(SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): The sun and the stars and stripes were shining, and 38,110 people came out to Spruce Meadows to enjoy International-level sport and a celebration of Her Majesty’s Diamond Jubilee with the ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup, on the Saturday of the 2012 Spruce Meadows ‘North American’ Tournament.
Rob Lindstrand, District Vice President TD Commercial Banking and today's winner: Eric Lamaze. (Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services)
The fans also came out for a complimentary breakfast, and took a seat to watch the TD Cup. The event featured 24 horse/rider combinations competing over the course designed by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN), with 15 jumping obstacles over 500 meters of track. Eight combinations returned to the winning round, where Eric Lamaze (CAN) took home first place riding Coriana Van Klapscheut, his 10 year old Warmblood mare. This marks Lamaze’s third FEI win this season, after losing his prize stallion, Hickstead, last November. “It’s been a tough time, I’ve had to get used to losing a lot more” commented Lamaze, Spruce Meadows’ all-time prize money winner. “I feel a lot better about all my horses after taking them through the series here at Spruce.”
In celebration of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II’s visit to Spruce Meadows in 1990, 44 horse/rider combinations saddled up to take home the $200,000 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, the third leg of the CN Precision series. After losing by a nose to Eric Lamaze (CAN) and Hickstead last year, Rich Fellers (USA) and Flexible set their sights on finally taking first place. It just wasn’t meant to be, with fellow Olympic teammate, Beezie Madden (USA), posting three clear rounds, and a jump off time of 37.58 to win first place. With 44 horse/rider combinations to start, the course designed by Michel Vaillancourt (CAN) saw 5 combinations return from the second round into the jump off after over 900 meters of track and 38 obstacles over two rounds. Madden and her 13 year old Dutch Warmblood gelding, Simon, had some fierce competition, with two other CN Precision Series winners searching for a $50,000 bonus. Fellers, along with Kent Farrington (USA) were both looking to capture another leg of the series, which would result in bonus prize money.
The day featured the “Feu de Joie”, a Military tradition performed in front of Alberta’s Lieutenant Governor and Canada’s Chief of Defence Staff, as well as a complimentary breakfast to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee.
Competition resumes tomorrow morning at Spruce Meadows, with the Akita Drilling Cup, and the fan-favourite $140,000 Cenovus Energy Classic.
TD Cup – Top 10
1-Eric Lamaze CAN Coriana Van Klapscheut
2-Beezie Madden USA Cortes C
3-Mario Deslauriers USA Cella
4-Richard Spooner USA Apache
5-Nayel Nassar EGY Lordan
6-Mac Cone USA Capone I
7-Kent Farrington USA Voyeur
8-Antonio Maurer MEX Callao
9-Wilton Porter USA Paloubet
10-Reed Kessler USA Cylana
From left to right: Lieutenant Governor Col. The Honourable Donald S. Ethell, John Ell, president ATCO Power, General Walt Natynczyk, presenting the Queen Elizabeth II Cup trophy to Beezie Madden. (Photo by Spruce Meadows Media Services)
ATCO Power Queen Elizabeth II Cup – Top 10
1-Beezie Madden USA Simon
2-Rich Fellers USA Flexible
3-Kent Farrington USA Uceko
4-Lauren Tisbo USA King Kolibri
5-Leslie Howard USA Utah
6-Mario Deslauriers USA Urico
7-Darragh Kerins IRL Lisona
8-Richard Spooner USA Cristall0
9-Christine McCrea USA Romantovich Take One
10-Lisa Carlsen CAN La Boom
