August 18, 2008
CBC Sports

Canada wins silver medal in team jumping

Canada earned a silver in the team jumping competition on Day 10 at the Olympic Games, giving veteran rider Ian Millar his first medal in his ninth Olympic appearance.

Canada was tied with the United States with 20 penalty points at the Hong Kong equestrian venue, but three American riders went through the course perfectly in a jump-off.

Millar, 61, led Canada into the tiebreaker round with a perfect ride on In Style. Miller was due third in the jump-off, but the Americans ensured he didn't have a chance to go again.

Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, Ont., and Eric Lamaze of Schombeg, Ont., also competed for Canada.

Norway won the bronze medal with 27 points.

Millar, of Perth, Ont., had been part of Canadian teams that placed fourth on two occasions – 1984 in Los Angeles and 1988 in Seoul.

He was racing in Beijing following the death of his wife, Lynn, earlier this year.

Lamaze also had a long road to a first medal, missing both the Atlanta and Sydney Olympics due to positive drug tests.

It was the first medal in equestrian in 32 years for Canada.

Michel Vaillancourt won silver in individual jumping at the Montreal Olympics.

James Elder, James Day and Thomas Gayford won gold for Canada in team jumping in Mexico City in 1968.

McLain Ward, Laura Kraut and Will Simpson rode cleanly to ensure the U.S. repeated as gold-medal winners of the event. Ward and Beezie Madden were returnees from the Athens Games.

Medals will be handed out in individual jumping on Thursday.