Spruce Meadows North American - Friday

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.

Lamaze has experienced a lot of success during the 2010 Summer Series with Take Off. The 10 year-old Dutch Warmblood mare had jumped Lamaze to victory in two FEI competitions before tonight.

“She doesn’t do as much height as Hickstead, but she wins as much,” commented Lamaze on his mare after the victory. A deep pool of horses is one of the things that has helped Lamaze to the top of the sport.

The current number one ranked rider in the FEI Rolex World Rankings List, Lamaze will go for his second win in the CN Precision Series tomorrow in the ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup. There is a $50,000 bonus on the line should the Olympic Champion and his top mount Hickstead take first place. The pair has won this event on two previous occasions.

Pepsi Challenge top 10 –

1. Eric Lamaze – CAN – Take Off

2. Yann Candele – CAN – Azzaro Van’T Hagenhof

3. Jenn Serek – CAN – Eleonora

4. Rodrigo Pessoa – BRA – HH Ashley

5. Nicolas Pizarro – MEX – Abano

6. Richard Neal – CAN – Cavalier Tommi Tank

7. Brianne Goutal – USA – Ballade Van Het Indihof

8. Rodrigo Pessoa – BRA – Cazino

9. Brian Morton – CAN – Spitfire

10. Yann Candele – CAN – Game Ready

The Lafarge Cup saw 25 horse/rider combinations qualify to compete in the winning round competition. The eight best would move onto a second round, where they would jump over a shortened course. Only the second round score counts towards the win.

The 2010 Spruce Meadows Summer Series is Charlie Jayne’s (USA), first time competing here with his own horses. Today he rode his 13 year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding, Urbanus in the Lafarge Cup. He was joined by a field of very fast riders that included, Ashlee Bond (USA), Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Brianne Goutal (USA).

That pressure propelled Jayne around the second round, 8 jumping effort course in a time of 32.41 seconds. “I knew with Lamaze and Bond behind me I had to do something. At that last one I just started kicking and hoped for the best,” explained Jayne.

The kicking paid off. Lamaze, riding his 8 year-old Coriana Van Klapscheut finished just shy of Jayne’s time, 32.93 seconds, putting them in second place. Bond was fast but pulled a rail taking her out of contention.

With a lot of talent and a little bit of luck, Jayne won the Lafarge Cup at the Spruce Meadows “National” Tournament. “It’s a great feeling, I don’t know if I’ve ever felt like this before,” said Jayne after his win.

Lafarge Cup top 10 –

1. Charlie Jayne – USA – Urbanus

2. Eric Lamaze – CAN – Coriana Van Klapscheut

3. Brianne Goutal – USA – Nice Prissey

4. Jennifer Crooks – IRL – SF Uryadi

5. Ashlee Bond – USA – Cadett 7

6. Jonathan Millar – CAN – Piccobelo Du Val De Geer

7. Antonio Maurer – MEX – Nickel

8. Antonio Maurer – MEX – Callao

9. Paola Amilibia – ES – Cabri D’Elle

10. Ian Millar – CAN – Star Power