Two victories in Valkenswaard for Eric Lamaze

August 27, 2013 · 0 Comments

Eric Lamaze, pictured here with Cristalina, scored two victories in Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, on August 16.
Photo by Global Champions Tour
Olympic champion Eric Lamaze made two trips to the winner’s circle on opening day of competition at CSI Valkenswaard, The Netherlands, which ran Aug. 16-18.
A marquee event on the Longines Global Champions Tour (GCT), the three-day show jumping event was staged at the home stable of GCT founder, Jan Tops, and attracts the best horse-rider combinations in the sport.
On opening day, Aug. 16, Lamaze scored back-to-back victories for Canada, winning the 1.35-metre Young Horse competition with Check Piccobello Z before taking the 1.40-metre competition with Cristalina.
In the Young Horse class which attracted 50 entries, Lamaze stopped the clock in 60.54 seconds to hold off Holland’s Maikel van der Vleuten who crossed the timers in 62.08 riding VDL Groep Ouatro and current world number one Christian Ahlmann of Germany who clocked in at 62.34 with Barco 6.
“I think the experience he gained at Spruce Meadows this summer got him ready to be competitive on the opening day of this big show in the main grass arena,” said Lamaze of Check Picobello Z, a seven-year-old grey Zangersheide gelding (Cardento x Orlando) owned by Carlene and Andy Ziegler’s Artisan Farms and Lamaze’s Torrey Pines Stable. “I liked him from the very beginning. I took my time with him in Florida this winter making him up, and now it’s paying off, as today proves. It’s a horse for the future.”
In the 1.40m competition, Lamaze faced stiff competition from 78 challengers. Undaunted, Lamaze put the pressure on by posting what would prove to be an unbeatable time of 61.70 seconds to celebrate his second victory of the day with Cristalina.
“It’s a horse that I love,” said Lamaze of Cristalina, an 11-year-old Holsteiner mare (Carolus x Contender) that he owns in partnership with Gilbert de Roock of Belgium. “It’s a horse that we bought to resell. She is very much my type.”
Following Valkenswaard, Lamaze will return to Canada for the Spruce Meadows “Masters” tournament held Sept. 4 to 8. Lamaze will ride as a member of the Canadian Team in the $350,000 BMO Nations’ Cup on Saturday, Sept. 7, alongside Tiffany Foster who also competed at CSI Valkenswaard and placed 12th in Friday’s CSI5* 1.50m competition with Verdi III.
Lamaze is the all-time leading money winner at Spruce Meadows with earnings in excess of $3.7 million at the Calgary venue alone.
Hailing from Schomberg, Lamaze now divides his time between training bases in Wellington, Florida, and Vrasene, Belgium.