The stage was set for one of the most exciting conclusions to a Nations Cup that Wellington, Fla., has seen during the Wellington CSIO. After two rounds, Canada and the U.S. were tied for first, with just four faults each to their names.
The chefs d’equipe had to choose one rider to jump-off, to decide the title in the CN Nations Cup. U.S. chef George Morris chose Beezie Madden and Authentic, the U.S. superstars, who had just the day before won a speed class by a blistering three seconds. Canadian chef, Torchy Miller, chose Eric Lamaze, who’s had an excellent circuit this year, on Hickstead. Two speed demons, with the hopes of their nations on their shoulders.
On her gallop to the first fence, Madden made it clear she was going for the win, hitting a quick lick with Authentic. But on her tight slice back to the second fence, an oxer, it all went wrong. “I think he did lose his footing in the turn. Something happened just as I went to commit to the fence,” she said. Authentic stopped, and crashed through the fence. “There’s not a lot of grass left out there,” Madden continued. “He’s never stopped before.”
With Madden’s resultant score of eight faults, the pressure was off Lamaze. He cantered Hickstead around to a safe, careful clear jump-off round to clinch the win for Canada. “I knew I had to leave the rails up and go well. But I had a pretty good feeling it would go my way,” Lamaze said.
The Canadian team’s winning effort was also boosted by a spectacular double-clear performance from Chris Pratt, in his Nations Cup debut. The 36-year-old has been a consistent winner on the national scene, and with this performance aboard Mustique, declared his international intentions. “I couldn’t be happier. To compete with a group of riders such as these three is a real honor,” Pratt said. Besides Lamaze, the Canadian team consisted of veterans Mario Deslauriers and Ian Millar.
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With the World Equestrian Games firmly in their sights, the Canadians take this win as a sign that they’re ready to re-emerge as a dominant force in international show jumping, after failing to qualify a team for the 2004 Athens Olympics. “I think the big difference is the horses. We’ve always had good riders, but now we have four good riders well-mounted, and that makes the difference. We have owners who have made the effort to buy nice horses, and that’s given the sport a real boost in Canada,” said Torchy Miller.
Morris had put together a U.S. team that he thought would be hard to beat. Joining Madden was her Athens Olympic teammate, McLain Ward on Sapphire. They recorded crucial double-clear rounds, as did Margie Engle and Hidden Creek’s Perin. Nations Cup first-timer Kent Farrington rode Madison to two eight-fault rounds.
France finished in third, far behind the two top teams, with 31 total faults. Katie Prudent rode Humor de Parc to 9- and 12-faults rounds, while Philippe Rozier and Heritier D’Adriers had two 5-fault trips. Yann Candele rode Tyra to a single time fault in the first round, and 8 faults in the second, while Herve Godignon picked up 4- and 8-fault scores on Obelix.
Ireland–last year’s winners–claimed fourth, with 33 total faults, while Brazil finished up in fifth and Great Britain sixth.
