Tag Archives: Eric Lamaze

Strong Start for Eric Lamaze at Spruce Meadows “Masters”

Eric Lamaze guided Powerplay to a second place finish in the $125,000 CANA Cup. Photo Credit – Spruce Meadows Media Services.

September 5, 2013 – Calgary, Alberta – Canadian Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze is off to a strong start at the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament, placing second in the $125,000 CANA Cup on Thursday, September 5.  The five-day international show jumping competition runs September 4 to 8 in Calgary, AB.

Lamaze was one of five riders to successfully negotiate the first round track, featuring jumps set at a height of 1.60m by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios of Venezuela.  In the jump-off, Lamaze guided Powerplay to another clear round, stopping the clock in 44.55 seconds.  It was not quite fast enough, however, to catch Penelope Leprevost of France, who had crossed the timers in 43.77 seconds riding Dame Blanche van Arenberg.

“Powerplay is going to learn to go a bit faster, but he’s not much of a race horse,” said Lamaze of the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding acquired three months ago by owner Artisan Farms.  “He spends a bit of time in the air and he has a big stride, but he’s learned a lot.  Penelope didn’t beat me by that much, though, so he’s getting better at it.”

Of his jump-off strategy, Lamaze noted, “I didn’t see Penelope go.  I just rode the plan that I had made for my horse and I was happy with the pace.  If it was good enough, it was.  If it wasn’t, that was okay, too.  I was happy with the result.”

Lamaze settled for second place and $25,000 in prize money in the $125,000 CANA Cup.  Vancouver’s Tiffany Foster, who is coached by Lamaze, was the next Canadian in the final standings, finishing eighth with Verdi III after incurring one time fault in the opening round.

In preparation for Thursday’s event, Lamaze rode both Powerplay and Quelmec du Gery, a nine-year-old Selle Francais gelding owned by Artisan Farms, in the $50,000 1.50m ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup held Wednesday afternoon in the International Ring.  Powerplay jumped double clear to place eighth while Quelmec du Gery, the former ride of Leprevost, jumped clear with one time fault.

“The plan was to do a smaller class yesterday, the 1.50m, and then move Powerplay up to the 1.60m today and get ready for the Nations’ Cup,” explained Lamaze, 45.  “So far, the plan is working beautifully.  I’m very pleased.”

Lamaze and Foster will be teammates for the third year in a row in Saturday’s $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup, riding alongside Lamaze’s 2008 Olympic silver medal teammates Ian Millar of Perth, ON, and Mac Cone of King City, ON.  Lamaze will ride Powerplay in the team competition while Foster will ride Verdi III, an 11-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding also owned by Artisan Farms.  Both horses were acquired at the end of May from Swiss Olympian Pius Schwizer.

Lamaze will also ride Powerplay in the grand finale, the $1 million CN International, presented by Rolex, on Sunday, September 8.  The grand prix is one of three events comprising the new Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping, which offers an unprecedented €1 million in bonus money to any rider who can win all three grand prix events in succession at CHIO Aachen, CSIO Calgary, and CHI Geneva.  To date, Lamaze and his 2008 Olympic gold medal partner, Hickstead, are the only horse-rider combinations to have won all three events.

Based in Vrasene, Belgium, and spending the winter season in Wellington, Florida, Spruce Meadows is the only Canadian venue where Lamaze competes.  Lamaze is the all-time leading money winner at Spruce Meadows, having won more than $3.8 million to date at the Calgary venue alone.  A Rolex testimonee, Lamaze enters Sunday’s $1 million CN International, presented by Rolex, as a two-time winner, having won the prestigious event on two occasions, in 2007 and 2011, riding the legendary Hickstead.

Contact:  Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
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Rolex Testimonee Eric Lamaze Welcomes Guests to Spruce Meadows “Masters”

Eric Lamaze conducts a guided course walk on the opening day of the Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament. Photo Credit – Rolex/Kit Houghton.

4 September 2013 – Calgary, Alberta – Canadian Olympic Champion and Rolex Testimonee Eric Lamaze welcomed guests on the opening day of the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament in Calgary, AB.  The five-day show jumping tournament, running from 4-8 September, culminates in the CAN$1 million CN International, presented by Rolex.

Lamaze welcomed guests and media to his stables where he introduced his two top mounts, Powerplay and Quelmec du Gery.  Both horses were acquired in June of this year by owner Artisan Farms, giving Lamaze three months to get to know the horses in preparation for the “Masters”.  Lamaze will ride Powerplay, a nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding, in Saturday’s CAN$350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup and in Sunday’s CAN$1 million CN International, presented by Rolex.

Following a tour of his stables, Lamaze took guests on a guided course walk in the International Ring, explaining the intricacies that both horse and rider will encounter when facing Wednesday’s CAN$50,000 Akita Drilling Cup.  Describing various approaches, as well as the use of colour and shadow employed by two-time Olympic course designer Leopoldo Palacios, Lamaze gave an insightful look at the sport of show jumping.

The CAN$1 million CN International, presented by Rolex, is part of the new Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping which brings together three of the greatest events in the world – CHIO Aachen, CSIO Spruce Meadows and CHI Geneva, offering an unprecedented €1 million in bonus money to any rider who can win all three grand prix events in succession.  To date, Lamaze and his 2008 Olympic gold medal partner, Hickstead, are the only horse and rider combination to have won all three events.

“It’s the super bowl of show jumping,” said Lamaze of Schomberg, ON.  “For the Rolex Grand Slam of Show Jumping to be at Spruce Meadows, one of the best venues in the world, and Aachen and Geneva, is very fitting.  To win any one of these events can make a rider’s career.”

Based in Vrasene, Belgium, and spending the winter season in Wellington, Florida, Spruce Meadows is the only Canadian venue where Lamaze competes.  And with good reason – Lamaze is the all-time leading money winner at Spruce Meadows, having won more than $3.8 million to date at the Calgary venue alone.  He’ll look to increase his lead even further throughout this week’s “Masters” competition, where Rolex has been the official timekeeper since 1989.

“For me, it’s one of the most exciting venues in the world to compete at,” said Lamaze.  “As a rider, I look forward to it every year.  When I arrive here at Spruce Meadows, I am ready to compete.  It’s so special for me.  It gives you chills when you come in the ring.  You want to put in that clear round to hear the crowd come alive.

“It’s such a great organization; everyone is so knowledgeable about our sport,” Lamaze continued.  “They really understand our sport.  As riders, we’re very passionate about our sport, and they’re also passionate about what they do.”

Lamaze enters Sunday’s CAN$1 million CN International, presented by Rolex, as a two-time winner, having won the prestigious event on two occasions, in 2007 and 2011, riding the great Hickstead.

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Two Victories in Valkenswaard for Eric Lamaze

Eric Lamaze, pictured here with Cristalina, scored two victories in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, on August 16. Photo – Global Champions Tour.

August 16, 2013 – Valkenswaard, The Netherlands – 2008 Canadian Olympic champion Eric Lamaze made two trips to the winner’s circle on opening day of competition at CSI Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, running August 16 to 18.

A marquee event on the Longines Global Champions Tour (GCT), the three-day show jumping event is staged at the home stable of GCT founder, Jan Tops, and attracts the best horse-rider combinations in the sport.

On opening day, August 16, Lamaze scored back-to-back victories for Canada, winning the 1.35m Young Horse competition with Check Piccobello Z before taking the 1.40m competition with Cristalina.

In the Young Horse class which attracted 50 entries, Lamaze stopped the clock in 60.54 seconds to hold off Holland’s Maikel van der Vleuten who crossed the timers in 62.08 riding VDL Groep Ouatro and current world number one Christian Ahlmann of Germany who clocked in at 62.34 with Barco 6.

“I think the experience he gained at Spruce Meadows this summer got him ready to be competitive on the opening day of this big show in the main grass arena,” said Lamaze of Check Picobello Z, a seven-year-old grey Zangersheide gelding (Cardento x Orlando) owned by Carlene and Andy Ziegler’s Artisan Farms and Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable.  “I liked him from the very beginning.  I took my time with him in Florida this winter making him up, and now it’s paying off, as today proves.  It’s a horse for the future.”

In the 1.40m competition, Lamaze faced stiff competition from 78 challengers.  Undaunted, Lamaze put the pressure on by posting what would prove to be an unbeatable time of 61.70 seconds to celebrate his second victory of the day with Cristalina.

“It’s a horse that I love,” said Lamaze of Cristalina, an 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Carolus x Contender) that he owns in partnership with Gilbert de Roock of Belgium.  “It’s a horse that we bought to resell.  She is very much my type.”

Lamaze will contest Saturday afternoon’s Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix with his top horse, Powerplay.  While the partnership is new, having only been formed in June when Artisan Farms purchased the nine-year-old Holsteiner gelding (Casall x Limbus) from Swiss rider Pius Schwizer, Lamaze and Powerplay gained experience together at the Spruce Meadows summer tournaments in Calgary, AB.  In preparation for Saturday’s main event, Lamaze opted for a confidence-building round in Friday’s CSI5* 1.45m event, jumping clear over the course set by Italy’s Uliano Vezzani with two time faults.

Following Valkenswaard, Lamaze will return to Canada for the Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament held September 4 to 8.  Lamaze will ride as a member of the Canadian Team in the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday, September 7, alongside Tiffany Foster who is also competing at CSI Valkenswaard and placed 12th in Friday’s CSI5* 1.50m competition with Verdi III.  Lamaze is the all-time leading money winner at Spruce Meadows with earnings in excess of $3.7 million at the Calgary venue alone.

Hailing from Schomberg, ON, Lamaze now divides his time between training bases in Wellington, FL, and Vrasene, Belgium.

Contact:  Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca

The First Annual Champions Grand Prix Presented by Eric Lamaze to Premiere in August at Angelstone Tournaments

North America’s Top Show Jumpers Will Compete for FEI World Ranking Points and a $100,000 Purse

Rockwood, ON – July 17, 2013 – As the summer show jumping season shifts from Alberta Eastward to Quebec and Ontario, preparations are underway at Angelstone Tournaments. Three weeks of equestrian competition in August will be highlighted by one of the East Coast’s most anticipated events of the season, The Champions Grand Prix, presented by Eric Lamaze on Saturday, August 24th.

“In conversations with Eric Lamaze, it became clear that we shared a vision of launching an annual marquee event in Ontario that would attract a field of top-notch competitors. The Champions Grand Prix is our vision come to life,” said Angelstone President Keean White. “We are grateful to Eric for his collaboration on The Champions and for lending his support to an event that we hope will grow into one of the most prestigious titles on the North American competition circuit.”

The Champions Grand Prix will be held on Saturday, August 24th at 6:00pm, at Angelstone, one of North America’s newest show jumping destinations. Riders will compete for both FEI World Ranking Points and a $100,000 purse, the largest offered in the province of Ontario. Located near Rockwood, Ontario, less than hour’s drive northwest of the city of Toronto, the facility is an easy trip for spectators looking for a fun time for the entire family. Admission for The Champions will be free to the general public, making the event truly inclusive and accessible, integral to Angelstone’s priority of raising the profile of show jumping to a wider audience within the surrounding region.

Additionally, Lamaze will be leading a unique clinic experience on the previous evening, Friday, August 23rd. The event will provide a rare opportunity for the equestrian community to gain valuable insights into Eric’s approach to riding, while allowing the Olympic Individual Gold Medalist to give back to the country’s next generation of talented riders and enthusiasts. The clinic is open to the public, and all proceeds will benefit Angelstone’s Commitment to Educate Scholarship Program, supporting the post-secondary dreams of the area’s young people.

Angelstone Tournaments’ August series will feature the Ottawa Launch Event in Rockwood from August 7th to 11th and The National Phase I and II, August 21st to 25th and August 28th to September 1st. Each week will feature main events on Thursday and Saturday nights starting at 6:00PM.

Spectators are encouraged to visit the venue’s website at www.angelstone.co for more information on attending the Grand Prix events this August.

About Angelstone Tournaments:

Founded in 2010, Angelstone has grown into one of the East Coast’s pre-eminent equestrian parks, showcasing world-calibre hunter, jumper and dressage competitions over nine weeks.  Located in the picturesque countryside, Northwest of Toronto, the facility attracts thousands of spectators from across North America, making Angelstone one of the most visited sporting venues in Southwestern Ontario.  For 2013, the venue will host up to a thousand horses during each competition week, offering a prize purse exceeding one million dollars.

About Eric Lamaze:

In his Olympic debut in 2008, Eric won the Individual Gold Medal riding the great Hickstead and helped Canada capture the Team Silver. These remarkable achievements represent the greatest success ever of the Canadian Equestrian Team at the Olympic Games. At the end of the 2008 year, Eric became number one in the Rolex World Rider Rankings, a feat he has since repeated on numerous occasions.

With Hickstead, a stallion small in stature but huge in heart, Eric won countless grand prix events in some of the most impressive show jumping venues in the world. At both the 2007 and 2011 editions of the Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament, Eric and Hickstead won the $1 million CN International, the richest grand prix event in the world. Before his tragic death at the Verona horse show in November of 2011, Hickstead won several major grand prix titles including Geneva (2008), Aachen (2010), La Baule (2011), and Rome (2011). Partnered with Eric since he was seven years old, Hickstead won more than $3.75 million (Canadian) in prize money during his career and was widely acknowledged as the best show jumping horse of his era.

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Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung Score Spruce Meadows Victory

Eric Lamaze riding Wang Chung M2S scored victory in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup. Photo – Spruce Meadows Media Services.

June 9, 2013 – Calgary, Alberta – 2008 Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze was in the winner’s circle after claiming the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup on Sunday, June 9, at the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament in Calgary, AB.

While Lamaze has welcomed two new international mounts to his stable in recent weeks, it was his partner of almost two years, Wang Chung M2S, that carried him to Sunday’s victory.  The pair had the advantage of going second to last in the starting order, knowing they had to better the time of 85.33 seconds set by Reed Kessler of the United States.  Catch her time they did, cruising through Werner Deeg’s course in the International Ring in a time of 84.73 seconds.  When the final rider, Brianne Goutal of the U.S., proved to be no threat, Lamaze claimed his first victory of the Spruce Meadows summer series.

“We’re out at Spruce Meadows with some young horses and new horses; this horse is the only one left of my old string, so I know him better than the others,” said Lamaze, 45.  “This competition really suited him well and I am very happy with the outcome.”

The all-time leading money winner at Spruce Meadows with earnings in excess of $3.7 million at the Calgary venue alone, Lamaze is no stranger to hoisting the winner’s trophy in the International Ring.  For his victory in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup, Lamaze added another $13,200 to his overall winnings.

“I use him quite a bit in the speed competitions so I know him quite well,” said Lamaze of the 10-year-old Irish-bred Dutch Warmblood stallion (Royal Bravour x Ahorn) owned by Morningside Stud of Ireland and Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable.  “He’s very dependable in the short turns and he has a huge gallop so, on this field, it was advantage.”

In addition to Wang Chung M2S, Lamaze has recently added two new international mounts to his string.  Owners Carlene and Andy Ziegler of Artisan Farms purchased Powerplay, the former mount of Swiss rider Pius Schwizer, and Quelmec de Gery, formerly under the saddle of France’s Penelope Leprovost, days before the Spruce Meadows “National” opened.  Lamaze made his competition debut with both nine-year-old geldings this week at the Calgary venue.

“I was thrilled with both of the horses in our first week competing together,” said Lamaze who plans to ride one of his two new mounts for Canada in the Nations’ Cup competition on Thursday, June 13.  “I didn’t have any sort of practice prior to coming to Spruce Meadows.  It’s hard enough to ride any horse that’s never been in the International Ring, let alone a horse that is new to its rider, so I was super happy with how it went.  I just took it easy, I’m just getting to know them, but I’m very happy with how everything felt.”

Hailing from Schomberg, ON, Lamaze now divides his time between training bases in Wellington, FL, and Vrasene, Belgium.

Contact:  Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
Cell: (613) 292-5439
www.startinggate.ca

Victory in $175,000 Nexen Cup 1.60m Derby Goes to Leslie Howard and Lennox Lewis 2

Leslie Howard and Lennox Lewis 2. Photos © Spruce Meadows Media Services.

Eric Lamaze Notches Canadian Victory in $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup

Calgary, AB – June 9, 2013 – The final day of the Spruce Meadows ‘National’ Tournament had two exciting competitions that featured speed and stamina. Leslie Howard (USA) and Lennox Lewis 2 took their second victory in the $175,000 Nexen Cup 1.60m Derby, equaling their 2011 finish. Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze went into another gear to notch the week’s first Canadian victory in the International Ring in the $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup 1.50m.

Attendance during this ‘National’ week was 86,715, with 36,000 people coming to Spruce Meadows on Sunday. It was a great testament to the fans of show jumping and Spruce Meadows in that there was a 32,000 person increase from this week in 2012.

Since the course was re-designed by Leopoldo Palacios in 2007, there have only been three clear rounds in the history of the Nexen Cup Derby. Riders tackle the same course every year. Two of the clear rounds in the history of the class were tallied by Beezie Madden and Judgement, three-time winners of the competition. Pablo Barrios and G&C Sinatra were also clear in 2010. Last year’s winners, Richard Spooner and Cristallo, had just one time fault.

With a course distance of 1,100 meters and 25 obstacles including the large derby bank, table bank, open water, and grob, the Nexen Cup Derby is a challenge for anyone entering the ring. It’s a test of scope, stamina, and heart.

This year the heights and widths of the fences were made more inviting for competitors as part of Spruce Meadows’ commitment to helping develop a new generation of derby horses. In addition, all who completed the course from fifth to 17th place received $5,000 in prize money. There were no eliminations in today’s competition, so everyone took home prize money.

Today’s competition had 17 entries. Two horse and rider combinations were able to get through the course with the least amount of faults: Beezie Madden and Wrigley were the first to accumulate just four faults, which came at fence 3a of the table bank. Seven horses later, it was 2011 Nexen Cup Derby winners Leslie Howard and Lennox Lewis 2 who had one rail at fence 11, the dry ditch oxer.

The two riders could have jumped off for the winner’s share of prize money; however, it was announced that Wrigley could not come back for a jump-off. Howard and Lennox Lewis 2 returned and completed the jump-off with four faults in 54.27 seconds for the win.

When asked why she completed the entire jump-off, Howard replied, “Spruce Meadows does so much for us, and I know it was important for them to have somebody come back for the jump-off. It’s the least we can do to give back to Spruce.”

Madden said it was an easy decision not to return for the jump-off since Wrigley was “quite sore.” Madden explained, “She’ll be okay; her back foot stepped on her front foot. She had a pretty big gash and she was bleeding. At the end when I pulled up, I could tell it was bothering her, but I didn’t notice it during the course. It’s disappointing I didn’t get the chance to win, but I’m ecstatic about how she went. Second is still a good prize in the derby.”

The course stays the same every year, and that’s something that Howard says helps if you have a veteran horse like Lennox Lewis 2. “It gets easier if you’re riding a horse that you’ve ridden over that course before. I used to get sick to my stomach when I did the derbies,” she revealed. “When I walked the derby, I’d literally get ill. Now with ‘Lennie,’ you wake up on Sunday morning and go, ‘It’s Derby Day!’ If you have a horse that you don’t know, you wake up and go, ‘Oh dear, it’s Derby Day.’ It really depends on the horse you’re on. It’s a blast because I know he’s going to go through grob, he’s going to do the liverpools, I know he’s not going to do anything stupid. The worst that’s going to happen is we’re going to have some rails.”

Howard described Lennox Lewis as the quintessential derby horse. “He’s been in the top of the derbies every year since I’ve been doing them, probably four or five years,” she said. “He’s just a great derby horse. He’s easy to ride, he’s very brave. He’s not hard on himself. He never jumps too exuberantly; he doesn’t get too excited about anything. He’s just very steady Eddie. That’s a great attribute in a derby horse.”

Although Madden had never ridden Wrigley in the derby before, Wrigley’s former rider, Callie Schott, had, so Madden knew the grey mare could do it. “It’s like Leslie said – it’s nice to be out there with a horse you have confidence in and you know is going to go from start to finish without any big catastrophes. It gives you more confidence. It enables you to ride the course so that the horse can jump clean too, because otherwise you’re overriding everywhere,” she said. “She has good blood and stamina, for sure. That’s part of what makes her a good derby horse.”

Ashlee Bond had a solid day with her two horses in the competitions. She and Wistful had two rails at fences 19a and the final jump, 19, for eight faults in 155.05 seconds for third place. On Cadett 7, she had 12 faults in 148.23 seconds for fourth place.

This was Wistful’s first derby, and their finish today helped Bond win the CN Spruce Meadows Canadian Championship. “I’m so proud of her,” Bond said. “This whole week she has just risen to the occasion. Everything I’ve ever asked of her, she’s never questioned.”

The CN Spruce Meadows Canadian Championship was decided today after points were accumulated in four competitions: the Friends of the Meadows 1.60m, Spectra Energy Cup, CN Reliability Grand Prix, and Nexen Cup. For her top placings all week, Bond received $15,000 in bonus prize money, a championship cooler, and medal. Charlie Jacobs and Flaming Star won the Silver Medal and $7,500 in prize money. The bronze medal and $2,500 went to Katie Prudent and V.

Bond expressed, “I’m very honored. It was a nice surprise. Before I did Cadett, I knew I had won that. It’s a really great accomplishment. To be able to do it twice now is great. Every time I come here, I’m really excited because I know the competition is going to be great and there’s a lot of prize money to be had. You’ve got to come with the right horses. Wistful decided to grow up a little bit this week. It worked out to be a consistent week. I’m savoring it for right now and on Tuesday it’s a clean slate all over again.”

Lamaze Victorious in Speed

The $40,000 ATCO Structures & Logistics Cup 1.50m featured 21 entries going for speed over a faults converted format course. Going second to last, it was Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S who would be able to take the lead with a time of 84.74 seconds. Three horses earlier, it was Reed Kessler (USA) and Ligist who set a time of 85.33 seconds, which would eventually finish second. Cameron Hanley (IRL) and Newton du Haut Bois were third with a time of 85.58 seconds.

Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S
Eric Lamaze and Wang Chung M2S

Lamaze made the decision to watch most of the competition to see how he could be faster. Lamaze explained, “In these classes, it’s so important to watch more than warm-up. In the class there are so many fences to jump, so I only jump six fences (in the warm-up). The best are at the end, so I glued myself to the TV for as long as I could to watch, watch, watch. I had my strategy. I knew I could do nine (strides) to the double vertical with him. He’s very clever with that stuff.”

Wang Chung, a 10-year-old KWPN stallion by Royal Bravour x Ahorn owned by Morningside Stud & Torrey Pines Stable, is now Lamaze’s most experienced horse. As “a great 1.45m, 1.50m horse,” Lamaze noted that competitions of this type are exactly in his comfort zone.

“He’s really a competitive horse,” he noted. “When I had the other horses, that’s what he did for me, that I used in all those (speed) classes. It’s great to go in a competition like that, feeling maybe not that you’re the favorite, but I feel like I can play to win. It’s nice to have one during the week that you can really go on.”

While Wang Chung is a “very little horse,” Lamaze said his big stride is what helps him, along with the fact that “you can run him and he never gets flat or strong.” Lamaze added, “What makes him a great speed horse is that he’s very cold. He never gets hot, he never gets quick. You can always push him. He doesn’t go by himself, that’s why he’s able to do so many speed classes.”

Since revamping his string of horses, Wang Chung has had to step up in certain events, like Florida’s Nations Cup event. But Lamaze is excited to have two new nine-year-old horses that will move up to the big grand prix events in the coming weeks at Spruce Meadows.

Since stepping off the plane last week from Belgium, both Powerplay and Quelmec du Gery had a trial by fire in the International Ring. “If you’ve never competed on a horse here, even if you know it well, it’s always difficult,” Lamaze conceded. “So on horses that have never been here and you don’t know, it’s a difficult task, but they went extremely well. The most logical thing was to do 1.30m or 1.35m with them, but I was so excited to be in this ring that I was like, ‘Eh, I’ll try it!’ It’s really exciting for me. This season is going to be about learning everything about them and them learning about me.”

Additional Honors and Awards

PD Stables won the “Jump To It” contest and took home the prize of a full set of jumps for their farm.

Dr. John and Chris Wood “Pegasus” Memorial Award is given to a volunteer that has gone above and beyond the call of duty, and this year’s winner is Renee Richardson.

The RSA Scholarships were awarded today as well, with Maeve Scarborough on Oscar and Shelby Edwards on Renaissance taking home the honors.

The ‘National’ Tournament concluded with today’s competition. The Spruce Meadows Summer Tournaments continue next week on June 13-16 with the ‘Continental’ Tournament CSIO-W 5*. For more information on Spruce Meadows and full results, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

Based in Calgary, Canada, Spruce Meadows is the brainchild of the Southern family who built a Show Jumping complex at the foothills of the Alberta Rocky Mountains. It was in 1976 that the first Spruce Tournaments were held, with annual spectator attendances reaching over 50,000 by the end of the decade. Today, Spruce Meadows boasts one of the greatest outdoor equestrian venues in the world and offers an incredible experience for riders and fans alike. Spruce Meadows focuses on the organization and hosting of show jumping tournaments of unmatched quality for junior, amateur and professional athletes in a manner that reflects basic family values in a clean, green and welcoming environment that celebrates the horse and encourages the breeding and training of quality sport horses and the teaching and development of athletes. For more information on Spruce Meadows, please visit www.sprucemeadows.com.

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Equestrian Public Relations
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Coriana van Klapscheut Sold to Spain

Artisan Farms has sold Coriana van Klapscheut, pictured here at the CSI5* Gucci Masters in Paris with Eric Lamaze, to Pilar Cordon of Spain. Hippo Foto

December 29, 2012 – Wellington, Florida – Coriana van Klapscheut, formerly owned by Artisan Farms and ridden by 2008 Olympic Show Jumping Champion Eric Lamaze, has been sold to Pilar Cordon of Spain.

Partnered with the 2002 Belgian Warmblood mare (Darco x Heartbreaker), Lamaze has enjoyed great success internationally over the past four seasons.  Having won the Six- and Seven-Year-Old Young Horse Final at CSI5* Valkenswaard, NED, in 2009, Lamaze and Coriana van Klapscheut went on to form an incredible partnership that saw them claim grand prix events in Wellington (USA), Maastricht (NED), Paris (FRA), Valencia (ESP), La Baule (FRA), and Rotterdam (NED).

At home in Canada, at Calgary’s famed Spruce Meadows venue, Lamaze and Coriana van Klapscheut won nine major titles, including the $80,000 Suncor Winning Round at the 2011 CSIO5* Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament and the $80,000 TD Cup at the 2012 CSI5* Spruce Meadows “North American” tournament.

Continue reading Coriana van Klapscheut Sold to Spain

Eric Lamaze Makes Appearance at Geneva Horse Show

Eric Lamaze (right) gives a course description to the audience with Alban Poudret at CSI5*-W Geneva. Photo – Revolution Sports

December 12, 2012 – Geneva, Switzerland – Canada’s Eric Lamaze made his first competition appearance in three months at the CSI5*-W Geneva International Horse Show, but in the capacity of commentator, not competitor.

Lamaze, the 2008 Olympic Show Jumping Champion and former number one in the Rolex Rider Rankings, began a short hiatus from competition following the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament in Calgary, Canada, in September.  While Lamaze will not return to competition until the 2013 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, he travelled to Geneva to support the competition, held December 6 to 9, and its sponsor, Rolex.

Prior to both rounds of the Rolex IJRC Top 10 Final, Lamaze provided the large audience with a course description, giving them an insider’s look at the challenges and questions posed by Swiss course designer Rolf Ludi in the Palexpo Arena.  Lamaze also conducted a course assessment for the media prior to the event on behalf of Rolex.

Continue reading Eric Lamaze Makes Appearance at Geneva Horse Show

Artisan Farms Acquires Two New Mounts for Eric Lamaze

Eric Lamaze, pictured here riding Artisan Farms’ Coriana van Klapscheut. Photo – Cealy Tetley

November 14, 2012 – Wellington, Florida – Artisan Farms has acquired two new mounts for 2008 Olympic Show Jumping Champion Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, Ontario, Canada.

Rosana du Park, a 2005 bay Selle Francais mare (Kannan x Quinine de Livoye), and Big Smile, a 2006 grey Westphalian mare (Cartano x Hors de la Loi II), have joined the stables at Artisan Farms.  Both horses have successfully competed in FEI-sanctioned young horse competitions in Europe.  Purchased from Gilbert De Roock of Belgium, Rosana du Park and Big Smile arrived in Florida on November 13.

“Both are my type of horse, very careful with lots of blood,” said Lamaze of the two new horses that will join Coriana van Klapscheut in competing with him for Artisan Farms.  “They really felt special to me when I tried them, and show a lot of quality, talent and potential.  I am excited to start working with them.”

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Eric Lamaze Welcomes Guests on Spruce Meadows “Masters” Opening Day

Rolex Testimonee Eric Lamaze gives a guided course tour on opening day of the Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament in Calgary, Alberta. Photo – Kit Houghton/Rolex

Calgary, Alberta – Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, offered an insider’s look at the sport of show jumping on the opening day of the CSIO5* Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament.  The five-day international show jumping tournament runs from 5-10 September in Calgary, Canada.

Rolex Testimonee Eric Lamaze welcomed approximately 30 guests to his stables on the morning of 5th September, providing an opportunity to watch Derly Chin de Muze being groomed in preparation for the day’s competition.  Lamaze’s mount at the recent London Olympic Games, Lamaze spoke about Derly’s development, as well as his recent experiences in London where the Canadian Olympic show jumping team had a top five finish.

Guests then enjoyed an in depth and insightful course walk with the 2008 Olympic Champion, as Lamaze gave a guided tour of the track set for the first competition of the week, the $35,000 Akita Drilling Cup.  Lamaze explained the technicalities of the course, noting the role that the different colours, backgrounds, and measurements between each obstacle play in the competition.  Lamaze then put his words into practice, meeting the challenges presented to horse and rider by guiding Derly to a clear round.

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