Team USA score home Nations Cup win

Team USA. By sportfot.com

The 2011 FTI Winter Equestrian Festival hosted its 10th annual $75,000 FEI Nations Cup, presented by G&C Farm, on Friday, 4 March, and it culminated with victory for Team USA.

Mario Deslauriers (Jane Clark' s Urico), Margie Engle (Griese, Garber, Hidden Creek and Gladewinds' Indigo), Beezie Madden (Coral Reef Ranch's Coral Reef Via Volo) and McLain Ward (Ward and Bluechip Bloodstock's Sapphire) made up the victorious quad, led by chef d'equipe George Morris.

Faultless McLain Ward and Sapphire.
By fotosport.com

The two-round class was contested over an intricate course set by Steve Stephens of Florida. After
round one, the United States was in the lead with just four faults for their total. McLain (Sapphire) and Margie Engle (Indigo) each delivered clear rounds. Mario (Urico) and Beezie (Coral Reef Via Volo) each had four faults. Mario's score was dropped.

Round two
Coming back for the second round, McLain and Sapphire jumped clear again to keep their team at the top. Margie had a rail at the last fence with Indigo, but Beezie and Via Volo jumped clear to leave the team with just eight faults in total to secure vitory.

Beezie Madden and Coral Reef Via
Volo. By sportfot.com

Team USA was thrilled with its performance.

"We all made a big effort, so I think it was really important to try and win," said Beezie. "We have had a little trouble the past three years, building our team, but everyone made it a high priority this year and it paid off. It was important for the team and the country."

McLain added: "I thought it was a great class. It was a great crowd and a great course. Steve did a good job. That was the hardest Nations Cup course that I have seen in a while.

Margie Engle and Indigo.
By sportfot.com

"This year we had a strong team full of seasoned veterans and some veteran horses. Mine obviously jumped very solid. It is what we came to do and it worked out really well."

Riding for Team USA for the first time in a Nations Cup class in Wellington, Mario was very happy with his team's results.

"Being in Palm Beach and riding for the first time for the country here has been amazing and working with great teammates has made life easy," he said. "I was very happy with my horse. It was great to represent America here and it was important to us to win at home."

Mario Deslauriers and Urico.
By sportfot.com

After leading the team to victory, George said: "It was a great night. They didn't need much from me; we had great horses and great riders. It was great to beat our riders to the north by a sneak, but they did just as well."

Runners up
Team Canada finished in second place on eight faults in each round to total 16 points. Eric Lamaze and Artisan Farm's Sidoline van de Centaur jumped a clear first round. Jonathon Millar riding Millar Brooke Farm's Contino 14 and Ian Millar riding Team Works' Star Power each had four faults to total eight in round one. Yann Candele and Susan Grange's Pitareusa were the drop score with eight faults.

Jonathon Millar was the first to return in round two for Canada and jumped clear. He was followed by a four fault rounds from Ian and Eric to total eight faults in round two, when Yann's eight faults were discounted. The two round total of 16 brought the team into second place, led by chef d'equipe Terrance Millar.

Three-way tie
Australia, Great Britain and Ireland all finished on 37 points in equal third. Australia's James Paterson Robinson (Niack De L'Abbaye) were the only other pair to jump double clear through both rounds of competition.