Saturday September 11 – The BMO Nation’s Cup

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The winning Canada One team

(from left: Erynn Ballard, Amy Millar, Eric Lamaze, Tiffany Foster.)

I arrived at the south grandstand for Saturday’s Nations Cup discombobulated. I didn’t know who was riding, or who was here. We’ve had no televised show jumping in Canada for so long - I was out of the scene. Tickets to spectators had only been released earlier that week.

I sat near the riders area. It’s always where I like to be. The riders were a collegial group, encouraging their fellow riders on course and expressing genuine concern when things didn’t go well. One rider tried to alert another in the ring with a whistle when she was getting too close to the time she must start by – great sportsmanship.

There were strong cheers for the Canadian contingent, but nothing compared to previous years’ uproar when the grandstands are full of 50 000 spectators. Amy Millar, wearing a vest and riding her nice horse Truman, received a lot of applause with only one time fault. Tiffany Foster finished with one time fault on a horse I wasn’t familiar with – Northern Lights. A fitting name for a Canadian team horse and she jumped beautifully.

There were a lot of Canadians riding. I realized there were TWO Canadian teams: Canada 1 and Canada 2. Canada 2 was composed of Samantha Buirs-Darvill, Mario Deslauriers, Ben Asselin and Brian Morton. Notable was Samantha Buirs-Darvill’s mother literally riding the course with her from the grandstand. “Press him,” she called out a few times, as well as a few shouted “whoas.” She punched the air when Samantha and Baton Rouge finished with no jumping faults and just a couple time faults. It was nice to witness what a momentous occasion this was for their family.

The USA fielded a nice team, and Mexico and Ireland rounded out the competition. I wondered, where were the British, the Germans who usually dominate the Nations’ Cups here? No Sweden? No Belgium? Covid had certainly changed the face of the competition at this year’s Masters, but it was wonderful to see all the international riders who were able to come.

Ireland’s Jordan Coyle had some trouble at the water, tumbling off after his horse stopped. His horse cantered lazily towards the clock tower where a man who looked like he knew horses caught him by the reins. Everyone was OK.

They did the same track for both rounds. It looked like a fair course. In the end, Canada One took the Nations Cup without Eric Lamaze needing to ride the second round. It was nice to see Fine Lady looking shiny and in top form as she jumped clean in the first round. This may have been Fine Lady’s last trip in the international ring, as she will be retired and used as a broodmare after this tournament. Congratulations Erynn Ballard (double clear), Amy Millar, Tiffany Foster and Eric Lamaze on their win! As the ribbon ceremony commenced, the sun started to break through the clouds, the music played, and  a loyal crowd of spectators clapped in time with the music as the victors galloped around the ring. I felt happy. Spruce Meadows was back, great as ever.

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Victory gallop

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Happy

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Canada’s Show Jumping Dynasty: Ben Asselin on family and why he loves the sport