Win a Riding Lesson with Eight-time Olympian Ian Millar and a Trip to Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament through BMO Contest


Helen Warness was last year's winner of the BMO Financial Group prize package featuring a riding lesson with eight-time Olympian Ian Millar at the Spruce Meadows "Masters" Tournament. Photo Credit - Cealy Tetley

May 10, 2007 – Toronto, Ontario – BMO Financial Group today announced that, for the third year, it will hold an exciting contest that will reward one lucky winner with a riding lesson from Canadian sports legend, Ian Millar. The winning prize also includes a trip to the Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament held September 5-9, 2007, in Calgary, AB, highlighted by the BMO Nations' Cup on Saturday, September 8.

“Over the past two years, I have met two enthusiastic winners and am looking forward to working with this year's winner," said Millar, who has proudly represented Canada in eight Olympic Games. “The winner can be a beginner or an experienced rider as I plan to customize the lesson based on their abilities and experience. I am thrilled to provide a riding lesson through this contest since BMO Financial Group has been such a strong, long-time supporter of the sport of show jumping.”

In addition to the private riding lesson with Millar, the winner will receive two round-trip airfares to Calgary and three nights accommodation at the Homeplace Ranch in Priddis, AB, including three meals a day and a daily trail ride. Two seats in the BMO Skybox for the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup have been reserved for the winner, as have a 30th anniversary Spruce Meadows jacket and an autographed Fred Stone art poster of Millar and his most famous partner, Big Ben.

Millar will visit the BMO Skybox before the start of the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday, September 8, and will review the challenges of the course. Guests of BMO will then be invited to evaluate the obstacles for themselves during the Course Walk, allowing a true ‘behind-the-scenes’ look at the high caliber of competition at Spruce Meadows.

To enter and view full contest rules, please visit www.horse-canada.com. Entries close August 17, 2007, with a random draw held August 20, 2007.

All show jumping fans will be looking forward to the prestigious BMO Nations’ Cup, which brings together the best show jumping countries in the world to compete for the most lucrative prize in team show jumping. Anchored by Millar, the Canadian Show Jumping Team emerged victorious in 2006, marking the first time that Canada had claimed the richest Nations' Cup in the world.

The BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup will be broadcast on CBC Sports on Saturday, September 8 at 7 p.m. eastern.

As the founding sponsor of Spruce Meadows, BMO Financial Group has a long and proud history of supporting equestrian sport in Canada. Since 1977, BMO has sponsored the BMO Financial Group Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows, attracting the top international show jumping teams to compete in Canada.