CALGARY,
AB, August 26, 2008 – Show jumping fan Jennifer
Dawn Marschner of Calgary will ride with Canadian show jumping legend
and Olympic Silver Medalist, Ian Millar after winning the BMO Financial
Group Spruce Meadows contest that includes a riding lesson with the
nine-time Olympian on Friday, September 5. BMO has sponsored equestrian
sports for more than 20 years; Ian has been BMO’s corporate
equestrian advisor and all-round ambassador since 1988.
Jennifer Dawn’s name was selected from among 3,102 entries received
from across the country in this popular contest that was launched four
years ago. “BMO recognizes that there are thousands of Canadians
who love this sport and aspire to one day see Canada’s premier
show jumping event, the BMO Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows,” said
Dave Sprague, Vice President, Calgary District, BMO Bank of Montreal. “This
contest is one way to make an equestrian dream come true,” he added.
A trip for two to the 2008
Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament from September 3 - 7, including two
seats in the BMO Skybox during the $350,000 BMO
Nations’ Cup on Saturday, September 6, is also part of the grand
prize.
When Jennifer Dawn received
the news that she had won the contest, she thought it was a friend
playing a joke. “I had already booked the
time off from work to go to the Spruce Meadows Masters Tournament and
when I realized I had really won the contest, it was pretty surreal” This
is such an amazing opportunity to meet and learn from Ian Millar, and
to congratulate him in person on his remarkable Olympic win and career.”
The 26-year old, originally
from Cranbrook, BC, started taking riding lessons when she was 10-years
old, joined a pony club at 14 and also
worked at Spruce Meadows grooming horses. “I still spend some time
at a local barn, helping to groom horses and riding from time-to-time.
The lesson with Ian Millar will be a great way for me to get involved
in the sport again,” said Jennifer.
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 Nations’ Cup at Spruce Meadows.
This year’s $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup brings together teams
from Canada, Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Switzerland and
the United States to compete in the richest team show jumping event in
the world.
BMO Financial Group
employs more than 2,500 people in Alberta who provide personal, commercial
and corporate customers with a full-range
of expertise
in many areas, including agriculture, oil and gas, corporate banking,
international finance and wealth management. BMO Bank of Montreal operates
111 branches in Alberta.
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BMO Contest Winner Riding High with Ian Millar
Olympic Team Silver Medalist Ian Millar gives a riding lesson to BMO Financial
Group contest winner, Jennifer Dawn Marschner of Calgary, Alberta, on Friday,
September 5, during the 2008 Spruce Meadows "Masters" Tournament.
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