Eric Lamaze defends title at World Equestrian Festival
Schomberg, Ont. rider and Fine Lady wins jump-off
Canada's Eric Lamaze and Fine Lady won a jump-off to defend their title in a lucrative show-jumping class Wednesday at the World Equestrian Festival in Aachen, Germany.
The Olympic bronze medallists in Rio last year went clear in a time of 42.97 seconds to claim the C$145,000 Turkish Airlines Prize of Europe. Lamaze, from Schomberg, Ont., and Fine Lady were among 20 pairings in a field of 60 to qualify for the jump-off.
They beat four-time Olympic champion Ludger Beerbaum of Germany, who was second in 43.05 seconds on Chiara 22. Bertram Allen of Ireland and Molly Malone V were third in 43.06.
"To win here in Aachen is very prestigious, especially for a Canadian, and it's very special to win two years in a row," Lamaze said in a release. "The course was big and included a pair of double liverpools that caused a lot of problems.
"When we first walked it, a lot of riders thought it was too big for the first day, but you have the best in the world competing here and ended up with 20 in the jump-off."
Lamaze and Fine Lady arrived in Aachen after competing at Calgary's Spruce Meadows, where they were third in the $500,000 ATCO Queen Elizabeth 2 Cup.