Canadian Eric Lamaze finishes 2nd in Grand Prix at Spruce Meadows
Ireland's Conor Swail takes 1st place
Canada's Eric Lamaze, aboard Fine Lady 5, placed second in the $500,000 RBC Grand Prix in the show jumping competition Saturday at Calgary's Spruce Meadows, behind Ireland's Conor Swail and ahead of American Rich Fellers.
Thirty-three entries took to the course in the Grand Prix, which was designed by Guilherme Jorge of Brazil. He will be designing at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.
Fellers and his horse Flexible completed the course in 43.77 seconds with no faults for third place. Lamaze competed next, finishing in 41.96.
"She's naturally quick, and I knew Conor was after me," Lamaze said of Fine Lady 5. "I thought I'd done enough, or for sure enough to put the pressure that he had to take a few risks and see where it goes. I'm thrilled with this mare today. She jumped fantastic."
Lamaze's performance was not enough as the last horse in the ring found that bit more speed to win. Swail and Martha Louise, a 12-year-old Swedish Warmblood mare, made a daring dash to the double combination, and cleared the final oxer in 40.66 seconds.
Going last in the jump-off "made a big difference," Swail said. "I watched Eric's round and I saw how good of a round he had. There were five clears, I have a fast horse, I ride not too bad, so I thought I would give it a good go and it all came off very well today."
Earlier in the day, Lamaze rode Rosana du Park to win the Transcanada Winning Round 1.50 metre.
When Lamaze entered the ring, he was following fellow Canadian rider Tiffany Foster, who had set the leading time with a clear round in 55.88 seconds on Brighton. Lamaze sped around the course, turning in a time just under in 55.69 seconds for victory.
Third place went to Egypt's Sameh El Dahan on WKD Diva. They recorded a clear round in 56.82 seconds.