Ian Millar Athens Bound

Jump Canada is pleased to announce Ian Millar as the Olympic candidate, Eric Lamaze as the first reserve, and Jill Henselwood as second reserve for the individual Canadian show jumping spot at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Greece.

Through its results at the 2003 Pan American Games in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Canada earned the right to send one individual show jumping athlete to contest the 2004 Olympic Games.  Under Federation Equestre International (FEI) rules, Canada can nominate up to three athletes for the individual position. 

A seven-time Olympian, Millar, 57, of Perth, ON, has been named the Olympic candidate with Promise Me, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by The Bakers Dozen.  The pair were the top Canadian performers at the 2003 Pan American Games and recently won the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix during the Ocala Winter Classic in Ocala, FL, and placed second in the $50,000 Mary Rena Murphy Grand Prix during the Kentucky Spring Preview in Lexington, KY.  In March, Millar and Promise Me led the Canadian Show Jumping Team to victory in the $50,000 Samsung Nations’ Cup, Presented by CN, in Wellington, FL. During his outstanding career, Millar won the 1988 and 1989 World Cup Finals and earned Individual Gold and Team Bronze medals at the 1999 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, MB. 

Lamaze, 36, of Schomberg, ON, represented Canada at the 1994, 1998 and 2002 World Equestrian Games and was also a member of 1999 Pan American Games Bronze Medal team.  Lamaze has been named as the first reserve with Tempete V/H Lindehof, an eight-year-old Belgian Warmblood mare owned by Torrey Pines Stables and Ashland Stables Inc.  In February, they won the $35,000 FARR XTN Grand Prix of Palm Beach in Wellington, FL, and teamed up with Millar, Ainsley Vince and Harold Chopping to record Canada’s victory in the $50,000 Samsung Nations’ Cup, Presented by CN. 

Henselwood, 41, of Oxford Mills, ON, has been named as second reserve with Special Ed, Juniper Farms’ 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding.  Riding Special Ed, Henselwood won both the $25,000 Ariat Grand Prix on February 6 and the $50,000 King Shavings World Cup Qualifier held two days later.  At the conclusion of the 2004 HITS Indio Desert Circuit, Henselwood was presented with the Leading Grand Prix Rider Award.  She was also a member of the 1994 World Equestrian Games team and represented Canada at the 1995 and 1999 Pan American Games, winning the Team Bronze Medal in 1999. 

“Ian has looked great all year, and his focus on preparing his horse for the Olympic Games has been very apparent,” noted Danny Foster, Chair of the Jump Canada Selection Committee.  “I am very confident about our chances in Athens.” 

In order to be considered for Olympic selection, riders competed for a minimum of two weeks at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB, jumping at a height of 1.50m to 1.60m (five feet to five feet six inches) with the selected individual rider expected to make their best effort to attend two major show jumping events in Europe prior to the Olympic Games, held August 13-29. 

The Jump Canada Selection Committee is comprised of five individuals.  The Jump Canada Grand Prix Riders Committee elects three representatives, one representative is selected by Jump Canada from a slate of names presented by the Grand Prix Riders Committee and one member is elected solely by Jump Canada.  The Olympic Selection Criteria appears, in its entirety, on the Jump Canada website at www.jumpcanada.ca. 

Jump Canada is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, 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.