Great Britain’s Team Audevard finish third in the BMO Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows Masters
Monday 09 September 2024
.jpg "Great Britain’s Team Audevard finish third in the BMO Nations Cup at Spruce Meadows Masters")
Great Britain’s Team Audevard claimed third place in a thrilling BMO Nations Cup on ‘British Day’ at the Spruce Meadows Masters in Calgary, Canada.
Seven teams participated over Venezuelan course-designer Leopoldo Palacios’ 12-fence, 14-effort 1.60m track. A restrictive time allowed caught several of the 27 riders out, and only three supplied double clears with the mighty German team reigning supreme five faults ahead of Britain.
Ben Maher was first out for Britain and provided a polished clear on the 15-year-old Exit Remo while Sameh El Dahan made just one mistake on the 14-year-old WKD Aimez Moi for four faults. Tim Gredley rallied the team and left every fence intact on the 11-year-old Imperial HBF but fell victim to the clock and picked up one time fault. Anchor Donald Whitaker on ride of five months Picasso VD Zwartbleshoeve, a nine-year-old stallion by Cornet Obolensky, came home inside the time but picked up four faults on the way.
Britain stood in third on a total of five at the halfway stage, one fence behind Germany and one fault behind Ireland. It was all to play for in round two, but despite a supreme effort, the team remained in the same order.
Ben finished on four faults second time out while it didn’t go according to plan for Sameh who crossed the line carrying a total of 16. Tim again incurred one time fault but his crucial round, leaving every pole up, kept Britain in the hunt. Last to go Donald pulled out all the stops to jump clear and, although Ireland’s anchor Cian O’Connor finished on four faults, Britain’s final score was still one time fault in arrears to take third to Ireland’s second place.
Germany remained solidly ahead, adding four faults to their one round one time fault to total five faults to claim victory.
Di Lampard was happy with the team performance: “I was really pleased with our podium placing here in Spruce Meadows. This venue is well known for tough, big courses with an extremely short time allowed in all classes.
“The debut partnership of Donald Whitaker on the young stallion Picasso is really exciting for the future and Tim Gredley has been consistently performing at a high standard all season; Imperial showed his qualities this week. It was another good team performance.”
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