The cheers came first. Then the jumping, the hugging, the back-slapping. As Mexico’s anchor rider Alejandro Winkler landed safely over the final vertical, delivering the clear round his team needed to win the CSIO4* Nations Cup at Thunderbird Show Park, the Mexican contingent erupted on the kiss and cry.
Winkler had done it. Mexico had won.
Just days after an entirely different squad of Mexican riders captured the CSIO5* Nations Cup in Rome on Friday, they pulled off a transatlantic double at the Odlum Brown BC Open in Langley. The last team to accomplish the feat? Ireland, in 2023.
“I think it’s insane,” said Rupert Winkelmann, Mexico’s chef d’equipe for the week, standing in for Mark Laskin. “Mark called me Monday and we were both kind of joking, ‘If you win Rome, I’ll make sure we win in tbird.’ To come out with two Nations Cup wins in one week? I don’t know if Mexico has ever done that.”
Five nations took to the Fort Grand Prix arena for the two-round, 1.55m course designed by Peter Holmes: Mexico, Australia, Canada, USA, and three-time defending champions Ireland (2022, 2023, 2025).
Drama struck early with three teams losing the luxury of a drop score in Round 1. Rowan Willis of Australia and Lorcan Gallagher of Ireland each had their horses refuse at the open water, resulting in eliminations. Mexico’s Juan Carlos Alvarez del Castillo B. and Helios de Hyame came undone at the triple combination and were also eliminated.
But anchor riders did what anchors ought to do. Amy Millar (CAN), Lucy Davis (USA), Conor Swail (IRL) and Alejandro Winkler (MEX) all delivered clears, keeping Mexico alive on 8 faults alongside Ireland at the end of the first round. The USA and Canada tied on 12, while Australia finished the first round on 21.
In Round 2, teams returned in reverse order of the standings with time deciding the ties: Australia, United States, Canada, Ireland, Mexico.
The leaderboard reshuffled with a dramatic second half.
Australia and Ireland suffered the same no-drop-score fate following a second elimination for Willis at the water and Gallagher opting not to return on Copycat. A fall for Hallie Grimes meant every rail also counted for the United States.
But redemption stories were being written at the same time. Australia’s Zoe Brown (Con Aperol) posted a single time fault, and teammate Hilary Scott (Lola), a single rail—both down from 8 in Round 1. Four faults from anchor Harley Brown (Unchained 2) put them on a team total of 30.
USA’s Tali DeJong (Cas Final) added just 5 faults to the board, also down from 8, while Brooke Kemper (Arpeggi) and Lucy Davis Kennedy (Chino 29) came back with clears. They moved up the leaderboard on 17, while Ireland moved down. Four faults from James Chawke (Diado van ‘t Ruytershof Z) and 8 from Dylan Day (Cinderella Z) brought their team total to 20 before the final rotation, putting them out of title contention, despite a double clear from Swail.
Canada kept the heat on: lead-off rider Tiffany Foster (Battlecry) delivered a clear and Nicole Walker (Panter JVH) followed with another. Gavin Moylan (Lordy-P) improved his 12-fault first round with an 8. But Mexico answered back with their own. A clear from Tanimara Macari (Dax 68) and pair of 4s from the Juans set the stage for a match race.
It came down to Canada and Mexico and the final rotation. Millar added a single pole, opening the door. A clear from Winkler would win it outright. One rail and he forces a jump-off.
Winkler never wavered.
“It’s the first time I’m going to a Nations Cup as an anchor rider,” he said afterward. “I knew we had to go clear to get the win. There was definitely pressure, but I have a very good horse. She carried me around and did a fantastic job.”
Final team totals:
Mexico, 12
Canada, 16
USA, 17
Ireland, 20
Australia, 30
With the win, Mexico signals depth across its championship-experienced European squad and its rising young riders.
“The younger riders are right there,” Winkelmann said. “They can step up when it needs to happen. A great young generation.”
Full results here.
More News
