September 4, 2007 – Spruce Meadows, Calgary, Alberta – The richest team show jumping event in the world, the $350,000 BMO Nations' Cup, will take place on Saturday, September 8, on show jumping’s main stage - the International Ring at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, Alberta.

The roster of teams contesting North America’s only five-star Nations’ Cup includes:
· Canada - Defending Champion, won the BMO Nations’ Cup in 2006
· Germany – BMO Nation’s Cup Winners in 2003 and 2004
· Great Britain – Bronze Medal Winners, 2007 European Championships
· the Netherlands – Gold Medal Winners, 2007 European Championships and 2006 World Equestrian Games
· Switzerland – Anchored by 2007 World Cup Champion Beat Mandli
· United States – Current Olympic Champions

“We are proud of our strong connection with Spruce Meadows, recognized as a world leader in the sport of show jumping,” said Bill Downe, President and Chief Executive Officer, BMO Financial Group. “An impressive roster of top international teams is set to compete in this year’s event, and show jumping fans, and all of us at BMO, will be hoping for a second consecutive win for Team Canada against the world's best on Saturday."

Canada is well-prepared to take on the biggest names in the sport. The 2007 Canadian Team will be comprised of the newly crowned Pan American Champion Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, Ontario; her silver medal teammate and individual bronze medalist Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, Ontario; 2000 Sydney Olympian John Pearce of Stouffville, Ontario, and, with more than 100 Nations' Cup appearances listed on his resume, Ian Millar of Perth, Ontario.

At the conclusion of Saturday's BMO Nations' Cup, Canada hopes to once again lead the victory gallop as the maple leaf flies in front of more than 50,000 partisan fans.

As the founding sponsor of Spruce Meadows, BMO Financial Group has a long and proud history of supporting equestrian sport in Canada. Since 1977, BMO has sponsored the BMO Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows, attracting the top international show jumping teams to Canada.

Background:
For the first time in the history of the BMO Nations' Cup, Canada enters as the defending champion. Canada had never before hoisted the Nations' Cup, but a sudden-death jump-off between British legend Michael Whitaker and 'Captain Canada' Ian Millar last September ended the 30-year drought. It was an emotional victory for Team Canada, and one that they are steadfast about recreating on September 8.

Proving that last year's victory wasn't just a fluke, Canada is also the two-time defending champion of the Nations' Cup in Wellington, Florida, the only other team event held in North America. And in July, Canada brought home the silver medal from the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, earning 2008 Olympic qualification.

The roster of teams contesting North America’s only five-star Nations’ Cup includes medal winners from the recent European Championships as well as the 2006 World Equestrian Games. Last year at Spruce Meadows, the British gave it their all and, this year, with the bronze medal from the European Championships to their credit, the feisty foursome will be looking to lengthen their lead from 10 victories to 11.

The British are not the only team fielding an internationally experienced team. The German juggernaut is always hard to crack and, as the victors in 2003 and 2004, pose a strong threat to Canada's chances of a repeat victory. And the Netherlands should be changing their national colour from orange to gold to match the medals won at the 2007 European Championships and the 2006 World Equestrian Games.

With newly crowned World Cup Champion Beat Mandli anchoring the team, Switzerland will also mount a strong challenge in the International Ring while the current Olympic champions, the United States, will be looking to renew the long-standing rivalry with its neighbours to the north in the BMO Nations' Cup.