Ian Millar maintains lead in Pan American Games selection trials

Photo by Cealy Tetley Jill Henselwood on Special Ed won the $50,000 Caledon National Grand Prix.

Following the second Pan American Games selection trial for the Canadian Show Jumping Team, Ian Millar of Perth, has maintained his lead in the standings.

Selection trials were held May 18 and May 20 at the Caledon Equestrian Park in Palgrave. May 18, Millar placed first riding Redefin and second riding In Style, both owned by Caledon's Susan Grange. With two more faultless first-round performances in Sunday's $50,000 Caledon National Grand Prix, which acted as the second selection trial, Millar maintained his place at the top of the selection trial leader board. A total of 23 horse-rider combinations contested the selection trials Friday with 21 returning Sunday.

Erynn Ballard of Hillsburgh, also posted a clear round Sunday to move into third place in the selection trial standings. Ballard, 26, was riding Robin van Roosendael, a 13- year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding owned by Looking Back Farm.

Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, posted clear first-round efforts with Special Ed and Black Ice to take fourth and fifth positions in the selection trial standings. Moving into the seven-horse jump-off, Henselwood guided Special Ed to victory in the $50,000 Caledon National Grand Prix, racing around the course in a time of 35.347 seconds. Henselwood proved to be unbeatable, also claiming second place with Black Ice after stopping the timers at 36.079 seconds.

"We had a very good course builder that built a beautiful track," said Henselwood, referring to Guiherme Jorge of Brazil, who will also be the show jumping course designer at the 2007 Pan American Games. "Ian Millar gave us a riding lesson (on Friday), and he inspired us to ride well today."

Henselwood, who was a member of the 1995 and 1999 Pan American Games Teams, is looking forward to the next three selection trials, which will be held June 6, 7, and 10 during the Spruce Meadows National tournament in Calgary.

"Special Ed has been super in Calgary, and Black Ice has been super in Calgary," noted Henselwood of her past competitive performances at the Spruce Meadows venue. "They've both grown up in our Canadian rings. I am pleased to have two horses to present for our team. Black Ice has had some great results, including being the 2005 Canadian Show Jumping Champion, so he's no longer the dark horse. And I've saved Special Ed for these trials. I would like him to have a big year."

Incurring just one time fault in Sunday's selection trial riding Melinda, Canadian Olympian Mac Cone of King City, moved in sixth position in the standings. Victoria, BC, native Karen Cudmore, who now makes her home in Omaha, Nebraska, had been sitting behind Millar following the first selection trial, but had one fence down Sunday riding Southern Pride to fall to seventh position.

Kim Farlinger, 22, of Annan, posted a clear round riding Cordoba, a nine-yearold Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by Peter Farlinger, to move into eighth position. Alberta native Darren Dlin is currently in ninth place in the standings with the Canadian-bred Catwalk while 26-year-old Frankie Chesler-Ortiz of Orangeville, is in 10th position with Ranville.

"I don't think that are any surprises," noted Terrance Millar, chair of the selection committee. "It's a very good group here at the top. Guiherme is as good a course designer as there is anywhere in the world, and you just have to let the experts do their work."

At the conclusion of the selection trials, the top three riders in the standings will earn a berth to the Pan American Games while the selection committee will name an additional two team members.