Canada Finishes Strong Second in Buenos Aires Nations’ Cup

The Canadian Show Jumping Team comprised of Samantha Buirs, Lisa Carlsen, Angela Covert-Lawrence and Lauren Hunkin finished second in the Nations’ Cup competition held Friday, November 12, at CSIO4*-W Buenos Aires, Argentina. Buirs, Covert-Lawrence and Hunkin were all making their Canadian Show Jumping Team debut.

From the five countries and six teams represented, Canada finished the two-round competition with a total of 37 faults overall. Covert-Lawrence of St.Lazare, QC, and Utan, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by The Eastwood Group, produced Canada’s strongest result, incurring one time fault in the first round in an otherwise perfect performance. Theirs was the best performance of the entire Nations’ Cup competition.

“I am unbelievably proud of Utan and how he handled the competition,” said Covert-Lawrence. “I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to represent Canada in my first Nations’ Cup. We had a great team, we were very cohesive, and all worked well together. It has been a fantastic experience.”

As the lead-off rider, 1988 Canadian Olympian Lisa Carlsen of Spruce Grove, AB, rode La Boom, an 11-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by La Boom Syndicate. The pair had six faults in the first round and incurred 13 faults in the second.

Hunkin of Kemptville, ON, rode Larry 0146, a 12-year-old black Oldenburg gelding owned by Synergy Farm, to a five fault first round and had 12 faults in the second. Buirs of Langley, BC, and Total Touch, her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, had 18 faults in the first round. As only three riders per nation come back for the second round, Buirs did not return.

“I was very happy with our second place result in the Nations’ Cup today in Buenos Aires. Angela Covert-Lawrence had the best score of the competition with only one fault in the first round and clear in the second,” said Mark Laskin, chef d’équipe of the Canadian Show Jumping Team. “I was proud of the three first time team members—Angela, Lauren and Samantha—as they stepped up to the challenge of their international debuts. Lisa Carlsen was solid and provided veteran leadership and guidance to the others. The enthusiasm and camaraderie of this team was instrumental to their great ride today. They represented Canada in fine fashion.”

The United States won the Nations’ Cup with a two-round total of 24 faults. Canada was the runner-up with 37 faults while Argentina was third with 43. Brazil placed fourth with 50 faults while a second Argentinean team rounded out the top five with a two-round total of 54 faults.

The four Canadian riders will continue competing at CSIO4*-W Buenos Aires through to Sunday, when they contest the Grand Prix, which acts as a World Cup qualifying event.

Complete details and results about the competition may be found http://www.haraselcapricho.com/es/index.php