Calgary, AB – Competition began at the 2009 Spruce Meadows “Masters” Tournament with a bang in the Zeidler Financial Cup. The international entry of 59 horse/rider combinations was looking to begin their week with a win.
The week certainly started right for Canada’s Olympic Gold medalist Eric Lamaze. Riding his 9 year-old Dutch Warmblood mare Lamaze was perfect over two rounds.
The course for the Zeidler Financial Cup was designed by the renound builder, Leopoldo Palacios (VEN). The track featured 14 jumping efforts over a distance of 495 metres with a modest time allowed of 75 seconds.
Only nine horse/rider combinations cleared the first round moving onto the jump-off. It was a tough first competition that made the best riders compete at the top of their game.
Lauren Hough (USA) is always fast in the Spruce Meadows International Ring, and with her stallion Prezioso S, Hough put down a jump-off time of 34.14 seconds. It was a quick time and for a while it looked unbeatable.
Pius Schwizer (SUI) and Tim Stockdale (GBR) finished their rounds nearly 4 seconds behind Hough’s time. All of the corners would need to be cut if someone was going to beat the American’s time.
Eric Lamaze has always been quick and competitive. Today was no different as Lamaze took every chance to finish quicker than Hough. “Yann (Candele) told me there was a spot after two but I didn’t think it was possible,” explained Lamaze of how he was so fast. “I went in and I saw an opening and I grabbed,” added Lamaze.
The risk paid off for Lamaze and Take Off who crossed the finish line in a time of 31.55 seconds, over two seconds faster than Hough. “A win on the first day helps you get through the week with confidence,” said the champion of the Zeidler Financial Cup.
Zeidler Financial Cup top 10
1- Eric Lamaze CAN Take Off
2- Lauren Hough USA Prezioso S
3- Pius Schwizer SUI BMC Loving Dancer
4- Tim Stockdale GBR Fresh Direct Kalico Bay
5- Yann Candele CAN Mustique
6- Beth Underhill CAN Top Gun
7- Shane Breen IRL Carmena Z
8- Dermott Lennon IRL Hallmark Elite
9- Hillary Dobbs USA Corlett
10- Geoff Billington GBR Uppercut
It was another all-star entry for the day’s final event of the International Ring, the Finning Welcome. The talented entry made for an exciting 54 horse/rider competition. They again faced a challenging Leopoldo Palacios designed course which featured 14 jumping efforts over a distance of 480 metres and a time allowed of 72 seconds.
There were 15 who cleared the first round of competition to move onto the jump-off. The jump-off was no easy test with athletes pressing their mounts for a quick time. The speed cost rails and a chance at victory for ten horse/rider combinations.
Second in the order of go of the first round was Harrie Smolders of the Netherlands. Smolders and his 10 year-old Belgian Warmblood mare Exquis Walnut De Muze finished that first round clear and from there they played the waiting game.
Watching the next 52 jump paid off for the pair who were first to go in the jump-off. Smolders was able to press around every turn and put together a clear round and set a time to beat of 43.40 seconds. “You know what to do with 15 clear, you have to go for it and take some risks,” said Smolders after his win.
The Finning Welcome was Smolders’ first win in the Spruce Meadows International Ring. “The feeling is good and I hope we can keep it like this,” said Smolders looking forward to the weekend where he will compete in the BMO Nations’ Cup and the CN International.
The Finning Welcome top 10
1 – Harrie Smolders NED Exquis Walnut De Muze
2- Roger-Yves Bost FRA Ideal de la Loge
3- Eric Lamaze CAN Hickstead
4- Cian O’Connor IRL Rancorrado
5- Geoff Billington GBR Rosinus
6- Daniel Deusser GER Aboyeur W
7- Cameron Hanley IRL Southwind VDL
8- Angelique Hoorn NED Blauwendraad’s O’Brien
9- Ben Maher GBR Robin Hood
10- Pius Schwizer SUI Ulysse X
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