November 5, 2005

KUBOTA CUP CANADIAN SHOW JUMPING SERIES IAN MILLAR CAPTURES NATIONAL FINALS AT ROYAL AGRICULTURAL WINTER FAIR

Toronto, ON – The first Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series National Finals took place Saturday night in front of packed house in the Ricoh Coliseum at Toronto’s Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.

Since April 2005, the nation’s top riders and rising stars have been vying for leadership in seven major competitions across Canada. The Western Division kicked off at the Royal Winter Fair in Brandon, Manitoba, then moved to Edmonton, Alberta and wrapped up at the Twin Oaks Derby in Richmond, British Columbia. It was there that Western Division Champion, Tamie Phillips (Strathmore, AB) and her mount, Lucas, were crowned. The Eastern Division began in Ottawa, Ontario, moved to Bromont, Quebec, then on to Collingwood, Ontario, before finishing up at the Maritime Fall Fair in Halifax, Nova Scotia. John Pearce (Stouffville, ON) and his horse, Archie Bunker won the Eastern Division Championship.

The National Finals featured 21 riders and horses, pitting the best of the west against their peers from the east. The points they amassed during the past six months of Grand Prix competition may have qualified them for the Royal, but all competitors entered the ring with a clean slate.

Competing seventh in the order, Kubota Cup Canadian Show Jumping Series Spokesperson Ian Millar of Perth, ON, posted the first clear round. The audience had to wait a long time to find out if there would be a jump-off, but the third to last competitor, Michael Grinyer of Campbellville, ON, guaranteed one with a clear round aboard Alcatraz.

First back to tackle the shortened jump-off course, Millar guided his Athens Olympic mount, Promise Me, to another clear round in a time of 33.04 seconds. Grinyer had his work cut out for him, and when a rail fell half-way round the course, the win went to Millar despite Grinyer’s incredibly fast time of 29.49 seconds.

Ainsley Vince of Milton, ON, had the fastest-four fault round riding her long-time partner, Catch 22, to place third. Margie Gayford of Sharon, ON, rode Shawn Littler’s Stuntman to fourth position in the National Finals while Quebec native Mario Deslauriers rounded out the top five aboard Graf Lando.

In addition to $40,000 in prize money, Kubota Canada Ltd. also provided travel assistance to riders from outside of Ontario to make the journey to Toronto.

Kubota Canada Ltd. (www.kubota.ca), through its network of 150 retail outlets, is the leading distributor of compact diesel tractors and construction equipment in Canada. The company, with its headquarters in Markham, Ontario, is celebrating 30 years of providing Canadians with “Powerful Solutions For A Compact World”. Standing solidly behind its interest in, and support of Canadian sports, Kubota Canada Ltd. signed a multi-year agreement, underlining this support and the promotion of Canadian athletes and participating events.

Further media information, contact:
Jane Harbury
Tel: 416-960-1568
Cell: 647-519-6706
jane@harbury.ca

PHOTO BY MICHELLE C. DUNN