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Rolex Top Ten win for Eric Lamaze

Dec 10, 2016

Eric Lamaze was unstoppable, yesterday in Geneva, to become the first Canadian to win the Rolex International Jumping Riders Club Top Ten Final title.
Conquering arguably one of the toughest classes in show jumping, the 2016 Olympic individual bronze medalist and his Rio Olympic mount Fine Lady 5 (Forsyth FRH) were unbeatable in both rounds of the evening’s competition. In this battle of giants, Lamaze crossed the timers .49 seconds faster than the previous leading rider, Christian Ahlmann, securing Canada’s first Top Ten Final win by the slightest of margins.
“We all saw Christian go in the jump off; I thought the competition was over,” Lamaze admits after watching the current World No. 1 rider lay down his second round. “Fine Lady is naturally very fast but I knew I didn’t have any option but to try everything. I was lucky enough to have a galloping distance to the Rolex oxer at the end. I took the opportunity and I think that made the difference.”
The clear round of the first competitor in the ring, home rider and crowd favorite Steve Guerdat, was met with a huge roar from the fans that packed the Palexpo Arena. Guerdat and the 10-year-old Westphalian gelding Corbinian (Cornet Obolensky) would later finish in third place with a double clear jumping effort and a time of 44.30 seconds in Round 2.
Expectations were high for defending Top Ten Final title holder, Kent Farrington. But he lost the chance at a back-to-back victory with four faults in Round 1. Regardless, he was pleased with Creedance’s performance in Round 2, going clear in 47.05 seconds to finish eight. Farrington shared that he believes that with the efforts the fiery 9-year-old KWPN chestnut gelding (Lord Z) has continued to give, the horse is proving his potential for a bright future in sport.
By the conclusion of Round 1, half of the class finished on a clear score sheet including the sole female competitor, Penelope Leprevost. Leprevost looked to repeat another clear performance in Round 2 but lowered a single rail on course over the shortened track, good enough for fifth place with the 11-year-old SBS stallion Vagabond de la Pomme (Vigo d’Arsouilles).
Returning in reverse order of qualification for Round 2, the scene was set for a nail-biting finish as the final two riders, Germany’s Christian Ahlmann and Lamaze faced-off.
Ahlmann rode to another fantastic clear, finishing in 2nd place with a time of 43.05 seconds with his veteran stallion Taloubet Z (Galoubet A).
Source: Noellefloyd.com