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2009 BMO Nations' Cup Welcomes Ten Nations to Spruce Meadows, Calgary
SPRUCE MEADOWS (CALGARY) AB, September 8, 2009 – One of the richest team show-jumping events in the world, the $350,000 BMO Nations' Cup, will take place on Saturday, September 12, at Canada's premier show-jumping event, the Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament.

Olympic Team Silver Medalist, Ian Millar, has been BMO Financial Group's corporate equestrian advisor and all-round ambassador since 1988 and will once again captain Team Canada in the BMO Nations' Cup.

Canada is well-prepared to take on the world's show jumping power nations and attempt to reclaim their 2006 BMO Nations' Cup title. The 2009 Canadian Team will have veterans Beth Underhill and John Anderson joining Millar and Olympic champion Eric Lamaze.

“It's been a spectacular season for Canada's show jumpers and the BMO Nations' Cup promises to be an exciting competition in Calgary,” said Bill Downe, President and Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group. "BMO is proud to host Canada's premiere equestrian competition and bring the world's finest riders and horses to Calgary."

The roster of national teams invited to compete includes:

  • Canada – 2008 Olympic Silver Medalist and BMO Nations' Cup Winner 2006.
  • Germany – BMO Nations' Cup Winners 2003, 2004 and 2007 and 2009 winner of the Royal International at Hickstead Nations Cup in Great Britain.
  • Great Britain – Ten BMO Nations' Cup wins - more than any other country.
  • Ireland – Three-time winners of the BMO Nations' Cup.
  • Italy – 2009 Nations Cup Champions at CSIO Dublin. Seeking their first BMO Nations' Cup win.
  • Mexico - Seeking their first BMO Nations' Cup win.
  • Norway – 2008 Olympic Team Bronze Medalists. Second year at the BMO Nations' Cup.
  • Switzerland – Seeking their first BMO Nations' Cup win.
  • The Netherlands – Reigning World Champions and Gold Medal Winners at 2007 European Championships.
  • United States – 2004 and 2008 Olympic Champions.

The BMO Nations' Cup is a highlight of the FEI Nations Cup season. This year the invited nations represent the top countries from the 2008 Olympic Games and the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

The event is held over two rounds with each team fielding four riders. Teams keep their best three scores to count with only the top six nations making the cut to advance to the second round.

“Spruce Meadows is honoured to host North America's only five star Nations Cup. On the 100th anniversary of Nations Cup competition, this is surely going to be one of the most memorable competitions in our sport this year,” says Spruce Meadows president, Linda Heathcott. “This year will be very special for me personally as I had the opportunity in the past to ride in the BMO Nations' Cup with each member of the 2009 Canadian Team roster.”

The BMO Nations' Cup has established itself firmly on the world sport calendar over the last three decades. It's an opportunity each September for Canadians to enjoy the world's best international show jumping at one of the sport's most famous venues. Each year the event attracts upwards of 50,000 fans and hundreds of thousands of viewers across Canada on CBC Sports.


BMO in Alberta

With over 2,700 employees and 96 BMO Bank of Montreal branches in Alberta, BMO provides financing to more than 27,000 small businesses. BMO annually demonstrates its commitment to be an active corporate citizen in the community through numerous donations, including major gifts to the University of Alberta, SAIT and the Alberta Children's Hospital. BMO is the founding sponsor of the Spruce Meadows equestrian facility and annually sponsors the BMO Nations' Cup. For more about BMO Financial Group, visit www.bmo.com.

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