The Canadian Show Jumping Team finished second in the $150,000 Nations Cup CSIO4* presented by Florida Coast Equipment held on March 2, at Wellington International in Wellington, FL, USA.
Ten countries participated in the yearly team event during Week 8 of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF). After the initial afternoon round of competition, the top eight teams advanced to the second round under the lights. As the first round concluded, the all female Canadian team, comprised of Tiffany Foster, Erynn Ballard, Beth Underhill, and Amy Millar, secured third place on a score of eight faults. Meanwhile, Israel held second place with four faults, and Ireland with three clear rounds was on top of the leaderboard on a score of zero.
The Canadian team celebrates on the podium. (Starting Gate Communications/EC Facebook)
Course designers Steve Stephens and Nick Granat (USA) admitted their highly technical course offered lots of visual challenges for even the most seasoned combinations in a time allowed of 70 seconds. This 23rd edition of the Nations Cup at WEF had several key elements with pastel colours that challenged the pairs both in the afternoon sun and under the glare of the evening’s lights.
“This was a particularly hard fought Nations Cup,” said Chef d’Equipe Ian Millar. “I am so proud of our four riders, they never gave up, right to the end and they worked very well together as a team.”
Leading the way for Canada was Santiago Pan Am silver medalist Tiffany Foster of Langley, BC, riding Northern Light, a 13-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare (Plot Blue x Contender) owned by Foster and Artisan Farms. “Nora” and the two-time Olympian had two unlucky rounds with 8 faults each that became the team’s drop scores of the night.
Next in the order for Team Canada was Erynn Ballard of Tottenham, ON, aboard Libido Van’T Hofken (Nabab De Reve x Heartbreaker) a 13-year-old Belgian warmblood gelding owned by Sofia Popescu. The pair expertly navigated the 1.55m course, posting just four faults in round one followed by a picture perfect clear second round – the only one under the lights.
Veteran of the team, Olympian and also recent silver medalist from the 2023 Santiago Pan American Games, Beth Underhill, of Mulmur, ON, delivered another strong first round aboard her mount Nikka VD Bisschop (Emerald x Nabab de Reve), the 11-year-old Belgian warmblood mare owned by Rein Family LLC. They dropped just one element through an otherwise well-navigated course and ended the round on 4 faults. The second round under the lights proved slightly unlucky for the pair, ending with 8 faults.
Anchoring the team was Olympian and fellow Pan Am silver medalist Amy Millar of Perth, ON, aboard Truman (Mylord Carthago*HN x Kolibri), a 15-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Millar Brooke Farm LTD. & Overlund. The pair delivered an expertly ridden clear first round and followed it up with a mere four-fault performance in the second to finish the team on a total overall score of 20 faults.
“It was really tough out there tonight and they beat some very good teams. They made all of Canada proud,” shared the chef at the end of the event. “I have to give full marks to the Irish as they deserved the win tonight.”
Ireland, with a very strong first round held to a total of 10 faults to secure the win, Canada was second with 20 faults, and the USA rounded out the podium in third place with 24. Great Britain was fourth with 25 faults and Brazil in fifth with 29. Sights for Team Canada continue to be set on building towards Paris, with the opening of the Olympic Games just a few short months away.
For results, click here.
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