he podium at the FEI Endurance European Championship for Young Riders & Juniors - Jullianges (FRA). Copyright © FEI/Bruno Tourrasse

Portugal achieved a landmark double victory at the FEI Endurance European Championship for Young Riders and Juniors, securing both their first-ever Individual European gold and an historic maiden Team title.

Friday's competition proved demanding, with Europe’s elite young athletes navigating a technically challenging course in Jullianges (FRA). The course is well-known for its steep gradients, requiring careful pacing and a strong partnership between horse and athlete. The combinations contended with humidity and heat throughout the day, followed by rainstorms that swept across the venue as the afternoon drew to a close.

The Individual championship was decided by a closely fought final sprint, while Portugal finished ahead of France and Spain on the podium in the Team competition.

Portugal’s 18-year-old athlete Rodrigo Buinho claimed gold with Amuleto de Guadarranque, an 11-year-old Spanish-bred Arabian. Averaging an impressive speed of 20.9 kmph over the course, Buinho crossed the line just two seconds ahead of his closest rival.

The victory highlights a period of steady progression for the pair. After placing 20th at the FEI Endurance European Championship for Young and Junior Riders 2024, Buinho and Amuleto de Guadarranque have won their last two competitive starts, including back-to-back Portuguese national junior titles in 2025 and 2026.

France’s 21-year-old Pablo Tomas Arnaud earned the Individual silver medal with Shaailan’Al Hfifa, finishing just behind Buinho. Arnaud adds this result to an accomplished youth career, which includes Team gold and Individual fifth at the 2025 World Championship in Buftea (ROU), alongside Team silver and Individual eighth at the 2023 World Championship in Castelsagrat (FRA).

Completing a highly successful day for Portugal, Manuel Maria Pereira secured the Individual bronze medal riding Ainhoa Almili, a 12-year-old French-bred gelding. The pair finished only 17 seconds behind the winner. Having helped Portugal to a fourth-place Team finish at the 2024 European Championship, Pereira’s Individual podium finish represents a significant career achievement.

The competition at the front of the field was exceptionally close, with the leading group of athletes separated by mere seconds.

France's Victor Fabre Carlus narrowly missed out on an Individual medal, finishing in fourth place riding the 2013 mare Douentza de Lauzadie in her championship debut.

Spain’s strong performance was led by Maria Punti Alvarez, who finished fifth on JM Juno, followed by Denis Busoms Morales in sixth riding SW Left Elbow. Portugal’s third team member, Carolina Balsas, secured seventh place on Alsila with an average speed of 20.4 kmph, finishing less than 10 minutes behind her teammates.

France’s Lison Allo placed eighth aboard Hazziz Al Ain in their first championship appearance. Teammate Cassandra Bocher finished ninth riding the stallion Design du Claud. Bocher led the field into the final loop, assisted by the most efficient recovery times of the day – averaging an outstanding presentation time of just one minute and 18 seconds. Spain’s Gil Costa Codina rounded out the top 10 riding Cucut Cost.

Spain had won the previous five editions of the Team title, dating back to 2014. This time, that sequence was broken by a highly cohesive Portuguese squad.

With three athletes finishing in the top seven, Portugal earned the Team gold medal with an aggregate riding time of 17:21:18. The performances of Rodrigo Buinho, Manuel Maria Pereira and Carolina Balsas represent a major milestone for the nation, whose previous best Team result was a bronze medal on home soil in Rio Frio (POR) in 2016.

France took the silver medal with a total time of 17:22:54. Victor Fabre Carlus, Lison Allo and Cassandra Bocher finished just over a minute and a half behind the winners.

Meanwhile, Spain secured the bronze medal in 18:02:07 through Maria Punti Alvarez, Denis Busoms Morales and Gil Costa Codina.

Beyond the podium standings, several nations demonstrated remarkable team strategy and collective pacing.

The Swiss team showed excellent coordination. All four of their athletes – Laélie Goncalves, Sheryl Linn Van Wijlen, Viveca Simondon-Cagienard and Julie Curchod – rode together throughout the day, crossing the line in unison to claim fourth place at an average speed of 15.7 kmph. This disciplined performance reflected an effective strategy designed by their team management.

The Dutch squad successfully completed the required three athletes to earn fifth place, with Devica Otten, Sije Otten and Emma Zandbelt showing great consistency.

Germany secured sixth place using a similar group strategy to the Swiss. All three German starters – Anna Elisabeth Knott, Liliana Carolyna Ruml and Marlen Grell – rode in formation to complete the course successfully at an average speed of 13.1 kmph.

Unusually, Italy was unable to secure a team finish, with only two of their athletes completing the race. However, Francesco Pio Alfano (12th) and Giorgia Paganini (14th) both delivered highly commendable individual performances.

Friday’s results introduce a new chapter of competitive depth for international youth Endurance. The FEI extends its warmest congratulations to all the athletes, horses, support teams, and organisers who contributed to the success of this year’s championship.