The International Jumping Riders Club since 1977 is the voice of the showjumping riders from around the world.
International Jumping Riders Club
Ireland wins the 2023 BMO Nations’ Cup
It was a full house aat Spruce Meadows today for the BMO Nations’ Cup. Seven teams were ready to take on the 520m course that featured 12 obstacles (15 jumping efforts) - all to be completed under a time of 78 seconds. The top six teams from the first round advanced to round two where they competed over an identical course. If any teams were tied for first on faults after two rounds, each team would nominate one rider to complete a jump off.
Following the first round of jumping, defending champions Team Sweden would have to sit out round two and finish in 7th place. The remaining teams then prepared for the second round of competition.
The top of the table was tight and it came down to Canada, Ireland and Germany. It was quickly determined that Canada would take the bronze and if Ireland’s Bertram Allen jumped clear, they would take gold. The stadium was quiet as Allen entered the ring and as the cleared the final fence with no faults it was established that Ireland had won - a feat that had not been accomplished since 2001.
“I've never been here (Spruce Meadows) and I don't think there's too many big shows that I've haven't been to in the last ten years, at least once. And so it's, you know, it's a magical place here. I always wanted to come, but just from the championship or Dublin or the type of horse I had, I could never make it. So I made a plan this year to really set it as a goal, and yeah, it's fantastic. The feeling from Tuesday when I arrived to the whole thing around how big it is, how fast it is, the the history around the place and then yeah, then when you go through the clock tower into the main ring it's even more special. So it’s really, really nice to be here.” - Bertram Allen (IRL) on his first trip to Spruce Meadows.
The BMO Nations’ Cup was also the last opportunity for riders not yet qualified for tomorrow’s CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex to qualify (by posting 4 faults or less in the first round of competition).
Final Standings:
1: Team Ireland
2: Team Germany
3: Team Canada
4: Team Great Britain
5: Team Belgium
6: Team United States
7: Team Sweden
Press Release