Toronto, Ontario -November 12, 2002- As is the tradition each fall, the Royal Horse Show welcomes the top riders in the world as they to compete for 10 days of international show jumping action during the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, November 8-17.

Some of the world’s best athletes are homegrown, hailing from Canada. Twelve Canadian riders in total will be competing in the international division alongside some of the world’s top riders.

Following a successful showing at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Jerez, Spain, Canadian Show Jumping Team members Karen Cudmore of Victoria, BC, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, and Mark Samuel of Toronto, ON, will be competing at the Royal Horse Show.

Also on hand are two-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion Ainsley Vince of Milton, ON, Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, who last year topped the Canadian World Cup League, and Olympic veteran Beth Underhill of Schomberg, ON. World Cup Champion Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, is always a crowd favourite, as is ‘Captain Canada’ Ian Millar, a seven-time Olympian who resides in Perth, ON.

Rounding out the field are a trio of up-and-comers who represent the next generation of Canadian Show Jumping. All three have won medals at the North American Young Riders’ Championship for riders aged 16-21 including 1996 individual silver medallist Amy Millar of Perth, ON, 1999 individual gold medallist Erynn Ballard of Hornby, ON, and 2002 team silver medallist Keean White of Cambridge, ON.

Here are profiles on just a few of the Canadian riders looking for success at the Royal Horse Show~~

KAREN CUDMORE
Age: 43
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
HORSE: Conejo, a 9-year-old bay Holsteiner stallion by Calando I, owned by Blair Cudmore.

Born in Victoria, B.C., Karen Cudmore made her international debut on the 2001 Canadian Developing Riders Tour. She kicked off the 2002 season as a key member of the Canadian team for the inaugural Nations’ Cup event in Wellington, Florida. Karen then crossed the border to make a clean sweep of the Royal Manitoba Winter Fair, winning every open jumper class offered.

Continuing their winning streak, Karen and Conejo won three major grand prix events in as many weeks with the $60,000 Air Canada Jazz World Cup Qualifier in Quebec City, the $60,000 World Cup Qualifier in Blainville and the $75,000 Big Ben Memorial Grand Prix in Ottawa. The stellar performances put her atop the Selection Trial standings for the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain, where she successfully represented Canada.

MARIO DESLAURIERS
Age: 37
Hometown: Bromont, Quebec
HORSES: Big Sir, a 9-year-old Holsteiner gelding, 16.1hh, owned by Prentis Partners; Amica 62, a nine-year-old chestnut Westphalian mare, 16.1hh, owned by Mario Deslauriers.

Mario began riding at a young age coached by his father, Roger, who operates Bromont Equestrian Centre, site of the equestrian events for the 1976 Montreal Olympics. In 1984, 19-year-old Mario became the youngest rider to ever win the World Cup Final, a record he still holds. He was also the first Canadian to ever capture the title. Later that year, at the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, he was involved in a three-way jump-off for the individual bronze medal.

A two-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion, Mario has already won six major grand prix events this season, including two $75,000 Grand Prix competitions at HITS Catskills, and will be looking to add another feather to his cap at the Royal Horse Show.

JILL HENSELWOOD
Age: 40
Hometown: Oxford Mills, Ontario
HORSE: Toyzrus, a 12-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood mare, 16hh by Caretino, owned by Juniper Farms Ltd.

One of Canada’s most successful female competitors, Jill Henselwood and her husband, Bob, own and operate Juniper Farms in Oxford Mills, just outside of Ottawa, where Jill coaches numerous promising show jumping riders. Named to the Canadian Equestrian Team in 1991, Jill represented Canada at the 1992 World Cup Final, the 1994 World Equestrian Games, and the 1995 and 1999 Pan American Games.

In 2002, she won the $50,000 Grand Prix in Culpeper, VA, while her 2001 season included victories in the $50,000 EMO Grand Prix in Florida, the $50,000 Halton Valley Summer Classic Grand Prix, and the $50,000 AMJ Campbell Grand Prix at the Tournament of Champions. Jill ended the 2001 season at the Royal Horse Show by topping the Canadian League World Cup standings for the first time. Every victory was achieved riding Toyzrus, a speedy mare Jill purchased in the Netherlands.

ERIC LAMAZE
Age: 34
Hometown: Schomberg, Ontario
HORSES: Millcreek Raphael, a 12-year-old bay Hannoverian gelding, 16.3hh by Raphael, owned by Mill Creek Stables; Rosina, a 11-year-old bay Hannoverian mare by Raphael, owned by Stoney Hill.

One of Canada’s most talented riders, Eric Lamaze, who is married to U.S. Equestrian Team member Megan Johnstone, is a serious contender whenever he enters the grand prix ring. The 2000 Canadian National Show Jumping Champion has represented Canada at the annual World Cup Final and was a member of the bronze medal team at the 1999 Pan American Games.

This September, riding Millcreek Raphael, Eric made his third consecutive appearance at the World Equestrian Games, having also competed in 1994 and 1998. With his second mount, Rosina, Eric was a member of the Nations’ Cup team at the Spruce Meadows Masters tournament. His 2002 season also includes three grand prix wins on the highly competitive Palm Beach circuit, including top honours in the $75,000 Kilkenny International Grand Prix.

IAN MILLAR
Age: 55
Hometown: Perth, Ontario
HORSES: Aftershock, a 10-year-old bay Canadian Warmblood gelding, 17.2hh by El Futuro, owned by Matthews and Millar Brooke Farm Ltd.; Nicos, a 12-year-old chestnut Belgian Warmblood stallion by Lys de Darmen, owned by Todd Snell.

The most successful competitor in the history of Canadian show jumping, Ian Millar is an eight-time Canadian Show Jumping Champion and was the first rider to ever win back-to-back World Cup Final titles in 1988 and 1989 with the legendary Big Ben. With seven appearances, Ian has competed at the Olympic Games more than any other Canadian athlete.

In 1986, Ian was awarded the Order of Canada and, in 1996, both he and Big Ben were inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame. Ian and his wife, Lynn, operate Millar Brooke Farm in Perth, Ontario. Their two children, Jonathon and Amy, are both Canadian Show Jumping Team members.

With two major grand prix wins already under his belt in 2002, Ian, riding Aftershock, stunned the international show jumping community in September with a second place finish in the richest grand prix in the world, the $1 million CN International at the Spruce Meadows Masters tournament.

MARK SAMUEL
Age: 39
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
HORSE: Darios V, an 11-year-old bay selle francais gelding by Quidam De Reval, owned by Chadburn Holdings.

Mark made his Nations’ Cup debut at the 1999 Washington International Horse Show with Ballerina and capped off a successful 2000 season by winning the National Open Jumper Championship at the Royal Horse Show.

In 2001, Mark and Darios V participated in the 2001 Canadian Developing Riders Tour and competed at the Nations’ Cups in Ikast, Denmark, and Falsterbo, Sweden. This season, he was a member of the Canadian team for the inaugural Nations’ Cup in Wellington, FL, and placed second in the $30,000 Ariat Cup Grand Prix in Tampa. A stellar season resulted in Mark and Darios V being named the alternates at the 2002 World Equestrian Games in Spain.

Mark’s family owns the thoroughbred racing powerhouse, Sam Son Farms, past winner of the Canadian Triple Crown and two coveted Breeder’s Cup races .In addition to riding, Mark, a Harvard graduate, is the Chair of the Jump Canada Board and is President of Samuel Manu-Tech Inc., a steel-related industrial products company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

AINSLEY VINCE
Age: 26
Hometown: Milton, Ontario
HORSES: Catch 22, a 12-year-old liver chestnut Dutch Warmblood gelding, 16.1hh by Notaris, owned by Trinity Farm; Kafka, a 10-year-old bay Dutch Warmblood stallion, 16.2hh, owned by 3E Syndicate.

In 1999, Ainsley won the Pan American Games Selection Trials, earned the Leading Canadian Rider title at the Spruce Meadows Masters tournament, and made her team debut riding in Nations’ Cup events at the Washington International Horse Show and the Royal Horse Show. The following year, she represented Canada in the 2000 Budweiser World Cup Final in Las Vegas and, in 2001, earned the Canadian Show Jumping Championship title at the Royal Horse Show.

In 2002, Ainsley and Catch 22 placed second in three major grand prix events within four weeks – the $60,000 World Cup Qualifiers at Bromont and Quebec City and the $75,000 Big Ben Memorial Grand Prix in Ottawa. In August, she drove away from the Collingwood Horse Show in a brand new Jaguar, after taking top honours in the Jaguar Triple Crown Series.

Celebrate the 80th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, the world's largest indoor combined agricultural, horticultural, canine and equestrian event, for 10-days of country sights and sounds from November 8 to 17, 2002, National Trade Centre, Exhibition Place. A Canadian tradition since 1922, the Royal is a showcase of the very best in agriculture, horticulture and equestrian sport and a rare opportunity for urbanites to experience a taste of rural life. For more information, please visit www.royalfair.org.