Ian Millar and Hickstead to be Inducted into Jump Canada Hall of Fame

Iam Millar will be inducted into the Jump Canada Hall of Fame in November
Photo ©Cealy Tetly

Toronto, Ontario – In an incredibly special evening honouring the greatest ambassadors of our sport, Canadian show jumping legends Ian Millar (Builder) and Hickstead (Show Jumper Horse) will be the only two inductees at this year’s Jump Canada Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Gala.  Presented by BMO Financial Group, the seventh annual black-tie event will be held on Sunday, November 4, 2012, at the Liberty Grand in Toronto, ON.

The unparalleled careers of Ian Millar, Canada’s most decorated show jumping athlete, and Hickstead, Canada’s most successful show jumping horse, will be celebrated during this year’s Ceremony.

While athletes have traditionally only been inducted once they have retired from competition, a special exception has been made in the case of Ian Millar, Olympic and Pan American Games medalist and two-time World Cup Champion, who, this summer in London, set a world record by becoming the first athlete in any sport, from any nation, to represent his country in 10 Olympic Games.  Ian will be inducted into the category of builder.

Hickstead will be one of just two inductees as the Jump Canada Hall of Fame Gala.
Photo ©Dirk Caremans

Owned by John Fleischhacker and rider Eric Lamaze, Hickstead scored numerous international victories including the 2008 Olympic Individual and Team Silver medals.  At the height of his career, Hickstead died on November 6, 2011, the same day as last year’s Jump Canada Hall of Fame Gala.  It was especially poignant that the Canadian show jumping community gathered together on the eve of that tragic event, and this year it will be equally appropriate and special to celebrate the incredible accomplishments of one of the greatest horses the sport has ever seen.

“Now in our seventh year, the Hall of Fame Committee is thrilled to be creating a special evening to honour two of our nation’s greatest ambassadors,” said Mark Samuel, Chairman of the Jump Canada Hall of Fame.  “Ian Millar and Hickstead have both served Canada on the international stage with great distinction, and we look forward to joining our community as it turns out in force to pay tribute to these two show jumping champions.”

Emotional video tributes to both inductees will be showcased during the evening, followed by the presentation of the Jump Canada Hall of Fame trophies to Ian Millar and to Eric Lamaze, accepting on behalf of Hickstead.  In keeping with the spirit of celebration, live music and dancing will be enjoyed throughout the evening.

The Jump Canada Hall of Fame was created in 2006 to recognize outstanding contributions to hunter/jumper sport.  The Hall of Fame Gala has quickly grown into an annual favourite and has been a sell-out in each of its first six years.  Friends, colleagues and teammates of both Ian Millar and Hickstead will be on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of this year’s distinguished Hall of Fame inductees, making for a very special evening recalling the sport’s greatest memories.

Tickets are $200 per person and can be purchased individually or in tables of eight.  To purchase tickets, please visit the Jump Canada Hall of Fame website at http://www.equinecanada.ca/halloffame/index.php?lang=en and click ‘order tickets’.  For more information, please contact Ashley Raaymakers at tel: 613 248-3433 ext. 144 or e-mail: ARaaymakers@equinecanada.ca.

Jump Canada is the committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, equitation and jumper activities in Canada from the grass roots to the international level.  Jump Canada is governed by a board, the majority of whose members are elected by the stakeholders in the sport.  For more information regarding Jump Canada programs and activities, visit http://www.equinecanada.ca/jumpcanada/.