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Canadian Team Named for BMO Financial Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows

August 27, 2004

Ottawa, Ontario --- Jump Canada has announced the Canadian Show Jumping Team for the CSIO Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament to be held September 8-12, 2004, in Calgary, Alberta.

Harold Chopping of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, Ontario, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, Ontario, and Ian Millar of Perth, Ontario, are the four riders chosen to represent Canada in the prestigious $250,000 BMO Financial Nations’ Cup event held on Saturday, September 11, 2004.

In the last Nations’ Cup event held in North America, Chopping, Lamaze and Millar were members of the victorious Canadian Show Jumping Team in the $50,000 Samsung Nations’ Cup, Presented by CN, held March 12 during the CSIO**** United States Cosequin Finale in Wellington, Florida.

Chopping has earned many notable placings this summer including second place finishes in both the $35,000 Battenkill Grand Prix at the Manchester Summer Festival and the $35,000 Otter Creek Grand Prix at the Manchester Classic in Vermont. Over the winter, Chopping also placed fourth in the $100,000 Cosequin US Open Jumper Grand Prix in Wellington, Florida, and second in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix at the HITS I Ocala Winter Classic. Chopping will most likely ride Kathleen, a nine-year-old Holsteiner mare he co-owns with Silver Oak Farm, in the Nations’ Cup competition, but has also nominated a second mount, Rabaila, for the international division at CSIO Spruce Meadows.

Henselwood, consistently at the top of 2004 Canadian show jumping ranks, was an alternate for the 2004 Olympic Games. After competing on the west coast during the 2004 winter circuit, Henselwood was named the Leading Grand Prix Rider of the Indio Desert Circuit in California with Juniper Farms’ Special Ed, a 10-year-old Oldenburg gelding. In July, Henselwood earned the prestigious title of “Spruce Meadows North American Champion” TM presented by CN. She recently scored victories in the $75,000 King Shavings Grand Prix in Saugerties, New York, and the $30,000 Rood and Riddle Kentucky Grand Prix in Lexington, Kentucky. In addition to Special Ed, Henselwood will also be riding Callisto, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare also owned by Juniper Farms, in the international division.

A three-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion, Lamaze was named as Canada’s first alternate to the 2004 Athens Olympics. Aboard Tempete V/H Lindehof, Lamaze placed second in the $60,000 National Bank World Cup Qualifier in Bromont, Quebec, and finished tenth in the prestigious Valkenswaard Grand Prix in the Netherlands in July. Lamaze has nominated four horses for the Spruce Meadows Masters including his Olympic alternate mount Tempete V/H Lindehof, an eight-year-old Belgium Warmblood gelding owned by Ashland Farms and Torrey Pines Stable.

An eight-time Olympian, Millar was selected as Canada’s sole representative for the 2004 Athens Olympics. Millar’s strong 2004 season included victory in the $25,000 Lexington Classic in Lexington, Kentucky, finishing as runner-up in the $100,000 Cosequin U.S. Open Jumper Championship in Wellington, Florida, and a third place finish in the Valkenswaard Grand Prix. Like Lamaze, Millar has also nominated four horses to the international division including his Olympic mount, Promise Me, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by The Baker’s Dozen.

A Nations’ Cup is the only competition in show jumping where riders, competing in teams of four for their country, vie for top honours against other nations. Canada will challenge teams from Belgium, United States, Germany, Great Britain, and France for first place in a two round jumping competition where faults and time count towards the final results.

“I am excited about the possibilities for this team,” remarked Canadian Show Jumping Team chef d’equipe, Danny Foster. “It is comprised of three-quarters of the winning team members from Palm Beach and I am very hopeful for a strong Nations’ Cup finish for Canada.”

The $250,000 BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup will enjoy same-day television coverage, airing on CBC at 7:30 p.m. local time on September 11.

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

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