Lamaze leads Canadian jumpers to strong showing

Eric Lamaze was tied for first after the second qualifier in jumping on Day 9 at the Hong Kong Equestrian Venue, pacing Canada to a fourth place showing in team competition.

Lamaze, of Schomberg, Ont., ran a clean round without penalty aboard Hickstead. Lamaze, 39, has a chance to win Canada's first equestrian medal since Michel Vaillancourt in 1976.

He was tied in the individual jumping standings with McLain Ward of the United States, who was perfect with Sapphire.

Brazil's Rodrigo Pessoa, was third with Rufus.

Lamaze's performance put Canada in a tie with Great Britain for fourth place in the team jumping competition.

Competing in his ninth Olympic Games, Ian Millar of Perth, Ont., was tied for 16th. Millar, 61, finished with eight penalty points atop In Style.

Millar seemed on the way to only incurring a time penalty on the course but knocked down the last bar.

Malcolm Cone of King City, Ont., was 30th with 12 penalty points on Ole. Jill Henselwood of Oxford Mills, Ont., was 44th riding Special Ed, incurring 18 points in penalties.

The top three results comprise a team's score.

Switzerland and the United States were tied for team lead, with 12 points. Sweden was third with 13 points.

The team jumping event will conclude on Monday. The individual jumping competition finishes on Thursday.