Calgary, Alberta—Sept. 13  

Canada fielded a team with top veterans Eric Lamaze and Ian Millar for the $300,000 BMO Nations Cup and a 20-year-old team rookie stole the show at the Spruce Meadows Masters.

Ben Asselin turned in two clear rounds aboard Makavoy to lead the Canadian team to victory. 
“After the first round, I was feeling a lot better. The nerves kind of subsided, and I knew I could do it,” Asselin recalled. “The horse jumped great in the first round, and he jumped even better in the second round. I got a little bit lucky at the bike [fence]. He was just incredible today, and I felt like I was on it. He gave it his all.”

Ben Asselin and Makavoy on their way to one of their BMO Nations Cup clear rounds for Canada.

All four of the United States’ riders improved in Round 2 from Round 1 to place second, just a rail behind the Canadians. Members included Lauren Hough and Quick Study (5,4), Leslie Howard on Tic Tac (4,0), McLain Ward and HH Carlos Z (5,4), and the incredible anchor ride of Beezie Madden and Simon, who were double clear. Madden and Asselin were the only double clears of the competition; team USA finished on 13 faults.

Beezie Madden, fresh off her double-bronze medal performance at the
Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in France,
rode Simon to two clear rounds to anchor the U.S. team to second in the BMO Nations Cup.

It was the first time the home team was victorious in the class since 2006.
The $300,000 BMO Nations Cup had eight top teams compete in the first round, and six returned for the second round. Canada had a solid performance in the first round and were leading with just 1 fault. Belgium was one rail behind with 5 faults, and the USA had 9 faults.

Millar, who had jumped clean in Round 1, led off the team in Round 2 with Dixson and had just 4 faults. Tiffany Foster and Tripple X III also knocked down one rail in Round 2, while they tallied just 1 time fault in the first round. The team leader was Asselin on Makavoy, who recorded double clear rounds. Eric Lamaze and Zigali P S had 8 faults in Round 1 and due to Canada’s lead that couldn’t be beat, did not have to return for Round 2. Canada finished on 9 faults.

“I felt if I would have had to go, things would have gone a bit better for me. When you’ve got great riders in front of you riding rounds like that, often the last rider doesn’t have to go. These riders did a great job today,” Lamaze said.

Belgium was unable to record a clear in Round 2, which relegated them to third place. Fourth place went to France with 23 faults, Switzerland was fifth on 28 faults, and Great Britain was sixth on 37 faults. Germany was seventh and Ireland was eighth.

Canada’s victory is only the second time since 1977 that they have won the BMO Nations Cup. Millar stated, “It’s always a little embarrassing that we didn’t have a better record here because we come with our best game, and we really try so darn hard. Maybe that’s the problem, I don’t know. We’ve had some lovely finishes in it, but the win has been elusive, shall we say. It’s a fantastic day today, and it’s great to be a part of this team.”

This was Asselin’s first time competing in the BMO Nations Cup and he had high expectations for himself. “I hoped it would go this well, and it couldn’t have gone any better. I’ve dreamed of riding on the team with these guys for a long, long time,” he said. “To come out with a gold medal was a pretty special experience.”

Foster said that the Canadian team always has great camaraderie and support for each other. “You feel that as a rider,” she remarked. “We were all really nervous as everyone was going around. After Ben went in the first round, we had a lot of faith in him, and we were kind of depending on him to go clear again. He pulled through.”

Chef d’Equipe Mark Laskin had big smile on his face when he spoke about the results. “My expectation every time out with my riders is that we’re going to win. Whenever we don’t, I’m disappointed. Today, not so much!” he exclaimed.

Laskin continued, “We all know how difficult it is to do what Ben did today. We have a great appreciation for it, and it’s just like a burst of joy when it happens. To see him in his first Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows Masters, jump double clean, it’s fantastic.”

The courses this week are designed by Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela. Millar spoke about the difficult parts of the course, where only eight clear rounds were recorded. “It sure did the job. When we walked it, the obvious problems were right there for you to see,” he explained. “The triple combination was typical Leopoldo, to use brown material on top and white plank below to draw the horse’s eye down. There were a lot of faults at that triple combination. The time allowed was tough. When we

All of the riders said that they are looking forward to the $1.5 Million CP International, presented by Rolex, which is the second leg of the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping.

“It will be my first time competing in the CP International,” Asselin said. “I’ve watched it a lot over the years and it’s always posed a very, very technical and big grand prix. With the way my horse jumped today, I think he has a good shot jumping a clear round, hopefully two.”

For full results and more information, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.