Canadians Show Jumpers Reign in Spain Again

Madrid, Spain – For the second time during Madrid’s four-day international show jumping tournament, Canadians reigned supreme. 2007 Pan American Games individual gold medalist Jill Henselwood, of Oxford Mills, Ontario, defeated 43 other entries to win the Grand Prix of Madrid. In an 11-way tie-breaker, she bettered fellow Canadian team member Eric Lamaze, of Schomberg, Ontario, by a wide margin of 1.36 seconds. Lamaze finished second, well ahead of Julien Epaillard, of France. Henselwood was aboard Special Ed and Lamaze was aboard Hickstead. Lamaze and Hickstead finished third in the Grand Prix of Madrid last year.

The 1-2 finish for Canada concludes a European tour that was intended as Olympic preparation for Lamaze and Henselwood, as well as Ian Millar, of Perth, Ontario, and Mac Cone, of King City, Ontario. Cone also reached the tie-breaker today, making Canada the only country with three entries to advance to the jump-off. Ian Millar, on In Style, was one of eight entries to have one knockdown in the first round today. Millar had a win on Thursday, leading Canada to dominate that day too.

“I might have appeared to be off to a slow start this season”, a delighted Henselwood said, “But, the strategy is to peak my horse for the Olympic Games. One of the worst things you can do is peak too soon. I feel I’m right on target.”

Henselwood and Lamaze have done battle for first place before. Last year, when Henselwood became the first woman in 24 years to earn the individual Pan American Games gold medal in show jumping, Lamaze claimed the individual bronze. They shared team silver with Millar and Cone.

This summer’s Olympic team will not be officially named until June, but Chairman of the Selection Committee and Team Chef d’Equipe Torchy Millar recently called Lamaze’s selection to the team “a no-brainer”. Henselwood may well have secured her position with today’s performance. Lamaze, Henselwood, Millar and Cone will compete, along with other team candidates, in Calgary in June.

Earlier today, in a competition for up-and-coming horses, just below the grand prix level, Lamaze earned his second victory of the week on the eight-year-old mare Take Off.