Calgary, AB – There were 49 horse/rider combinations to start the Pepsi Challenge at the Spruce Meadows “North American” Tournament today.  With a talented start list it took a special pair to rise to the top.  And when it comes to being at the top of the pack, no one is better than Canada’s Eric Lamaze.

Course designer, Guilherme Jorge (BRA), set 16 jumping efforts, over a track of 570 metres with a time allowed of 86 seconds.  There were 12 horse/rider combinations who mastered that first round course to move onto the jump-off round.

Riding his mare, Take Off, Lamaze was ready for the jump-off.  “I didn’t really watch anyone go before me,” said Lamaze.  “I wanted to just do my thing, I had a plan for her, and I wanted to stick to it.”  That plan had the pair across the finish line in 37.97 seconds.

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