Ian Millar Scores Victory in Weston Canadian Open

Toronto, Ontario – Eight-time Olympian Ian Millar made his first trip to the winner’s circle at the 2006 edition of the Royal Horse Show, winning the $50,000 Weston Canadian Open on Friday evening in Toronto, ON.

Sold out yet again, show jumping fans packed into the 6,400-seat Ricoh Coliseum for another exciting night of competition. Featuring the top ranked riders in the world, 21 competitors took up the challenge set by course designer and 1976 Olympic Silver Medalist, Michel Vaillancourt. Run as a speed format where the fastest clear round wins, riders were pressed to go as fast as possible while still trying to leave all of the jumps up.

Riding ninth in the order, Millar of Perth, ON, left all the rails in place, stopping the clock at 61.35 seconds with In Style, an 11-year-old gelding owned by Susan Grange. Although other riders were able to beat Millar’s time, they all toppled rails in the process, leaving Millar as the winner.

“I was vulnerable on the clock, but In Style has a lot of thoroughbred in him,” said Millar who pocketed $16,000 for his victory. “Michel Vaillancourt is among the world’s best course designers, and every course this week at the Royal has been right on the money.”

As the final rider into the ring, 26-year-old Erynn Ballard went clear and steady, posting a time of 65.08 seconds riding Rio’s Rhapsody, an 11-year-old Canadian-bred mare by Rio Grande. Although Ballard was more than four seconds off the pace set by Millar, the clear round left her as the runner-up and $12,000 richer.

Georgina Bloomberg of New York City had the same approach for third place, going clear in a time of 66.40 riding Cim Christo, her 11-year-old grey Holsteiner gelding. The only other clear round of the night belonged to Geir Gulliksen of Norway and Cattani 17, his partner at the 2006 World Equestrian Games in August, who crossed the timers in 67.43 seconds.

Canada’s John Pearce had the fastest time of the evening, 58.33 seconds, but taking risks resulted in a fallen rail, placing the Canadian Olympian and Archie Bunker fifth. McLain Ward, winner of Wednesday’s $75,000 CN World Cup Grand Prix, placed sixth riding Goldika.

The Royal Horse Show continues through Sunday with featured events including Saturday evening’s $60,000 ‘Ricoh’ Big Ben International Challenge. Tickets for all Royal Horse Show performances, held as part of the 84th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, can be purchased through Ticketmaster by calling 416 872-7777 or by visiting www.ticketmaster.ca. For more information on the Royal Horse Show, including complete schedules, please visit www.royalfair.org.