The opening event of three North, Central American and Caribbean League competitions looked on course for a comfortable victory for the American team of McLain Ward, Lauren Hough, Todd Minikus and Madden.

Three of the riders produced clear rounds, with Hough’s four faults discarded, to put them at the top of the standings at the halfway mark of the competition.

Colombia were the next best placed country but were eight faults behind their rivals, with Mexico’s tally of nine placing them third.

There was a clean second round from Daniel Bluman on his horse Conconcreto Sancha LS but the Colombian team picked up a 16 faults to finish the event in third place, with a tally of 24.

It allowed Mexico to move into second position in the standings, with their team receiving 21 faults across the two rounds.

With the US having a comfortable cushion over Mexico, victory for the hosts appear an inevitability.

Ward and Hough knocked down three fences during their rounds, however, to see the American lead diminish.

Minikus then received 12 faults and although his tally was discarded, the American team’s total stood at 12 heading into Madden’s second round.

The 52-year-old, a team jumping gold medallist at Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008, held her nerve to pick up just one fault to seal the victory.

“We competed a bit differently than previous years whereby we have tended to start badly and finish well,” said Robert Ridland, the American Chef d’Equipe.

“One of the really unique aspects of the Nations Cup is the courses and it was a real mix today, we were fortunate to come away with the win.

“It’s clear after today that the next two qualifiers will be really tough. We are going to be in Mexico on their home patch next time, and we saw today how difficult it is going to be, given their result in particular.”

The victory put the US at the top of the North, Central American and Caribbean League standings with 100 points, while Mexico are second on 90.

Both countries will now look to extend their advantage over Canada, who scored 55 points, as only two places at September’s Nations Cup Jumping Final in Barcelona.

Several FEI World Cup Jumping Leagues have also drawn to a close this weekend, with Brazil’s Pedro Junqueira Muylaert confirmed as the winner of South American South, after ending the series on
59 points.

Venezuela’s Noel Vanososte triumphed in the South American North series having accrued a tally of 14 points during their events, while Lisa Williams was crowned as the South African champion ahead of her team-mate Samantha McIntosh.

South East Asia’s champion was revealed as Thailand’s Nattapron Triratanachat, with each of the league winners now advancing to next month’s World Cup Jumping Final in Gothenburg, Sweden.