Ian Millar Wins Opening Round of Canadian Show Jumping Championships at Toronto’s Royal Horse Show

Toronto, Ontario – Ian Millar of Perth, ON, is on target to win a record tenth Canadian Show Jumping Championship title following his victory in the opening round of competition on Friday, November 4. The Canadian Show Jumping Championships were the featured event on Opening Night of the Royal Horse Show held November 4-13, 2005, at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto, ON, as part of the 83rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Twenty-five of the top horse-rider combinations in the country are vying for the Canadian Show Jumping Championships being held at the Royal Horse Show over two consecutive days. Friday night’s Round One, a speed class where the competitor with the fastest time wins, saw defending champion Millar emerge the winner riding In Style, a Holsteiner gelding owned by Susan Grange of Cheltenham, ON. With tight turns and fast gallops over the track set by Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela, Millar stopped the clock at 62.23 seconds and moved into top spot.

Millar’s performance was just fast enough to edge speed demon Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, into second place. With a time of 62.44 seconds, Deslauriers set the early pace with Naomi, a 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare he purchased this summer.

Eric Lamaze, who last won the Canadian Show Jumping Championship in 2003, placed third with a clear round in a time of 63.67 seconds. The Schomberg, ON, resident was riding Hickstead, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Ashland Stables.

Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, took fourth riding Black Ice, a 10-year-old black Dutch Warmblood gelding, while Victoria, BC, native Karen Cudmore was fifth with Southern Pride, a Holsteiner stallion owned by her husband, Blair Cudmore.

Riders carry their scores forward to Saturday afternoon’s deciding event, a two-round Grand Prix competition, where the 2005 Canadian Show Jumping Champion will be crowned at the conclusion. With $70,000 in prize money on the line as well as national glory, the stakes are high and CBC Sports will capture all of the drama from the Ricoh Coliseum, broadcasting live from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Earlier on Friday evening, New Brunswick’s Deanna Phelan won the opening round of the Talent Squad National Final, a means of identifying riders with the potential to become future members of the Canadian Show Jumping Team. Phelan was the only clear round riding Sunshine to take the victory. Another eastern Canada representative, Mark Leyton of St. John’s, NF, posted the fastest four fault effort riding Nicole. Greg Kuti of Schomberg, ON, placed third with Optimaal.

Tickets for all Royal Horse Show performances can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling tel: 416 872-7777 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.ca. For more information on the Royal Horse Show, including complete schedules and results, please visit www.royalfair.org.