Di Lampard's British squad topped the CSIO5* 1.60m BMO Nations Cup at the Spruce Meadows ‘Masters’ 2025 in Calgary, Canada, last Saturday – ahead of Otto Becker's Team Germany in second and Robert Ridland's Team USA in third.
The victory – which came on British Day at the iconic venue, with Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh in attendance – ended a 29-year drought of British wins in Calgary. “The spirit of this team is second to none,” Lampard said. “It has come together so well this year – I am so proud.”
With these photos, we look back at the first round in the BMO Nations Cup – and start with the British pathfinders: Matthew Sampson and the 16-year-old mare Ebolensky entering the International Ring.
All photos © Jenny Abrahamsson for World of Showjumping. No reproduction of any of the content in this article will be accepted without a written permission, all rights reserved © World of Showjumping.com. If copyright violations occur, a penalty fee will apply.
Tiffany Foster and Electrique jumped clear for the host nation...
...much to the delight of her very own fan club, which included her mother Lynn.
Markus Saurugg and Obora's Crunchy Nut were the Austrian pathfinders...
...while Nicola Philippaerts and Qnokke de Muze flew the flag for Belgium, delivering a clear.
Olivier Robert watches his team-mate Nina Mallevaey and Nikka vd Bisschop.
...who despite exuberant jumping, had a foot in the water.
Germany's Christian Kukuk and Cepano Baloubet posted a clear for Otto Becker's squad.
Michael Greeve and Denver added four to the Dutch score at 9a.
A good luck-kiss from Lillie Keenan to Argan de Beliard before the two jumped clear for USA.
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
These three are unseparable... Daniel Coyle, Legacy, and...
...Ariel Grange.
Great Britain's Ben Maher, current world no. two, and Enjeu de Grisien delivered a clear...
...as his father-in-law watched on.
The BMO Nations Cup was, as usual, an action-packed affair.
Austria's Katharina Rhomberg thanks Colestus Cambridge as the two leave the International Ring.
The Belgian team consisted of three Philippaerts-brothers. Here Thibault, the youngest, and Lyandro.
German chef d'equipe Otto Becker and 2025 European Champion Richard Vogel watch Sophie Hinners and Iron Dames Singclair...
...deliver the second clear for the team.
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
With them all the way; Irish chef d'equipe Michael Blake jumping on the sidelines.
Bertram Allen and the impressive Qonquest de Rigo, clear for Team Ireland.
Joe Stockdale and the 11-year-old stallion Ebanking jumped clear for Great Britain.
Austria's Max Kühner and Count On Me 19 in flight-mode over the open water.
The third clear for the Germans came from the former world number one Daniel Deusser and Gangster v/h Noddevelt, which meant their anchor pair Richard Vogel and Cloudio could sit out round one.
The pain of having the last fence down... Willem Greve and Pretty Woman van'T Paradijs.
Tres bien, tres bien! Laura Kraut gives Tres Bien Z a big hug after the two jumped clear for USA.
It's all in the details...
Great Britain's Donald Whitaker acknowledges the crowd after a clear with Millfield Colette. Their clear kept Britain's team score on zero, and tied them with Germany in the lead as the first round came to an end.
Mario Deslauriers and Costa Quick PS parted ways at the wall – luckily both walked away unharmed.
Austria's Alessandra Reich and Oeli R ran into trouble in the triple combination. With only the top six teams qualifiying for round two, Austria – just like France, the Netherlands, Canada and Mexico – was left out.
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
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Photo © Jenny Abrahamsson/WoSJ.
Aaron Vale and Styles added four to the American score, leaving the US in third after round one, just behind Germany and Great Britain.
Then