Canadian Nations Cup teams were busy flying the maple leaf on both sides of the Atlantic on Thursday and Friday, placing fourth at Traverse City Horse Shows in Michigan and third at Hickstead Horse Show in the UK.
Great Britain on top in Hickstead, Canada 3rd in Nations Cup
The host team won the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain at Hickstead, making it a third British win in four years. (Pauline Ullman photo)
The host team won the Agria Nations Cup of Great Britain Friday at Hickstead, making it a third British win in four years.
Twelve months ago, Great Britain missed out on a hat-trick of victories when finishing runner up to Germany. This year, the team led from the front to claim a glorious victory ahead of Team Ireland.
“Congratulations to Di and her team,” said Hickstead Director Edward Bunn. “Football doesn’t need to come home because showjumping definitely does it for them. We didn’t win it for a long time, and now it’s becoming a regular thing. I’d like to really thank Agria for their continued support of the show and of the Nations Cup.”
Great Britain had already developed a lead at the end of the first round, thanks to clears from pathfinder Jessica Mendoza (Summerhouse) and Tim Gredley (Medoc De Toxandria). Ben Maher picked up four faults at the Open Water with new ride Catelly, while Adrian Whiteway was the discount score when Chacco Volo refused at the water and picked up a further 16 time faults, leaving the home nation on four faults.
But the Brits didn’t have much breathing room, with Brazil in second at the half-way stage on eight faults, with the UAE and Ireland both on 12 faults to sit third, and Canada (16 faults) and Germany (17) close on their heels. Belgium and France failed to make it through to round two with 21 faults and 24 faults respectively.
In the second round, Jessica knocked one fence down for four faults, while Adrian and Chacco Volo incurred eight faults. Tim – a member of the winning team in both 2023 and 2024 – delivered a superb double clear with Medoc De Toxandria, to pile pressure on Ireland, who had moved up to second place with a team total of 16 faults.
Conor Swail, anchorman for the Irish team, and Clonterm Obolensky were the only other combination to jump a double clear – meaning Great Britain’s final rider only had a fence in hand if they wanted to avoid a jump-off against the Irish. But there are few riders better than three-time Olympic gold medallist Ben Maher at dealing with pressure, and he rode Catelly to a lovely clear round to clinch the Edward, Prince of Wales Trophy.
“Typically, I’m the first rider on the team, and I was switched around today to ride last,” said Ben. “So I was in a different position and had that pressure, but it was great to be able to finish it for this amazing team. Catelly jumped incredibly and showed what he can do today, and I’m very fortunate to have the team of horses that I have.”
Tim Gredley has been on the Hickstead team three times, and has won on each occasion. “Hickstead for me is the Holy Grail, I love jumping here. To come here and jump a double clear and win on the team is brilliant, and what it’s all about.”
Canada (in third place), Brazil (fourth) and the UAE (fifth) all finished on 24 faults apiece, with times deciding their eventual placings. Last year’s winners Germany slipped down the placings to finish sixth. The Canadian team consisted of Chris Pratt (Ideaal ES), Kyle King (Kayenne Z), Nicole Walker (Panter JVH), and Amy Millar (Gaiete d’Elle).
Canada 4th in Nations Cup at Traverse City
Ilan Ferder pilots Ezarka de Belheme to one of two double-clear performances that helped Team Israal capture victory in the $75,000 CSIO3* Nations Cup. (Natalie Suto Photography)
Israel earned its first Nations Cup victory on American soil with a commanding performance.
After assembling their team at the last minute, Israel prevailed Thursday evening in the $75,000 CSIO3* Nations Cup, taking the first win on American soil for Israeli international show jumping. Daniel Bluman, Steven Bluman, Ilan Ferder, and Stella Wasserman finished on a total score of 4 faults to claim the victory by a convincing margin.
In its second year highlighting week four of the Great Lakes Equestrian Festival, presented by B&D Builders, the CSIO3* Nations Cup drew an enthusiastic crowd and an impressive slate of top international show jumpers. Olympic veterans and team rookies alike battled it out over Peter Grant’s (CAN) course for a chance at the top of the podium.
Daniel Bluman was Israel’s anchor rider, bringing home a double-clear effort aboard Malina, an up-and-coming horse in his string.
“It was a great day,” Daniel reflected. “It was very fun to ride after [my teammates] rode such great rounds, so we’re very excited.”
After round one, Israel sat in a promising position on zero faults, with the next closest team — Ireland — on 16. But they knew they couldn’t let their guard down because the competition could change in an instant.
The United States, sitting in third after round one, had an incredible run in round two, with the first three riders – Hunter Holloway, Lacey Gilbertson, and Savannah Jenkins – putting in clear rounds, so anchor rider Callie Schott didn’t even have to jump.
Team Israel kept its cool, knowing the United States was heating up. They managed to keep their second-round score to just 4 faults, leaving that comfortable margin in place and securing the win. The United States finished in second, with Ireland ultimately in third after a pair of rails down in round two.
Team Canada, consisting of Erynn Ballard (Genius de Rance), Sean Jobin (Grande Dame DK), Emma Irwin (Cornetta Ses Z) and Gavin Moylan (Memphis) had a two-round total of 28 and placed 4th ahead of Mexico and Brazil.
If you ask Daniel, he believes the Israeli team brings a different energy to the sport. That energy was palpable on Thursday.
“When you group the Israeli riders together we’re going to fight with everything we’ve got,” Daniel said. “We ride for our flag, we ride for our country, we know how to ride together and give it our all. Ilan wasn’t even going to show this week, last Saturday I told him we lost a rider, we’re going with three, and we needed him to ride. He showed up and put in a double clear round. That just shows you the energy put forth for this team.”
Ferder, aboard Ezarka de Belheme, put in the only other double-clear effort of the day, and he was the team’s leadoff rider, setting the tone for his teammates’ over the next three rounds of jumping.
“It’s always a pleasure to ride for my country,” Ferder said about his decision to join the team effort in Traverse City. “ It feels great to win. [Jumping double clear] felt great; there’s nothing better than that.”
Alongside Daniel Bluman was his brother Steven, who piloted Concare PS, a ride he recently took over from cousin Mark Bluman (COL).
“Concare has been with Marky for the past two or three years,” Steven explained. “I got the ride in May of this year. I wasn’t sure how I was going to do it, going after Marky. But [Daniel] gave me a few tips and I started working on the partnership quite quickly. I’m so proud and happy to be able to ride a horse like her.”
New to the team was Stella Wasserman, who has only been representing Israel for a short time but is already passionate about jumping for her nation and contributing to the team effort in any way she can.
“It’s my first Nations Cup ever, and it’s an honor to ride with riders like these sitting next to me,” Wasserman said. “It’s not like I’m going into the ring as one person with one horse, I have so many people standing behind me. Feeling that makes me want to put my best foot forward every time and it’s just an honor.”
In her Nations Cup debut, Wasserman jumped clear in the opening round aboard Myla, and then to a score of 4 in round two, very much helping her team capture the win.
Chef d’equipe Hans Horn felt immensely proud of his riders following their victory Thursday.
“It feels great and it was great the way they did it,” Horn remarked of the team’s performance. “Five clear rounds and all rounds were good. I’m proud of the riders, especially Stella who jumped for the first time for the team. I’m really happy. If you keep fighting for your teammates you can make a difference.”
Beyond team honors, the event also provided a qualifying opportunity for the $116,500 CSIO3* B&D Builders Grand Prix on Saturday.
~ with files from Hickstead / Traverse City Horse Shows
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