Ottawa, ON – The Canadian Show Jumping Team, comprised of Jonathan Asselin of Calgary, AB, Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, and Ian Millar of Perth, ON, tied for second in the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup held September 6 at the CSIO Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ Tournament in Calgary, AB.
The richest team show jumping event in the world, the 2008 edition of the Nations’ Cup saw nine teams competing – Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Ireland, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, and the United States.
At the end of the first round, counting the best three of four scores from each team, Germany was in the early lead with a perfect score of zero faults while Switzerland, the United States and Canada were in a three-way tie for second position with four faults. The Netherlands was in fifth position with eight faults and Great Britain had 12 faults for sixth spot. As only the top six teams move forward to the second round, Ireland, Italy and Norway failed to advance.
Canada’s first round score included clear rounds from Olympic Individual Gold medalist Lamaze and his Silver Medal teammate, Millar. Henselwood, who was also a member of Canada’s Silver Medal Team, had four faults. Asselin’s eight-fault round provided the drop score.
In the second round Henselwood and the 14-year-old Oldenburg gelding Special Ed, owned by Juniper Farms, provided the drop score with 12 faults. Asselin and Attache Stables’ nine-year-old Hannoverian mare, Rayana Chiara, had only a foot in the water for four faults. When Lamaze riding Hickstead, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Ashland Stables and Torrey Pines, and Millar riding In Style, a 13-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Susan Grange, both jumped their second clear rounds of the day, they helped Canada secure its second place finish. With a two-round total of eight faults, Canada tied for second with Germany and the Netherlands.
“It is a great responsibility riding in front of our home crowd,” noted Millar, who rode as the Canadian Team anchor. “We wanted it so bad for the team and for the country.”
BMO Nations’ Cup top 6 of 9 teams –
1- USA – 4 faults
Chef d’Equipe George Morris
Lauren Hough – Quick Study
Todd Minikus – Pavarotti
Richard Spooner – Cristallo
Rich Fellers – Flexible
2- NED – 8 faults
Chef d’Equipe Rob Ehrens
Piet Raymakers – Van Schijndel’s Curtis
Leon Thijssen – Olaf
Harrie Smolders – Walnut de Muze
Gerco Schroder – Eurocommerce Milano
2- CAN – 8 faults
Chef d’Equipe Terrance Millar
Jill Henselwood – Special Ed
Jonathan Asselin – Rayana Chiara
Eric Lamazen – Hickstead
Ian Millar – In Style
2- GER – 8 faults
Chef d’Equipe Ulrich Meyer zu Bexten
Holger Wulschner – Claussen
Thomas Muehlbauer – Asti Spumante 7
Markus Ehning – Plot Bue
Alois Polmann-Schweckhorst – Lord Luis
5- GBR – 12 faults
Chef d’Equipe Michael Mac
William Funnell – Mondriaan
Tim Gredley – Omelli
Ben Maher – Robin Hood W
Robert Smith – Vangelis S
6- SWI – 20 faults
Chef d’Equipe Dr. Stephane Montavon
Pius Schwizer – Unique X CH
Jane Richard – Jalla de Gaverie
Daniel Etter – Peu a Peu
Theo Muff – Con Spirito R
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