Jump Canada Hall of Fame Honours Past and Present

Toronto, Ontario – The 2008 Jump Canada Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala, presented by BMO Financial Group, will honour champions of both the past and present as, in addition to seven new inductees, show jumping’s newly minted Olympic Gold and Silver Medalists will also be recognized.

The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala will be held on Sunday, November 9, at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, ON. This year’s inductees are Jumper Horse – Monopoly; Rider – Shirley (Thomas) Prosser; Coach/Trainer – Tom Gayford; Sponsor – Rothmans of Pall Mall Canada; Builder (Individual) – Ron and Marg Southern; Hunter Horse – Blue By You; and Pony – Minnie Mouse.

In addition to celebrating the achievements of the 2008 inductees, the Jump Canada Hall of Fame will also be congratulating the 2008 Olympic Silver Medal Team consisting of Mac Cone, Jill Henselwood, Eric Lamaze and Ian Millar. Special recognition will be given to Lamaze as the Individual Gold Medalist.

Presented by BMO Financial Group since its creation in 2006 to recognize outstanding contributions to national hunter/jumper sport, the Jump Canada Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala will continue to be sponsored by BMO Financial Group through 2009.

“This has been a landmark year in the history of Canadian Show Jumping,” said Mark Samuel, Chair of the Jump Canada Hall of Fame. “The 1968 Olympic Team Gold Medal helped to energize the next decade of our sport and our 2008 results from Hong Kong will surely do the same. We look forward to celebrating these Canadian Champions alongside our honored inductees.”

The third annual Jump Canada Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony will be part of a black-tie gala and dinner to be held in the Concert Hall of Toronto's Royal York Hotel. Sold out for the past two years, friends and associates will be on hand to present the distinct Hall of Fame awards, designed by renowned Canadian artist Charles Pachter, making for a very special evening recalling the sport's greatest memories.

Tickets for the Jump Canada Hall of Fame Gala and Induction Ceremony are $200 per person and can be purchased individually or in tables of eight. To purchase tickets, please visit the Jump Canada Hall of Fame website at www.jumpcanada.ca. For more information, please contact Jennifer Mahoney, Equine Canada, at tel: 613 248-3433 ext. 101, e-mail: jmahoney@equinecanada.ca.

Jump Canada is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, equitation and jumper activities in Canada from the grass roots to the international level. Jump Canada is governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are elected by the stakeholders in the sport. For more information regarding Jump Canada programs and activities, visit www.jumpcanada.ca.

PHOTOGRAPH: The 2008 Olympic Silver Medal Team will be recognized during this year’s Jump Canada Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala on Sunday, November 9, in Toronto, ON." Photo Credit – Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com