Jill Henselwood Leads Canadian Show Jumping Team into Gold Medal Position

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – The Canadian Show Jumping Team comprised of Mac Cone of King City, ON, Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, and Ian Millar of Perth, ON, is in gold medal position following the first round of competition held Thursday at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Competing against nine other countries, Canada kept the pressure on with four strong performances to move into the lead with a score of 2.72 penalties. The home team of Brazil is currently in second position with 5.67 penalties, staying just ahead of Mexico, currently third with 5.89. A surprising refusal at the first jump from Todd Minikus’ mount Pavarotti, the last horse on course, prevented the United States from finishing in the top three, dropping the defending champions into fourth position with a score of 10.20 penalties.

“We’re in good shape,” said Canadian Show Jumping Team Chef d’Equipe Terrance Millar, who predicts that Friday’s team final, a two-round Nations’ Cup, will be “quite difficult and technical.”

Individually, Henselwood and Special Ed, a 13-year-old Oldenburg gelding owned by Juniper Farms, are in first place following Thursday’s Table C speed competition that acts as the first phase of both team and individual competition. Immediately behind Henselwood in second position is Ian Millar riding In Style, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Susan Grange.

Cone, 54, competed first for Canada on Southern Ways’ 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Melinda.

“Going first, my job was to put in a good, solid score,” said Cone following his clear but conservative round in a time of 88.27 seconds that put him into 17th place individually.

Henselwood and Special Ed were Canada’s second pair into the stadium, which was three quarters filled with predominately Brazilian fans. A Canadian Team veteran who has represented Canada at two previous Pan Am Games (1995 and 1999), Henselwood, 41, set a blistering pace over Guilherme Jorge’s course of fourteen numbered obstacles and seventeen jumping efforts. Her time of 79.66 seconds set the standard for the day.

“He loves to run,” said Henselwood following her ride. “I knew he was on today. He is in the middle of a peak.”

Lamaze, 39, was third to ride for Canada. Hickstead, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Torrey Pines Stables and Ashland Stables Inc., is typically a strong competitor in the speed class. An unfortunate rail at the ‘a’ element of the combination at fence 11 meant that a four-second time penalty was added to Lamaze’s original time of 80.51, giving him a total of 84.51 and placing him tenth overall.

The last athlete to compete for Canada was eight-time Olympian Ian Millar. Millar put his foot on the gas pedal and saved additional time with some of the tightest turns of the day. He and In Style crossed the finish line in 80.23 seconds to secure second place individually, and also ensure Canada’s place at the top of the leader board. As only the three best scores are counted towards the team standings, Cone’s result was dropped from the team.

Behind Henselwood and Millar in the individual standings is Simon Nizri of Mexico riding Cataro Ask. In fourth position for the home side is Bernardo Alves of Brazil riding Chupa Chupa 2 while American Lauren Hough is in fifth position with Casadora. Another American, Laura Chapot, is sixth with Little Big Man while the Olympic Champion, Rodrigo Pessoa of Brazil, is seventh with his new mount, Rufus.

The two-round Nations’ Cup team final begins at 9 a.m. on Friday, July 27, followed by medal ceremonies. Athletes will then carry their two-day scores forward to Sunday’s Individual Final. Although she currently sits at the top of a starting field of 47 athletes, Henselwood declared, “I’m thrilled for our team and all I care about is tomorrow.”

In addition to medals, Canada is also seeking Olympic qualification at the Pan American Games. The top three placed teams, excluding the already qualified United States, earn a berth for the 2008 Olympic Games, the equestrian portion of which will take place in Hong Kong due to equine health concerns in mainland China. Countries failing to qualify teams will have the chance to qualify to send an individual: one from North America and four from Central and South America. In addition to the ten countries fielding teams in the sport of show jumping at the Pan American Games, individual competitors are representing seven more countries.

2007 Pan American Games – Individual Show Jumping Standings Following Speed Phase

1. Jill Henselwood Oxford Mills, ON Special Ed 0

2. Ian Millar Perth, ON In Style .29

3. Simon Nizri Mexico Cataro Ask .47

4. Bernardo Alves Brazil Chupa Chupa 1.09

5. Lauren Hough United States Casadora 1.29

6. Laura Chapot United States Little Big Man 1.38

7. Rodrigo Pessoa Brazil Rufus 1.74

8. Antonio Chedraui Mexico Don Porfirio 1.85

9. Pablo Barrios Venezuela Sun God 2.03

10. Eric Lamaze Schomberg, ON Hickstead 2.43

17. Mac Cone King City, ON Melinda 4.31

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