Marijke Makes History, Spain Shines, and Drama Unfolds: Your Ultimate 2025 European Endurance Championship Round-Up
- Bella Fricker
- Jun 24
- 6 min read
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On Saturday, 21 June 2025, the picturesque Italian town of Castiglione del Lago, nestled along the shimmering shores of Lake Trasimeno, played host to the highly anticipated Zigulì FEI Endurance European Championship. The event took place at the historic Former Eleuteri Airport, a unique venue providing ample space for vet gates, crew areas, and spectator zones.
Castiglione del Lago, renowned for its hilly terrain, quaint villages, and breathtaking panoramic views, offered a course that was both beautiful and brutally challenging. Riders faced a demanding 160 km route divided into six loops—ranging from the initial daunting 39 km loop to shorter yet equally demanding 20 km loops later in the day. The undulating terrain, combined with the region's summer heat, tested every rider's strategic acumen and horse management skills.
Marijke Visser & CHAITANA DES CHAISES: History-Making Gold for The Netherlands
In a performance that will be remembered for years, Marijke Visser secured her first-ever individual European Championship gold medal, also marking the Netherlands' first individual European gold in endurance. Marijke Visser, already a veteran competitor with two World Equestrian Games, three World Championships, and seven European Championships behind her, finally achieved the individual gold medal that had previously eluded her.
Riding the phenomenal mare CHAITANA DES CHAISES, Visser completed the challenging 160 km course with a brilliant total ride time of 8 hours, 24 minutes, and 5 seconds, averaging an impressive 19.04 km/h overall.
Marijke and Chaitana executed a near-perfect strategy throughout the 160 km event. Their performance was characterised by disciplined pacing, meticulous energy management, and exceptional recoveries at each vet gate. Here's a closer look at their detailed performance metrics:
Loop-by-Loop Speeds and Recovery Times:
Their consistently short recovery times, averaging approximately 2 minutes per gate, were among the fastest recorded throughout the event. This efficiency in recovery allowed the pair to maintain momentum, preserve energy, and position themselves perfectly for a decisive final loop.
Heading into the final 20 km loop, Marijke Visser knew the gold medal was within reach but far from guaranteed.
Demonstrating her tactical brilliance and deep understanding of her horse's capabilities, Visser asked Chaitana for one final effort. The mare responded magnificently, delivering an exceptional loop speed of 21.55 km/h, one of the fastest final loops of the day.
As they crossed the finish line, the pair had secured victory by just three seconds—highlighting the intensity and drama of endurance riding at the highest level.
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France Paul & D'AROHZ ROUGE DU VAL: Silver Debut
France Paul delivered a remarkable performance aboard the talented 12-year-old Arab mare D'AROHZ ROUGE DU VAL. Finishing mere seconds behind Visser, Paul clocked a total time of 8 hours, 24 minutes, and 8 seconds (average speed: 19.04 km/h), narrowly missing gold but proudly securing silver.
Although this championship marked her first appearance officially representing France, Paul is no stranger to elite endurance competition. Her extensive experience was clearly evident throughout the challenging 160 km course at Castiglione del Lago. Demonstrating exceptional judgement, she maintained a disciplined pace, expertly balancing speed and horse welfare. Her strategic approach allowed her to remain within striking distance of the lead throughout the entire event, positioning herself perfectly for a thrilling final sprint.
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Gil Berenguer Carrera & JILGUERO II: Bronze Individual, Gold for Team Spain
With a career spanning multiple decades, Gil Berenguer Carrera has consistently demonstrated exceptional horsemanship & strategic riding. His impressive record includes multiple European and World championships and an exceptional talent in developing young endurance horses, with podium finishes including 2nd place in Pisa (2019) with AL TANTAWY, 3rd place in Padise (2023) with FATAL, and 4th place in Vic (2022) with JM HERMOSA.
JILGUERO II EX CLAVIJO DE GUAD, Carrera’s partner in this championship, is no stranger to elite endurance competitions. Known for his remarkable versatility, resilience, and adaptability to various riding styles, JILGUERO II has achieved significant podium finishes with multiple riders, including Joana Ullastre Niubó and Mariana Gomes Oliveira.
Carrera and JILGUERO II executed a carefully planned strategy throughout the challenging 160 km course. Their performance was characterised by disciplined pacing, efficient recoveries, and meticulous management.
Entering the final 20 km loop, Carrera knew he was in contention for an individual medal and that his finishing position would significantly impact Spain’s team standings. Demonstrating exceptional composure and tactical awareness, Carrera and JILGUERO II increased their pace to an impressive 21.15 km/h, securing the individual bronze medal and solidifying Spain’s team gold medal victory.
Fastest Final Loop: Carmen Römer & ANISSA DU FLORIVAL
While finishing sixth overall, Dutch rider Carmen Römer astonished spectators with the fastest final loop of the event, clocking 45 minutes and 38 seconds at an astonishing speed of 26.30 km/h. Römer’s strategy was clear: conserve energy early and unleash a powerful sprint finish, significantly faster than any other competitor. Her performance was pivotal in securing the Netherlands' team bronze medal.
Shock Eliminations & Heartbreaks
Endurance riding is notoriously unpredictable, and this championship was no exception. Several high-profile riders faced unexpected eliminations:
Sabrina Arnold (GER), reigning European Champion, eliminated at Gate 5 due to gait abnormality.
Maria Alvarez Ponton (ESP), multiple-time European champion, eliminated at Gate 5 due to gait abnormality.
Jaume Punti Dachs (ESP), riding the veteran Warrens Hill Chayze, eliminated at Gate 5 due to gait abnormality but perhaps not such a surprise given the prolonged recovery times (8:31 and 8:50 at Gates 4 and 5).
Melody Theolissat (FRA) and Julia Montagne (FRA) both heartbreakingly eliminated at the final Gate 6, despite being strong medal contenders throughout the day.
Costanza Laliscia (ITA), former European Champion, eliminated at Gate 5 due to metabolic issues, a significant blow to Italy’s medal aspirations.
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Team Standings & Strategy Insights
Gold - Spain (26:24:21 total team time)
Top Riders: Gil Berenguer Carrera (3rd), Omar Blanco Rodrigo (9th), Juan Carlos Ruiz De Villa (10th)
Despite losing two top riders (Maria Alvarez Ponton & Jaume Punti Dachs), Spain's depth and consistency secured them team gold.
Silver - Italy (27:54:42 total team time)
Top Rider: Caterina Coppini (5th Individual) Federico Valeri (12th), Nicole Frisan (18th)
Host nation Italy leveraged home advantage, with Coppini finishing strongly in 5th place individually. Despite setbacks (elimination of Costanza Laliscia), Italy proudly secured silver.
Bronze - Netherlands (28:03:04 total team time)
Top Riders: Marijke Visser (individual gold), Carmen Römer (6th, fastest final loop), Shanti Roos (21st)
Remarkably, the Netherlands achieved a 100% team completion rate with Michelle Nooijen also finishing, highlighting excellent horse welfare and strategic riding.
Notable Teams That Failed to Qualify:
Slovakia, Norway, Portugal, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, Poland, France, Belgium, Great Britain: All faced significant eliminations (GA or ME), ending their ability to classify as a team.
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Key Statistics from the Event:
Average Recovery Times: Top competitors averaged 1–3 minutes per gate. Longer recovery times (>4 minutes) correlated strongly with lower placements or eliminations.
Elimination Causes: Gait Abnormalities (~69%), Metabolic Issues (~38%)
Fastest Final Loop: Carmen Römer (NED), 26.30 km/h, 45:38 minutes.
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