TORONTO, ON ­ Two-time Canadian Olympian Jay Hayes took four years to do it,
but last night at The Royal Horse Show, Hayes won the National Final of the
Kubota Cup Series. Spanning eight months and seven cities coast-to-coast,
the Kubota Cup Series pits riders from the east against the best from the
west. The top 21 riders compete in the Final at The Royal Agricultural
Winter Fair for $100,000 in cash and a $20,000 Kubota RTV 1100 Utility
Vehicle.

Hayes, of Orangeville, Ontario, sat in second position in the Eastern
conference coming into the Final, behind Yann Candele of Nobleton. The
veteran of the Barcelona and Sydney Olympics has been chasing the title for
the past four years, consistently placing in the middle of the pack. Last
night Hayes rode in on his 11 year-old German-bred gelding Livarot, and
drove out $10,000 richer and piloting a brand new Kubota.

Of the 21 to start the competition, just five were able to navigate the
course without fault, forcing a jump-off to determine the Champion. Amy
Millar (Perth, ON), daughter of show jumping legend Ian Millar, and Kelley
Robinson (Kanata, ON) both knocked down two rails to finish fifth and fourth
respectively, while Mark Samuel (Mississauga, ON) and Yann Candele had a
rail each. Hayes was the only one to leave all the rails in the cups and in
this sport, that¹s all that matters.

³It was a fantastic evening of sport to cap off the season,² remarked John
Gilliland, National Marketing Manager of Kubota Canada. ³Over the past four
years we have developed great relationships with riders and owners through
the series, which is quite unusual for a sponsor in a sport. We feel it¹s
such an honour to be among this group of athletes including past, present
and most certainly future Olympians.²

The $100,000 Kubota Cup National Final capped off a busy all-Canadian
opening weekend of show jumping at the Royal Horse Show, part of the Royal
Agricultural Winter Fair running at the Ricoh Coliseum until November 16th.
The Royal Horse Show continues today with the Ontario Toyota Dealers Royal
Rodeo before moving into a full week of equestrian competition which will
include the return of Good Crop Services Indoor Eventing, the CN FEI World
Cup QualifierTM for show jumpers and for the first time at The Royal an FEI
World Cup QualifierTM in dressage. Over $795,000 in total prize money will
be awarded over the ten days of competition. For schedule, results and
ticket information please visit www.royalfair.org.

$100,000 Kubota Cup National Final
Rider / Hometown / Horse / Prize Money

1. Jay Hayes / Orangeville, ON / Livarot / $10,000 + Kubota RTV
2. Yann Candele / Nobleton, ON / Mustique / $15,000
3. Mark Samuel / Mississauga, ON / Wembley 234 / $8,500
4. Kelley Robinson / Kanata, ON / Calibur / $6,000
5. Amy Millar / Perth, ON / Piccobello du Val de Geer / $6,000

Media Contact:
Michelle Dunn
Royal Horse Show Press Office
905-464-3056
mdunn@royalfair.org