Magnificent Win for Team Canada in the BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup

A record crowd of 60,870 were treated to one of the most exciting finishes ever in this year’s BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup at the Spruce Meadows “Masters”. They were to witness “Captain Canada” Ian Millar steer the home team to their first ever victory in the event’s 30-year history.

Finishing equal on faults with Britain after two rounds, it came down to just one rider from each team of four that had to jump off.  In the end both teams chose their anchor riders to contest the shortened course to break the tie.

Team Canada was lying in second place behind Britain after the first round, just one fence behind.  Mario Deslauriers, who went clear in the first round, had an unfortunate three rails down in the second on Paradigm. Erynn Ballard and Robin van Roosendael came back from an 8 fault score to jump clear the second time around. Third out for Canada, John Pearce aboard Archie Bunker improved on their first round score of 8 to incur just one time fault.

With the final riders left to go, the scenario was set.  Ian Millar had to jump clear on In Style after jumping clear in the first round as well, but incurring one time penalty. He answered to the pressure, much to the delight of the partisan crowd.  If Britain’s final rider went clear, they would win; one fence down and there would be a jump-off between the two teams; any more than four faults and Canada would win.

A huge cheer erupted when Michael Whitaker’s Insul Tech Mozart des Heyettes caught the top rail of fence four, the infamous “bicycle” fence behind and he could afford no further errors around the course. When he cleared the remaining fences without fault and inside the time allowed, a further round was required to decide the result.

Millar and his 11-year old Dutch Warmblood gelding were first back in the ring for the jump-off and had a rail down at the first part of the double, crossing the line in 45.88 seconds.

The British elected to send their anchorman, Michael Whitaker as their rider to jump off.  

When Whitaker hit the third fence on his 10 year old Belgian stallion, a huge cheer erupted again, but it was still not over however.  When he faulted at the same fence as Millar, the crowd went wild.

“I think I’ve just become the most popular man in Canada,” Whitaker later lamented.

Canada has never won this event in its 30-year history and this year was only the third occasion the event has gone into a jump-off.  It has been twenty years since the last time in 1986. 

“This victory goes to every Canadian who has ever given this a shot,” commented a delighted Millar.  “There have been a lot of good horses and riders over the years and today was our day.”

Millar further explained, “Top horses sense when it’s important and I was telling mine that it’s a serious deal – the day to go to the bank! I knew I had one of the fastest riders in the world coming after me and that I had to make him work for it. But the way it came out, makes sport, sport.”

And an event like today would not be possible without the wonderful support of one of Spruce Meadows founding sponsors, BMO Financial Group.

"It was so exciting to watch Canada claim its first Nations' Cup victory here at Spruce Meadows and even more exciting to watch Ian Millar win it for Canada in dramatic fashion with a jump-off," said Bill Downe, Chief Operating Officer, BMO Financial Group.  "On behalf of all of my colleagues at BMO Financial Group, it is my pleasure to present Canada with a cheque for $115,000."

BMO Financial Group has a long and proud history of supporting equestrian sport in Canada.  Since 1977, BMO has sponsored the BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows, attracting the top international show jumping teams to compete in Canada.

Bill Downe, Chief Operating Officer, BMO Financial Group, presents Canada with the $350,000 BMO Financial Group Nations' Cup Trophy at the Spruce Meadows "Masters" Tournament in Calgary, AB, on Saturday, September 9, 2006. Photo Credit:  www.CealyTetley.com