Jill Henselwood and Callisto are the top-ranked Canadians following the first day of competition at the 2007 Rolex World Cup Final. Photo Credit - Cealy Tetley

April 19, 2007 – Las Vegas, Nevada – Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, ON, is the top-ranked Canadian following the opening speed round of the 2007 Rolex World Cup Final taking place April 19-22 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

With only one rail down to add a four-second time penalty to her score, Henselwood finished the first day of competition with a time of 76.19 seconds to move into 22nd position. Henselwood was riding Callisto, a 14-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare owned by Equine Canada.

"My horse was game, and she gave one hundred percent," said Henselwood, who had the back rail of fence number five, a wide oxer set right against the arena wall in the Thomas and Mack Center. "I am really pleased. She was the riskiest pick of all my horses, but I am in Las Vegas and I thought I would take the gamble with her. My goal is a top 10 finish."

Henselwood, 44, is making her fourth World Cup Final appearance having also competed in the 1992, 2005 and 2006 editions.

Canada's second representative, John Pearce of Stouffville, ON, had three rails to incur a 12-second time penalty. His final time of 81.12 seconds ranks Pearce in 30th position among the 42 best horse-rider combinations in the world that qualified to contest the annual World Cup Final. Pearce was riding Archie Bunker, his nine-year-old Oldenburg gelding.

At the conclusion of the first of three legs of competition, 2004 Olympic Team Gold Medalist McLain Ward of Brewster, NY, riding Sapphire leads for the home side following a clear and speedy ride over the course designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. Markus Beerbaum of Germany is in second position with Leena while another German, Marcus Ehning who took home the title from Las Vegas in 2003, is in third place.

Round two will take place on Friday, April 20, while the third and final leg will be held Sunday afternoon. At the conclusion, the World Cup Champion will be crowned. For more information including complete results, please visit www.worldcuplasvegas.com.