Canada’s Eric Lamaze returned to Spruce Meadows with a vengeance as he won both major classes. In the $30,000 Enbridge Cup, a 1.50M International Ring competition under FEI Table A, Article 238.2.2 with One Jump Off, forty-five of the forty-nine entries that were scheduled to go came to the starting gate. Aboard Ashland Stable’s NARCOTIQUE DE MUZE II Lamaze managed a clear ride in 40.101 seconds which was more than .5 seconds faster than Richard Spooner (USA) riding Ezra. Lauren Hough and Casadora were third in 41.550.
A steady day of rain didn’t dampen the first day of the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament. In fact the 20mm of rain that fell on Spruce Meadows over the last 24 hours improved conditions for the 51 riders in the Enbridge Cup on the Spruce Meadows International Ring.
The $30,000 Enbridge Cup was the first FEI event in the Spruce Meadows International Ring of the 2007 season. Lauren Hough made her Spruce Meadows debut after a two year absence, she made it count with a strong ride earning a 3rd place finish after the jump-off.
Canadian Eric Lamaze and his mare Narcotique de Muze II set the pace early in the 10 horse jump-off with a fast time of 40.101. Everyone worked to catch up but no one was able to beat that impressive time. Richard Spooner managed a clear round and a second place finish on his mare Ezrah.
In the 1.60m, section II event the ATB Financial Cup (which also served as a Pan American Games team selection for Canada) Canadian Eric Lamaze showcased his talent again, finishing first on his stallion Hickstead. For Lamaze being a member of the Canadian team selected to go to the Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil would mean a chance to help his Country qualify for the Olympics. After his victory Lamaze commented, “Not only can we win in Brazil but we need to win and once we do that we can start thinking about next year.
Lamaze, who thrives on pressure, faced 7 other riders in the ATB Financial Cup jump off and managed the only clear round with a time of 47.18. American superstar Beezie Madden finished in second with Canadians laying claim to the remainder of the top 10 . If the ATB Financial Cup is a sign of things to come the Canadians are looking as strong as ever.
After a day of record rain fall in Calgary, Spruce Meadows took it all in stride. The sun started peeking through the clouds just as the Canadian National Anthem was being played for the day’s final champion Eric Lamaze and with that the first night of the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament came to a beautiful finish.
For a complete schedule of events visit www.sprucemeadows.com. Tomorrows events start at 8am in the Rocky Mountain Ring with the last event of the day starting at 7:30pm with the Spectra Energy Cup in the International Ring.
Results
$30,000 Enbridge Cup - 1.50M
International Ring - Table A, Article 238.2.2. One Jump Off
1 NARCOTIQUE DE MUZE II 0 $10,000 ERIC LAMAZE (CAN) SCHOMBERG ON Ashland Stables, Inc. 40.634
2 EZRAH 0 $5,000 RICHARD SPOONER (USA) AGUA DULCE, CA S & B LLC Corp. 41.550
3 CASADORA 0 $3,300 LAUREN HOUGH (USA) WELLINGTON FL Laura Mateo 42.044
4 REDEFIN 0 $3,000 IAN MILLAR (CAN) PERTH ON Susan Grange 42.833
5 OCELOT 0 $2,250 KAREN CUDMORE (CAN) OMAHA NE Blair Cudmore 43.187
6 LENNOX LEWIS 2 0 $1,850 LESLIE HOWARD (USA) WESTPORT CT Peter Howard 45.348
7 INTEGRITY 4 $1,400 BEEZIE MADDEN (USA) CAZENOVIA, NY Abigail Wexner 41.101
8 FLEXIBLE 8 $1,050 RICH FELLERS (USA) WILSONVILLE OR Harry & Mollie Chapman 43.325
9 SUNCAL’S KING 8 $650 JOIE GATLIN (USA) SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO CA Canyon Capital Inc. 999.000
10 HILTON FLIGHT 999 $600 RICHARD SPOONER (USA) AGUA DULCE, CA Freedom Farms Inc 78.421
With another clear ride aboard Hickstead, Eric Lamaze finished with the only fault free effort in the jump off to best Beezie Madden (USA) riding Judgement.
RESULTS
$25,000 ATB Financial Cup - 1.60M
International Ring - Table A, Article 238.2.2. One Jump Off
1 HICKSTEAD 0 $7,500 ERIC LAMAZE (CAN) SCHOMBERG ON Torrey Pines Stables and Ashland Stables 45.650
2 JUDGEMENT 4 $4,200 BEEZIE MADDEN (USA) CAZENOVIA, NY Iron Spring Farm Inc. 45.980
3 ARCHIE BUNKER 4 $2,800 JOHN PEARCE (CAN) STOUFFVILLE ON Forest View Farms 47.880
4 SPECIAL ED 4 $2,500 JILL HENSELWOOD (CAN) OXFORD MILLS, ON Juniper Farms 51.710
5 CATWALK 6 $1,875 DARRIN DLIN (CAN) WELLINGTON FL Odyssey Venture LLC 56.690
6 SOUTHERN PRIDE 11 $1,650 KAREN CUDMORE (CAN) OMAHA NE Blair Cudmore 49.980
7 LUCAS 16 $1,350 TAMIE PHILLIPS (CAN) STRATHMORE AB Merle Gardner 57.450
8 STUNTMAN 16 $1,000 MARGIE GAYFORD (CAN) SHARON, ONTARIO Shawn Littler 72.090
9 MELINDA 4 $650 MAC CONE (CAN) KING CITY ON Southern Ways 72.110
10 PARADIGM 4 $600 MARIO DESLAURIERS (CAN) BROMONT PQ Mario Deslauriers
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