Canadian Show Jumping Team Named for 2007 Pan American Games

Calgary, Alberta — The five riders named to the Canadian Show Jumping Team for the 2007 Pan American Games are, in alphabetical order, Mac Cone of King City, ON, Karen Cudmore of Omaha, Nebraska, Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, and Ian Millar of Perth, ON.

Five Selection Trials were held in Palgrave, ON, and Calgary, AB. At the conclusion of the final Selection Trial, Henselwood riding Special Ed owned by Juniper Farms, Cone riding Melinda owned by Southern Ways and Cudmore riding Southern Pride owned by Blair Cudmore were the top three riders in the standings to earn a berth on the Canadian Team. The Selection Committee, chaired by Terrance Millar, named Lamaze riding Hickstead owned by Ashland Stables and Millar riding In Style owned by Susan Grange as its two subjective choices.

The three non-traveling alternates, who have no order of ranking, are Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, and his own Paradigm, Millar and Redefin owned by Susan Grange, and John Pearce of Stouffville, ON, and Archie Bunker owned by Forestview Farm.

The five Team members will travel to the 2007 Pan American Games to be held July 14 to 29 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The show jumping portion of the Pan American Games will take place from July 26 to 29.

“We have a strong team, and we are looking forward to winning a medal and progressing to Hong Kong,” said Terrance Millar, who will also act as chef d’equipe of the Canadian Show Jumping Team at the Pan American Games. “We are getting more and more horse-rider combinations in Canada that are competitive. We have always had great riders, but the horsepower has eluded us in the past. Now we have some good horses, and it is great to have the depth. There is a huge amount on the line at the Pan Am Games and I feel good about the group we have to choose from.”

Of the five horse-rider combinations that travel to Rio, the four members that comprise the Canadian Team will be decided on-site by Terrance Millar. Canada must finish in the top three, not including the United States, in order to qualify for the 2008 Olympic Games, the equestrian portion of which will be held in Hong Kong.