Langley, British Columbia – June 1, 2003 - Following the completion of the 2003 Pan American Games Selection Trials for the Canadian Show Jumping Team, Ian Millar of Perth, ON, came out on top of the standings with not one but two mounts.

The defending Pan American Champion will have his choice between two mounts, Promise Me and Aftershock, after taking the top two placings in the Selection Trial standings. Over four rounds of show jumping, Millar, a seven-time Olympian, incurred only 5.28 faults riding Promise Me, a nine-year-old chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding, and 5.85 faults with the 11-year-old Canadian Warmblood gelding, Aftershock.

“Both horses are on form and we sure have been planning on doing well at these Trials out here,” said Millar who, in 1999, won the individual gold medal at the 1999 Pan American Games. “You always hope to do well, but it is nice when the plan comes together. The Selection Committee has agreed that I can have the option between the two horses, so the one that is most ready will represent Canada.”

Following a 15-year hiatus, 1986 World Champion Gail Greenough made a triumphant return to the international arena. As the second rider in the Selection Trial standings, Greenough, 43, of Edmonton, AB, earned her spot on the Team based on points. Riding Kilkenny Lesandra, a 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Kilkenny Crest, Greenough finished the Selection Trials with 15.75 faults.

The third rider chosen at the discretion of the Selection Committee was also the third rider in the standings. Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, finished back-to-back in the standings with Mill Creek Raphael and Mill Creek Rosalinde. Lamaze nominated Mill Creek Rosalinde, an eight-year-old black Hannoverian mare owned by Mill Creek Stables, as the horse he will take to the Pan American Games. However, like Millar, Lamaze also has the option to take Mill Creek Raphael, a 13-year-old Hanoverian gelding recently donated to Equine Canada.

In a unique move for the Selection Trial process, the first three riders selected chose the fourth Team member. Millar, Greenough and Lamaze all agreed on Karen Cudmore of Victoria, BC, and her Holsteiner stallion, Conejo. Cudmore, who was the fifth-ranked rider in the standings heading into Sunday’s final Selection Trial, experienced trouble on course. Working on a clear round, Cudmore made an error at the final fence on course and accidentally jumped the wrong obstacle, a mistake that resulted in elimination.

The Selection Committee then selected Mark Samuel of Toronto, ON, as the fifth rider to the Canadian Show Jumping Team. Samuel and Darios V, a 13-year-old bay selle francais gelding by Quidam de Revel, placed second in Sunday’s final Selection Trial, the $50,000 World Cup Qualifier Grand Prix.

All Selection Trials took place at the Thunderbird Show Park in Langley, BC. All five selected riders will travel to the Pan American Games with the final four horse/rider combinations chosen to compete in the show jumping events, held August 12-17, on-site in Santo Domingo.

Pan American Games Selection Trials – Final Standings