Toronto, Ontario – Canadian Olympian Amy Millar of Perth, Ontario, claimed her first Canadian Show Jumping Championship title on Saturday night, November 4, at the Royal Horse Show, held as part of the 95th Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto, ON.

Sitting third following Friday’s opening round of competition with 1.25 penalties, Millar returned for a two-round final in front of a full house in the Ricoh Coliseum on Saturdayevening. Piloting her 2016 Rio Olympic Games mount, Heros, Millar jumped fault-free over the tracks set by Brazilian course designer Guilherme Jorge to move to the top of the leaderboard and win her first national championship title.

Amy Millar & Heros – Photo: © Jump Media

“There are very few things that I get as excited about as The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair,” said Millar, 40, whose father, Ian Millar, has won a record 12 Canadian Show Jumping Championship titles in his illustrious career. “It has been such a big part of my life for so long that I have wanted this for probably the whole time I have been alive! It is so important to me and to Canada; the stands are filled with Canadians who love the sport, and it has always been so prestigious to win.”

Amy Millar & Heros – Photo: © Jump Media

François Lamontagne, 33, of St. Eustache, Quebec, jumped up from fifth in Friday’s standings to a second place finish behind Millar with a total score of 3.73 riding Chanel du Calvaire. Ali Ramsay, 25, of Victoria, British Columbia, piloted Hermelien VD Hooghoeve into third with a final score of 4.24 while Nicole Walker of Aurora, ON, celebrated her 24^th birthday with two clear rounds aboard Falco van Spieveld to finish fourth overall with 5.34 penalties.

Isabelle Lapierre, 38, of Levis, Quebec, was close behind with 5.86 penalties for fifth riding Cescha M. Laura Jane Tidball, 39, of Langley, British Columbia, rounded out the top six riding Concetto Son for owner Thunderbird Show Park with 9.06 total penalties. Ten-time Canadian Olympian Ian Millar was poised to defend his Canadian Championship title, but three rails down on Saturday night moved his daughter into the spotlight.

“I’ve done this class many times and, by far, this was the biggest and most difficult Canadian Championships that has ever been built,” said Amy Millar of Jorge’s tracks. “I think that is a reflection of how strong our Canadian riders are. It’s the first time that our starting field has been this strong, and that’s pretty exciting for Canadian show jumping.”

Royal Horse Show VIP subscriptions, group, and individual tickets are now on sale and are expected to sell-out on multiple nights during the Royal Horse Show. To purchase tickets, click here.

Funding support for The Royal has been provided by the City of Toronto and the Government of Ontario.

Source: Press Release by Jennifer Ward for Jump Media / Royal Horse Show

Photos: © Ben Radvanyi Photography / Jump Media