Jump Canada Announces Team for Wellington Nations’ Cup

Ottawa, ON — Yann Candele of Caledon, ON, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, Ian Millar of Perth, ON, and Keean White of Rockwood, ON, are the four team members that will comprise the Canadian Show Jumping Team in the $75,000 FEI Nations’ Cup, Presented by CN, on Friday evening, February 28, during the CSIO4* in Wellington, FL.

Making his Canadian Equestrian Team debut, Candele will be aboard Mustique, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Susan Grange. Formerly a citizen of France, Candele has been officially riding as a Canadian since August of 2008.

Lamaze will ride his Olympic partner, Hickstead, a 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Ashland Stables and Torrey Pines. At the 2008 Olympic Games, Lamaze and Hickstead won individual gold and team silver medals. Lamaze is currently number one in the Federation Equestre International (FEI) Rolex World Rider Rankings.

In Style, a 14-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Susan Grange and Lothlorien Farm, will be Millar’s mount for the Nations’ Cup. The duo was members of Canada’s silver medal team at the 2008 Olympic Games.

White will ride Lindsay Schiassi’s nine-year-old Zangersheide mare, Celena Z. White, the 2008 Canadian Show Jumping Champion, is currently leading the Canadian League World Cup standings.

In addition to the four team members, Canada will also have two individual entries in the international division. Jonathon Millar of Perth, ON, will ride Contino 14, 12-year-old Holsteiner gelding owned by Millar Brooke Farm, and Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON, will ride Iron Horse Farm’s Top Gun, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding.

Canada will take on teams from eight other nations including Argentina, Colombia, France, Great Britain, Ireland, Mexico, Venezuela and the United States. In 2008, Canada finished second behind the United States. Canada won the Nations’ Cup in 2004, 2006 and 2007.

“It is exciting to have Yann represent Canada for the first time,” said Terrance Millar, chef d’équipe of the Canadian Show Jumping Team and Chair of the Jump Canada High Performance Committee. “I think this is a good team and we have a good chance to win.”

The two-round $75,000 FEI Nations’ Cup, Presented by CN, will take place at night under the lights with FEI ‘O’ course designer Frank Rothenberger of Germany setting the track. A Nations’ Cup is the only competition in show jumping where riders, competing in teams of four, compete against other countries for top honours. The top three scores from each team are counted towards the final result of the two-round competition.