Eric Lamaze wins Spruce Meadows' QEII Cup

Erc Lamaze and Hickstead. By
Spruce Meadows Media Centre

ric Lamaze and Hickstead won their fourth ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Spruce Meadows, Canada, on Saturday (9 July 2011).

Germany's Werner Deeg designed a demanding forward-riding course. Only two riders of the 29 starters managed to go clear in the first and the second rounds: Canada's Eric Lamaze (Hickstead) and the USA's Rich Fellers (Flexible).

First to go
Eric was first to compete in the jump-off and set a blazing pace. Rich watched Eric’s every move and knew what pace he needed to have to beat the Rolex world number one rider.

Rich glanced up at the intermediate time during his round and then committed the sin he always chastises his students for.

"I tried to make up time in the air," he admitted. "I always tell my students to wait; you can’t make up time in the air."

Sure enough, he collected four faults at that fence as a rail fell, giving Eric and Hickstead the win. Canad's Ian Millar and In Style finished third.

"This is fantastic," said Eric. "I couldn’t do it without riding the best horse in the world."

Tiffany Foster and Victor. By
Spruce Meadows meda services

Opening competition
The TD Cup 1.50m led off the day with 26 entries, six of those reaching the jump-off.

There were three double clears, but it was Tiffany Foster of Canada and her nine-year-old Dutch warmblood Victor, who proved the strongest.

The vivacious Tiffany was "over the moon" with excitement and quick to praise her horse Victor.

"Wasn’t he wonderful?" she asked. "He's just fantastic."

Tiffany is a student of Eric Lamaze, who stated that he couldn’t think of a more deserving person to win.

"Tiffany has been a very hard-working student of mine for many years," said Eric. "A few years ago she hurt her back really badly and it was uncertain what the outcome would be. It is so great to see her hard work rewarded."