Millar and Lamaze Have Winning Day in Europe

MADRID, SPAIN – It was Canada Day in Spain as Ian Millar, of Perth, Ontario, and Eric Lamaze, of Schomberg, Ontario, kicked off the international show jumping tournament in Madrid with back-to-back wins. During the day’s three international competitions, Lamaze also logged a second place.

61-year-old, eight-time Olympian Ian Millar was victorious in the biggest event of the day on his intended Olympic mount, In Style. 56 starters from 11 nations contested the speed competition, where the fastest round with the fewest faults wins. Millar and In Style were faultless and stopped the clock nearly 1.5 seconds faster than their closest rival, German veteran Otto Becker on Cordina. Lamaze finished fourth, also fault-free on his Olympic-hopeful mount, Hickstead.

While it was evening in Spain when Millar’s victory was unfolding, Lamaze had been the man to chase in the morning and afternoon events. In the afternoon, the Canadians all rode their second-string mounts in the “Power and Speed” competition. Both Lamaze and Jill Henselwood, of Oxford Mills, Ontario, were among the 24 entries who rode faultless rounds in the power phase, to advance to the speed phase of the course. Lamaze was the victor aboard Narcotique de Muze II, less than half a second faster than Ireland’s Cian O’Connor on Complete. Henselwood rode Black Ice to fifth place out of a huge starting field of 64.

Lamaze is the only Canadian with three horses on the European tour, including the promising, up-and-coming Take Off. The eight-year-old mare claimed second-place this morning behind 1992 Olympic gold and silver medalist Piet Raymakers, of The Netherlands, on Now or Never. Last week, Lamaze was the only Canadian to compete in La Baule, France, where he earned the “Rider of the Week” title for consistent top-three placings.

Four Canadian riders will compete for the remainder of the Madrid tournament, which concludes on Sunday. That will wrap-up their European Olympic prep. They will compete in Calgary in June, before the final Olympic team selection is made.