Contact:
Terri Brent
(416) 803-9660
terribrent@sympatico.ca
For Immediate Release:
Oct. 17, 2006

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL. Canadian show jumping team member, Jill Henselwood (Oxford Mills, Ontario), was joined by her students and fellow grand prix riders Kim Farlinger (Annan, ON), Kelley Small (Kanata, ON) and Jenn Serek (Dewinton, AB) to represent Canada at the CSI-W competition in Rio de Janeiro Oct 4-8.

The five day competition took place at the Rio de Janeiro Riding Club. The beautiful, permanent show facility, nestled near some of the most beautiful scenery in the world, had international competitors gather for what was received as great sport mixed with outstanding South American hospitality. Tournament organizers hosted this international event in hopes of increasing interest for their future competitions. Henselwood, Farlinger, Small and Serek competed on borrowed horses, with the finale being a Nations Team competition that had the Canadians ride against four Brazilian teams, Argentina, Uruguay and Chile.

On day one, Canada came out blazing, as veteran team rider, Jill Henselwood, finished second out of more than forty-five competitors on her borrowed horse Happy Marcolab. Only fractions of a second off the lead, Henselwood was close to capturing a Canadian victory.

The Nations Team competition was held on day three. The Canadians were in the thick of things, as lead off rider Small had sixteen faults and Serek had eight. It was down to the final two team members. Henselwood improved the team score by producing a seven fault round, but it was Farlinger's day, as she jumped clean with the seven year old stallion Land Max and cinched the bronze medal. The teams from Brazil 1 and 2 were the eventual gold and silver medalists. In recognition of her exceptional efforts, Farlinger was honoured with The Leading Foreign Rider Award

Farlinger, Small and Serek train throughout the year with Henselwood at Juniper Farms, just outside Ottawa, Ontario. "It was really special for me to anchor a team made up of my own students," lamented Henselwood. "These are the moments that really make you proud. The girls all rode well and represented their country admirably."

Henselwood, Farlinger, Small and Serek will next compete with their own horses at this year's Royal Horse Show in Toronto where the 2006 Canadian Champion will be crowned. Henselwood, the reigning Canadian Champion, will return to defend her title, which she won on the twelve year old Dutch gelding, Black Ice.