsejáték Zrt.
