Calgary, Alberta — For the second night in a row, Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, found herself sitting atop the Pan American Games Selection Trial standings for the Canadian Show Jumping Team.
In Thursday evening’s $35,000 1.60m Spectra Energy Open, Henselwood jumped clear, picking up one time fault riding Black Ice, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Juniper Farms. Adding the one fault to her previous total of 9.65, Henselwood moved to the top of the leader board with 10.65 faults accumulated over four Selection Trials. After Wednesday’s Trial, Henselwood had been leading with Special Ed, but eight faults in Thursday’s competition dropped the combination to second position with a total of 13.486. While Henselwood may appear to be in an enviable position with two horses at the top of the standings, riders are limited to one horse in Saturday’s fifth and final Selection Trial, meaning that Henselwood will have to make a choice between Special Ed and Black Ice.
Karen Cudmore is now in third position with a total of 20.157 faults riding the Holsteiner stallion, Southern Pride. The Victoria, BC, native incurred 12 faults over a difficult course set by Anthony D’Ambrosio of the United States that produced only two clear rounds from 29 challengers. In the jump-off, American Olympian Lauren Hough and Casadora managed to edge Eric Lamaze and Hickstead for the win.
Darrin Dlin, originally from Spruce Grove, AB, and now living in Wellington, FL, encountered problems on course with his Canadian-bred mare, Catwalk, but, despite incurring 11 faults, managed to move up into fourth place in the standings. With the conclusion of each Selection Trial, Dlin is getting closer and closer to making his debut on the Canadian Show Jumping Team.
With a 12-fault effort riding In Style, Ian Millar of Perth, ON, dropped to fifth place overall in the standings while Mac Cone of King City, ON, and Melinda maintained their sixth place position.
Saturday’s $200,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix will act as the fifth and final Selection Trial for the Canadian Show Jumping Team that will compete at the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in July. The top three riders in the standings will be named to the Team and the Selection Committee will then name an additional two Team members at its discretion. All five Team members will travel to Rio with four competing. Among the athletes being considered subjectively is Lamaze, who won Wednesday night’s Selection Trial and placed second in Thursday night’s Selection Trial riding Hickstead, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Ashland Stables. As Lamaze opted to compete in Europe rather than at the first two Selection Trials held in Palgrave, ON, he is not eligible for selection based on points.
“Eric’s performances have been superb and Hickstead looks fabulous,” noted Terrance ‘Torchy’ Millar, Chair of the Selection Committee. “In the Trial standings, Jill certainly appears to have the upper hand, but after that it is still wide open considering how close the scores are. It is really going to come down to that last class.”
The $200,000 CN Reliability Grand Prix will be broadcast on CBC Sports at 4 p.m. ET on Saturday, June 9.
Selection Trial Standings following Trial #4
Athlete Hometown Horse Score
1. Jill Henselwood Oxford Mills, ON Black Ice 10.65
2. Jill Henselwood Oxford Mills, ON Special Ed 13.486
3. Karen Cudmore Omaha, NE Southern Pride 20.157
4. Darrin Dlin Wellington, FL Catwalk 21.031
5. Ian Millar Perth, ON In Style 21.426
6. Mac Cone King City, ON Melinda 24.639
7. Erynn Ballard Hillsburgh, ON Robin van Roosendael 25.156
8. Margie Gayford Sharon, ON Stuntman 30.613
9. Chris Lowe Burnaby, BC Jackpot 36.434
10. Jenn Serek Calgary, AB Shin Shin 46.377
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