Posted March 12, 2006

Canada Celebrates Nations' Cup Victory in Wellington, Florida

Wellington, FL - March 11, 2006 - It was a fight all the way to the end, but the Canadian Show Jumping Team emerged victorious in the $75,000 Nations' Cup, Presented by CN, on Friday night in Wellington, FL.

Ten nations went to the post, but the evening turned out to be a heated battle between the U.S. and Canada, with the two countries matching each other ride for ride in the team competition - one of just two held annually in North America. At the end of the first round, Canada and the United States were tied for the lead with four faults each. In the second round, the lead-off rider for the U.S., Margie Engle and her Sydney Olympic mount, Hidden Creek's Perin, posted the evening's first double clear round. Canada answered back by having Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, also go clear with Ashland Farm's stallion, Hickstead.

Kent Farrington then posted eight faults for the home team while Canada moved ahead when Chris Pratt of Belfountain, ON, making his Nations' Cup debut, posted a double clear riding Mustique for owner Susan Grange. Olympic Team Gold Medallist McLain Ward and Sapphire were again faultless for the United States while Quebec's Mario Deslauriers posted an eight fault total with Paradigm, putting the two teams neck-in-neck yet again.

It all boiled down to performances from two of the biggest names in show jumping - Beezie Madden and Ian Millar. As they have done so many times before, Madden and Authentic jumped clear to put the pressure squarely on Millar's shoulders. But the eight-time Olympian hailing from Perth, ON, proved why he has long been considered one of the world's best by guiding In Style, also owned by Grange, to another faultless performance.

At the end of two rounds, Canada and the United States remained tied at four faults apiece to force a sudden-death jump-off. Canadian chef d'equipe Terrance Millar tapped Lamaze and Hickstead to fly the maple leaf while American guru George Morris sent back Madden and Authentic.

American hopes were soon to be dashed however when Authentic had a surprising refusal at the second fence, dislodging rails in the process. With four faults for the refusal and four faults for the knock-down, Madden then continued on to finish the course in a time of 41.11 seconds.

Although he had eight faults in hand, Lamaze didn't need them. The three-time World Championship veteran guided Hickstead home fault-free in a time of 39.65 seconds while the Canadian contingent went wild celebrating the victory.

"Beezie had some bad luck but I was still trying to be careful," explained Lamaze, 37, who had also ridden for Canada when it enjoyed victory in this event in 2004. "It was nice to have the eight faults in hand. You are still nervous, but you feel that it could go your way."

Looking down the road to the upcoming World Equestrian Games that will be held this August in Aachen, Germany, Terrance Millar noted that Canada has been enjoying a steady upswing recently.

"I think the big difference for Canada is the horses," said the 1968 Olympic Team Gold Medallist. "We've always had the riders, but now we have four that are well-mounted. Each rider finds his own way to success, and I think that we are now on the right road."

A total of ten nations contested the CSIO5* Nations' Cup, Presented by CN, with the top six nations returning for the second round. Behind a victorious Canada and the runner-up, the United States, France finished a distance third with a total of 31 faults. The defending champion, Ireland, was fourth with a total of 33 faults. Brazil withdrew mid-way through the second round to place fifth while Great Britain elected not to start and placed sixth.

PHOTO CREDIT: The Canadian Show Jumping Team celebrates victory in the 2006 Nations' Cup team competition in Wellington, Florida. Left to right - Mario Deslauriers on Paradigm, Chris Pratt on Mustique, Eric Lamaze on Hickstead, and Ian Millar on In Style. Photo Credit - Randi Muster