Team podium at the Ziguli FEI Endurance European Championship 2025 in Castiglione del Lago (ITA)

© FEI / Massimo Argenziano

After a long day of twists and turns, European Endurance has new individual and team gold medal winners, with Marijke Visser and Chaitana des Chaises representing The Netherlands taking the individual win and the team championship going to Spain. The twists and turns were not just on the six loops, which made up the 160km course of the Zigulì FEI Endurance European Championship 2025 in the beautiful setting of Castiglione del Lago (ITA) but also in the all-important vettings, particularly later on in the day. 

From the very outset at 6am on 21 July, a clear leading group emerged and at the end of that first and most challenging loop of 39km, Marijke Visser (NED) and Camilla Curcio (ITA) led the field but by mere seconds. They were closely followed by Sabrina Arnold (GER) who had taken individual gold at the Endurance European Championship 2023 in Ermelo.

Also in this leading group were Gil Berenguer Carrera (ESP), four times individual gold medal winner, María Álvarez Pontón (ESP), and debut championship athlete, France Paul (FRA). These six riders vyed for poll position over the ensuing loops and by the fourth vet gate, after 120km, the two Spaniards were in the top two positions. They then faced the fifth loop of 20km and this was where everything changed. At the fifth vet gate, both Arnold with her reigning European championship horse, Easy El Bohera, and Pontón, with 10-year-old Arab stallion, Fatal, were eliminated. 

Following the 50-minute rest and then compulsory re-inspection by the vets, the first three combinations left the vet gate for their final 20km loop with only 25 seconds separating them. They kept up a good pace on this final loop, until they rounded a bend and were in sight of the finish line, when all three combinations sprinted for the line in an absolutely thrilling finish. Visser (NED) and 13-year-old Arab mare, Chaitana des Chaises, crossed the line three seconds ahead of France Paul (FRA) and D’Arohz Rouge Du Val, who take home the individual silver medal.

Only seconds later, Gil Berenguer Carrera (ESP), finished and takes home, not only individual bronze but also team gold. Berenguer Carrera’s superb Spanish bred gelding, Jilguero II Ex Clavijo de Guad, was awarded Best Condition, a highly prestigious award which recognises both the horse’s innate ability and talent but also, and incredibly significantly, the care and attention which the horse has received throughout a long day of endurance riding. 

Marijke Visser and Chaitana des Chaises, winners of the Zigulì FEI Endurance European Championship 2025

© FEI / Massimo Argenziano



The team medals were perhaps where the most significant twists occurred. For a team placing, three horses must complete and successfully pass the final vetting; the total riding time is then calculated for team placings. Going out onto the final loop, the French and Dutch teams had four horses still running, the Spanish team had three horses, having lost both Pontón and Dachs at the fifth vet gate. Similarly, the Italian team, having lost Constanza Laliscia at the the fifth vet gate, were left with the three combinations. The French team, who were reigning European champions, were in the lead with all four of their combinations in the top 10. However, at the final vetting, after completing the full, gruelling 160km, Melody Theolissat and Julia Montagne were vetted out, leaving the French with just two horses having completed and dropping them out of medal contention. 

The Spanish team of Gil Berenguer Carrera with Jilguero II Ex Clavijo de Guad, Omar Blanco Rodrigo with JM El Sobrino and Juan Carlos Ruiz de Villa Fernández with L M Whisky took their seventh team gold medal with a total riding time of 26:24:21. The home Italian team of Caterina Coppini, at 22 one of the youngest riders, stepping up to senior level championship for the first time, with Zirmo de Pine, Federico Valeri with Demon Melograno and Nicole Frisan with Stella took the team silver medal, a sixth team medal for Italy. The team bronze medal went to the Dutch team of Marijke Visser with Chaitana des Chaises, Carmen Römer with Anissa du Florival and Shanti Roos with Fripon au Xois AA.

It really was an outstanding day for the Dutch team with their first individual gold medal and their third team medal. National team coach, Jarmila Lakeman said, "I can't really believe it yet. I'm so happy. Everyone has worked so hard and the teams have worked together so wonderfully. Not only now, but through the entire preparation and this is the result.” She went on to discuss Visser’s gold medal, saying,

“Marijke is for me one of the best or actually the best athlete in the world in terms of riding technique; this is so deserved.”

Jarmila Lakeman

(NED)

The Dutch Team managed to finish with all team members, the only one in the competition. Among them, they had the fastest, with Marijke Visser, but also the last to make it through the finish line: Michelle Nooijen and Czartowczyk, with a time of 11h59’.

14 countries put forward a team of three or more horses for the start of the championship; four teams completed the course. Such is the nature of Endurance, where the welfare of the horse is paramount at all times and where the decision of the dedicated team of vets is crucial. Endurance really is a team sport, for organisers, national teams, individual teams and their crew and, of course, the ultimate team of horse and rider.

There are still many international championships to look forward to this year with the World Championship for Young Horses at Jullianges (FRA) at the beginning of August, the World Championship for Young Riders and Juniors in Buftea (ROU) in September, and the 3* 160km test event for next year’s FEI Endurance World Championship 2026 in Al Ula (KSA).

FULL RESULTS