Eric Lamaze Reclaims the Green & Gold

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Eric Lamaze wearing the Green & Gold at Spruce Meadows. Photo: Thierry Billet of Sportfot

29 June 2011 – Canadian show jumper Eric Lamaze has regained the Green & Gold armband from French rider Kevin Staut after he was crowned the Number One rider in the world according to the latest Rolex Rankings.

Lamaze originally held the Green & Gold between July and August 2010; however, following impressive performances in Dublin and at Hickstead, France’s Kevin Staut soon staked his claim to the Number One spot.

Staut has been the No 1 ranked rider since September 2010, but Lamaze’s great run of recent form, which includes 2nd place at the Rolex FEI World Cup Final in Leipzig, plus victories at the CSIO5* in La Baule (France) and Rome (Italy), and the CSI5* in Valencia (Spain), has seen him return to the top spot in the Rolex Rankings.

First launched in December 2009 and supported by the International Jumping Riders Club (IJRC), the Green & Gold is worn at all FEI competitions and bears the words “Number 1 Rolex Rankings”.

Since its launch, the Green & Gold has been worn by four riders: Marcus Ehning (GER), Pius Schwizer (SUI), Kevin Staut (FRA) and Eric Lamaze (CAN).

Eric Lamaze will be competing at this year’s CHIO Aachen from 8-17 July where he will be aiming to make it back-to-back victories following his impressive win in 2010.

For details online featuring the Rolex Rankings please visit: www.fei.org/disciplines/jumping/rolex-rankings.

The current Top 10 Riders are as follows:
1st         LAMAZE, Eric (CAN)
2nd        STAUT, Kevin (FRA)
3rd         TWOMEY, Billy (IRE)
4th         BENGTSSON, Rolf-Göran (SWE)
5th         LYNCH, Denis (IRL)
6th         AHLMANN, Christian (GER)
7th         WARD, Mclain (USA)
8th         SCHWIZER, Pius (SUI)
9th         EHNING, Marcus (GER)
10th       DELESTRE, Simon (FRA)

The Rolex Rankings were first launched in 2000 by the FEI as the World Jumping Riders Rankings; later in 2007 the rankings took on their present form.

The Rolex Rankings have weekly updates and are officially released at the beginning of each calendar month. These are the only rankings that provide up to date standings of riders as they are released on a monthly basis.

The points are awarded on the basis of the FEI events competed at by the riders, in the course of the year. The points are awarded to riders not only for the individual events but also for the team events participated in throughout the year. The number of points awarded depends upon the level of competition as well as the prize money available.

Top rated individual rider events include the Rolex FEI World Cup Final, the European Championships’ final competition and the number of 5* competitions. The top rated team events include the FEI Nations Cup Top League competitions, the Olympic Games team competitions, the FEI World Equestrian Games and the FEI European Championships.

The rider ranked Number 1 will get to wear the Green & Gold armband for as long as he or she can retain the top position. Once a rider is knocked off from their Number 1 position they would hand it over to the next top rider.

For further information please contact:
Rod Kohler, Revolution Sports
Email: rod@revolutionpr.co.uk

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