Edited press release from Spruce Meadows

Team Germany ruled the ring on Saturday afternoon, beating six other countries to win the CSIO5* 1.60m BMO Nations Cup at the Spruce Meadows 'Masters' in Calgary, Canada, with a total score of five penalties. 

Otto Becker's squad — André Thieme on Paule S (Perigueux x Sir Shutterfly), Jörne Sprehe on Toys (Toulon x Quidam de Revel), Daniel Deusser on Gangster vh Noddevelt (Eldorado vd Zeshoeve x Carefull) and Jana Wargers on Dorette OLD (Dollar Du Murier x Fighting Alpha 3) —  beat teams from Canada, Spain, Switzerland, France, Ireland and Great Britain.

“I feel great, I’m very proud of this team,” Becker said. “In the end, it was teamwork. Teamwork makes the dream work.”

The Germans conquered the 12-jump, 14-effort course designed by Venezuelan course designer Leopoldo Palacios, with the teams from Ireland and Great Britain coming second and third with eight and ten penalties respectively.

Thieme, the current Rolex Grand Slam Live Contender following his win in Aachen, Germany, in July, also told how he was determined but worried going into Sunday's CPKC ‘International’, presented by Rolex. “I’m a very happy person today,” said Thieme, who opted to give DSP Chakaria the day off in preparation for Sunday. “But I am a little worried about tomorrow. I tried to make the best plan, to give Chakaria a perfect day tomorrow, but there is something inside me telling me that she’s being just a touch too careful here. But it is what it is. I have to trust her now. She is always brave. Sometimes you have to take a little risk to win.”