The Canadian Show Jumping Team tied with the United States to take second place in the $1,500,000 MXN CSIO 4* Coapexpan Furusiyya FEI Nations Cup™, held April 29, 2016 during the CSIO 4* Coapexpan in Veracruz, MEX.
Although just three teams went head-to-head in the nations’ cup, competition was fierce with Canada, the United States, and Mexico all bringing strong teams to compete for points towards the North America, Central America and Caribbean League of the Furusiyya FEI Nations’ Cup series.
Yann Candele of Caledon, ON was the pathfinder for Canada in round one aboard Showgirl (Gold de Becourt x Elf III), a 16-year-old Selle Francais mare owned by the Watermark Group. Together, they completed the 15 jumping efforts set by FEI 4* Course Designer, Guilherme Jorge of Brazil under the time allowed of 78 seconds, but lowered two rails for Canada’s first round drop score of eight faults.
Second into the ring for Canada was Tiffany Foster of North Vancouver, BC. Riding her veteran partner, Southwind VDL (Baloubet du Rouet x Ahorn), a 17-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding she owns with Artisan Farms LLC, she laid down a clear round for Canada.
Next was Elizabeth Gingras of Edmonton, AB, who also competed in nations’ cup at Coapexpan in 2015, when Canada finished fourth. This year, she was partnered with Floreen SFN (Fly High x Gletscher), a 13-year-old Hannoverian mare owned by B. Gingras Equestrian Ltd., and finished round one on four faults.
Canada’s anchor rider was Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON and his TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games partner, Coco Bongo (Caretino x Calido), an 11-year-old Rheinlander stallion owned by Artisan Farms LLC and Torrey Pines Stable. Lamaze and Coco Bongo laid down another clear round, and after applying the drop score, put Canada into a tie for the lead with Mexico heading into the second round on a total of four faults.
Candele and Showgirl were once again first into the ring, and kept their round to four faults after dropping the final oxer in the triple combination. Foster and VDL Southwind also lowered one rail, a 1.60m vertical early in the round, and clocked in one second over the 78 second time allowed for five faults. Gingras and Floreen SFN finished well under the time, but had four faults at a 1.70m wide liverpool oxer.
With the pressure firmly on to produce a clear for Canada, Lamaze and Coco Bongo returned to the ring and rose to the challenge, completing a foot-perfect round to keep Canada’s two-round total at 12 faults, and tied for second with the United States.
In an exciting finish, anchor rider for Mexico, Antionio Chedraui was the final rider into the ring, with the knowledge that Mexico was currently at eight faults, and a single rail would result in a jump-off for a three-way tie, while a clear round would secure victory.
Chedraui Eguia pulled through with a fault-free round, giving Mexico the win on eight faults, while Canada and the United States shared the podium for second place.
Heading into the third and final Furusiyya Nations’ Cup qualifier for the North America, Central America and Caribbean League, set for June 3 at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC, Canada is currently sitting in third place with 145 points. Mexico is leading with 190 points, and the United States is in second on 180 points. Following Langley, the top two teams in the qualifying league will be invited to contest the Furusiyya Nations Cup Final in Barcelona.
With the nations’ cup complete, the team members will join fellow Canadians, Ben Asselin of Calgary, AB, Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, Vanessa Mannix of Calgary, AB, and Keean White of Acton, ON, in competing as individuals for the remainder of the CSIO 4* Coapexpan, which will feature a variety of FEI classes with top prize money up for grabs.
In addition to Laskin, the Canadians competing in Mexico are led and supported by Equine Canada Manager of Jumping, Karen Hendry-Ouellette.
For more information on the Furusiyya FEI Nations’ Cup Jumping series, check out the FEI website at www.fei.org.
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