Big Ben Park
Project - For The Love Of A Horse
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SPRING 2006
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Completed !!!
Photo by David Rees-Potter |
Perth, Ontario, where Ian Millar makes his home, is honouring
one of Canada's most successful partnerships in Canadian sport and arguably
the greatest team in equestrian history. Millar and Big Ben, the 17.3hh
Belgian Warmblood who died in December 1999 at age 23, won the hearts of a
nation and made their mark in the equestrian world.
- Three Olympic appearances
- Two gold medals at Pan American Games
- Five consecutive top eight World Cup finishes including the first back
to back wins in 1988 and 1989
- More than 40 grand prix victories
- Six derby wins in eight years at Spruce Meadows Nationals
- Represented Canada in more than 30 Nation's Cups
- Won the world's richest grand prix twice; the du Maurier International
- Big Ben is believed to be the first North American show jumper to win
more than $1.5 million in prize money
- Millar and Big Ben inducted into Canada's Sports Hall of Fame
As a lasting tribute, the Perth and District Chamber of Commerce has
committed to erecting an arresting bronze statue of Millar and Big Ben in a
picturesque park setting along the banks of the Tay River in beautiful
downtown Perth, not far from Millar's home and Ben's final resting place.
The life-size statue will depict Ian and Ben in full flight over a 5
and-a-half foot jump.
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Sculptor Stewart Smith
has created a stunning likeness of Big Ben in the Maquette below...
This Maquette of BigBen (working
model) is the basis for the life size monument.
In it's present state it is about 75% of the way there, which we felt
was enough to develop the life size from. It is actually about 14
inches long.
November 2004
www.stewartpatterns.com |
stewartpatterns@canoemail.com
For more about Sculptor Stewart Smith and his
assistants as well Photos on the progress of the Big Ben Park follow
the Next > button below.
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