Calgary – Show jumping fan Helen Warness of Thunder Bay, Ontario, rode with the best in Canada today after winning a BMO Financial Group contest that included a riding lesson with eight-time Olympian and show jumping legend Ian Millar.

BMO launched the contest last year as part of its long-standing support of show jumping in Canada and in celebration of Spruce Meadows’ 30th anniversary. A trip for two to this year’s Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament held September 6-10 in Calgary was also part of the grand prize.

A lifelong show jumping fan, Warness was thrilled to practice under Millar’s guidance. Warness developed a love of horses at an early age, spending summers riding on a farm in Ontario. She continues to enjoy the sport as a spectator, and says that nothing compares with watching show jumping live and experiencing “the atmosphere and the rush when riders are getting ready to jump”. Warness first visited Spruce Meadows in 1998 and was excited to return, especially for a lesson with one of her show jumping heroes.

The registered nurse's trip to Spruce Meadows coincided with her first wedding anniversary, and her husband Brad joined her for this special celebration. In addition to the riding lesson with Millar, Warness was awarded two round-trip airfares to Calgary, three nights accommodation at the Homeplace Ranch in Priddis, Alberta, and two seats in the BMO Skybox during the BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup, Saturday’s featured event at the Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament. Prior to the event, Warness will take a guided course walk of the International Ring for a closer look at the obstacles facing the Nations’ Cup competitors.

Six additional prize packages were also awarded, each of which included a BMO gift pack, a Spruce Meadows 30th anniversary book and picture frame, and a one-year subscription to Horse Sport magazine.

As the founding sponsor of Spruce Meadows, BMO Financial Group has a long and proud history of supporting equestrian sport in Canada. Since 1977, BMO has sponsored the BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows. This year’s $350,000 BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup will be held at the Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament on Saturday, September 9. The event will bring together the Canadian, German, American, British, Dutch, and Belgian teams to compete for the most lucrative prize in team show jumping. The BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup will air on CBC beginning at 7 p.m. local time on Saturday, September 9.

PHOTO CREDIT: 'Captain Canada' Ian Millar, eight-time show jumping Olympian, gives a riding lesson to BMO Financial Group contest winner, Helen Warness of Thunder Bay, ON during the Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament in Calgary, AB, Friday, September 8, 2006. Photo Credit – Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com