The Canadian Show Jumping Team finished fifth in the $600,000 BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday, September 10, at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament in Calgary, AB.
Canada entered this year’s BMO Nations’ Cup as the defending champion, having won the team event in 2021. A total of eight countries were represented in the opening round of competition. Sweden, the reigning Olympic and World Champions, and the Netherlands were tied at the top of the leaderboard with zero faults while Switzerland was third with seven faults. Canada was tied with Mexico in fourth position at the end of round one with a total of eight faults while Belgium squeaked through to the second round with 16 faults. The United States failed to make the cut for the second round after incurring 19 faults while France was also out of the running after its first two riders were eliminated.
Canada’s lead-off rider Mario Deslauriers, 57, originally from Venise-en-Quebec, QC, had incurred four faults in the opening round with his Tokyo Olympic mount Bardolina 2. On their second tour of the course designed by Leopoldo Palacios, Deslauriers and the 13-year-old Holsteiner mare (Clarimo x Landos) that he owns in partnership with Wishing Well Farm LLC picked up eight faults after having a foot in the water followed by the Canadian plank two jumps later.
Making her third Nations’ Cup appearance for Canada, Jacqueline Steffens Daly, 28, of Harriston, ON, produced scores of four and eight faults respectively with Freaky, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding (Darco x Litho X) that she owns in partnership with Team Eye Candy.
Erynn Ballard, 41, of Tottenham, ON, was eliminated in the opening round with Ilan Ferder’s Narcotique vh Dingenshof, a nine-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare (Harley VDL x Chacco-Blue) that she began riding in July. In the second round, the new partnership again experienced difficulties before successfully finishing the course with a total of 34 faults.
Riding in the anchor position for the first time in the BMO Nations’ Cup, Amy Millar, 45, of Perth, ON, delivered double clear rounds in front of the hometown crowd. The Millar family has a long history with BMO, as the Canadian-based bank has been a long-time sponsor of 10-time Olympian Ian Millar.
“It was very special,” said Amy of jumping double clear. “It is such a great crowd here at Spruce Meadows and I’m so appreciative of the Bank of Montreal for continuing to support us. This is the biggest event we’ve had in Canada in years, and I’m so happy that the sport is back at this level with this group of competitors, this group of spectators, and this group of sponsors.”
Riding Truman, a 13-year-old Selle Français gelding (Mylord Carthago x Kolibri) owned by Millar Brooke Farm Ltd. and Overlund, Millar was one of six riders to jump double clear in this year’s edition of the BMO Nations’ Cup.
“My horse was unbelievable; he was flying today,” said Millar in praise of her mount. “I would like to thank my dad and Danny Ingratta who works for me for helping me to get Truman ready to fly, and his owners, Patty and Patrick Overlund. Patrick was able to come today, which was amazing.”
With a two-round total of 24 faults, Canada placed fifth overall. Sweden claimed victory for the first time in the BMO Nations’ Cup with four faults while Switzerland was runner-up with seven faults. The Netherlands was third followed by Mexico, and Belgium rounded out the top six.
The Canadian Show Jumping Team will next compete at the Longines FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final in Barcelona, Spain, from September 29 to October 2, 2022.
Full results from the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ tournament HERE.
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