Canadian Team Still Uncertain After Selection Trials End
CALGARY, AB The team that will represent Canada at the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro in July is unclear after completing the fifth and final selection trial today. In what was probably the most closely-contested fight in recent memory for berths on the Canadian show jumping team, performances were volatile and the outcome extremely close. “This indicates the greater depth of horses and riders that we now have in this country”, veteran team captain Ian Millar said. In spite of ending the trials straddling the edge of this team based on points, Millar thinks the close contest is a good sign for the sport in Canada.
The selection committee now faces the task of picking two riders subjectively, who will join the three who secured berths in today’s final trial. After today’s $200,000 grand prix at Spruce Meadows, in Calgary, Jill Henselwood, of Oxford Mills, Ontario, on Special Ed; Mac Cone, of King City, Ontario, on Melinda; and Karen Cudmore, a Victoria, B.C. native who resides in Omaha, Nebraska, on Southern Pride are assured spots on the five-member team. However, that team includes an alternate and no one is assured a riding position until they are at the Games.
Early in the spring, Cone and Cudmore would not have been considered contenders and their performances may have thrown a curve in expectations. Ian Millar, of Perth, Ontario, who has won more Pan American medals than any other show jumper in the world, finished fourth in these trials, just 1.27 faults behind Cudmore. In a sport where one knockdown equals four faults, that’s a slim margin. Eric Lamaze, of Schomberg, Ontario, didn’t compete in all the trials, but was outstanding when he did and is having a sensational season. Like Lamaze, John Pearce, of Stouffville, Ontario, is relying on his overall season to earn a nod from the committee. Coming into today’s contest, Alberta native Darrin Dlin was in second position overall, but dropped to sixth. Dlin is a Florida resident and was making his first team bid. Also close behind Millar, in fifth overall, is Margie Gayford, daughter of 1968 Olympic team show jumping gold medalist Tom Gayford. Bromont, Quebec’s Mario Deslauriers also can’t be excluded, although he only competed in two trials and did not compete today. Like Lamaze, Pearce and Deslauriers, Millar is also eligible to be selected with a horse who did not compete in all the trials. In addition to his fourth-placed standing in the points portion on In Style, Millar completed two trials on the younger, less experienced Redefin, with who he is having a superb season.
As selectors tackle their tough decision, with their verdict due by Thursday, Millar says, “I never want to be selected to a team if I didn’t earn it”. Though many feel his near-miss by a fraction, combined with his experience, qualifies him, he takes nothing for granted. “The important thing about these Games is that Canada qualifies for the Olympics”, he says. If that happens, the now 60-year-old rider will go through this selection process once again to get to his ninth Olympic Games, which will equal the world record.
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