BMO Nations’ Cup
CANADA CHASES THIRD TITLE
Is a third BMO Nations’ Cup title in the cards for Canada at the 2016 Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’? If so, it will not be easy. Victory at Spruce Meadows never is. A powerhouse roster of 10 nations is slated to take to the International Ring on Saturday, Sept. 10 to do battle in the BMO Nations’ Cup, just weeks removed from the drama of the Rio Games where Canada missed the podium by the narrowest of margins.
Europe’s best feature the Olympic gold medallist from France and the bronze medallist from Germany. While Team Canada will venture through the Spruce Meadows Clock Tower focused on victory in the BMO Nations’ Cup, it is certain to be a big challenge for the reigning Pan American Games champions.
Of the nations invited to compete, the record books show that the United States, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, France, Brazil and Canada have all tasted victory in the BMO Nations’ Cup through the decades. Belgium, Switzerland and Mexico have each arrived on the steps of the medal podium, but have yet to win.
When the curtain came down on Round 1 of the BMO Nations’ Cup a year ago, the partisan crowd of more than 60,000 people on hand at Spruce Meadows checked and rechecked their scorecards; a title defence was certainly possible for Canada, who sat in third place within one rail of both France and Brazil.
However, the youthful team from Brazil, anchored by the great Rodrigo Pessoa, held strong with a perfect second round to claim the gold medal for the first time. France held on for silver and Canada took the bronze.
One thing that has not changed from a year ago is the core of the roster that Team Canada will field to defend the BMO Nations’ Cup. Recent impressive results in pressure-filled circumstances on some of the sport’s biggest stages have Canada’s chef d’Equipe, Mark Laskin, confident in the team’s veteran leadership and ability.
Indeed, the team’s recent results have put a smile on Laskin’s face.
“My expectation every time out with my riders is that we’re going to win. Whenever we don’t, I’m disappointed. The results in Normandy, at the World Equestrian Games, were not what we expected, but since then at Spruce Meadows, the Nations Cup Final in Barcelona, at the Pan American Games, and just recently in Rio, we have shown what we can do.” Laskin continued.
“We all know how difficult it is to consistently do this at the highest level. Confidence, chemistry, momentum and good healthy horses have us in a good place coming into Spruce Meadows.”
Canada’s 2014 victory at Spruce Meadows marked only the second time since 1977 that it had won the BMO Nations’ Cup. Ian Millar, Canada’s ageless veteran star who has been a regular member of the Canadian team for the BMO Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows from the start, stated: “It was 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 wins have been elusive, shall we say.”
A win for Canada this year will have to come without the legendary veteran. For the first time in more than 20 years, Millar will not be saddling up for Team Canada for this edition of the BMO Nations’ Cup as his partner Dixson continues to recover from surgery earlier in the season.
“We are back in light work together but it would not be fair to Dixson or the team,” Millar said during a recent update on the gelding.
“The BMO Nations’ Cup requires horse and rider to both be at their very best, and Dixson is still a few months away from championship form.”