Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze enjoyed victory on Thursday at CSI5* Madrid, Spain, riding Undercontract. Photo Credit - Kenneth Kraus, www.phelpssports.com

May 21, 2009 – Madrid, Spain – Olympic Champion Eric Lamaze, 41, of Schomberg, ON, opened competition in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday by winning two classes and placing second in another. For the third year in a row, Lamaze is competing at the CSI5* Madrid International Show Jumping Tournament running May 21-24.

In the first competition of the day, Lamaze guided Lord du Janlie around the 1.40m speed course, stopping the clock in 59.97 seconds to claim victory over Spain’s Cayetano Martinez de Irujo who completed the course in a time of 61.14 seconds.

In the second competition, a two-phase competition with jumps set at 1.45m in height, Lamaze again emerged victorious, this time riding Undercontract for owner Carol Sollak. From a starting field of 51 horses, Lamaze completed the second phase clear in a time of 20.96 seconds, edging out Manuel Anon of Spain whose time was 22.34 seconds. Lamaze was the defending champion of this competition, having won in 2008 riding Narcotique de Muze II.

In the third and final competition held Thursday, the €20,000 Altae Banco Privado Trophy, Lamaze was mounted on his Olympic partner, Hickstead. It appeared that Lamaze was going to make it three for three when Ireland’s Cian O’Connor riding Complete laid down a faster time, 66.66 seconds, to snatch the win, leaving Lamaze in second place with a time of 68.08 seconds. Lamaze and Hickstead will next compete in Saturday evening’s Grand Prix, the main event at CSI5* Madrid.

“Hickstead feels great, he jumped really well last week in La Baule and just had a cheap four faults in the grand prix,” said Lamaze of his 13-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion, owned in partnership with Ashland Stables. “My other two horses, Lord du Janlie and Undercontract, both won their classes by a good margin, so we’re off to a good start in Madrid. It is a great show; the footing is amazing, the jumps are nice, there is good competition and the weather is beautiful.”

Lamaze, who opened his European spring show season in April at CSI4* Antwerpen, Belgium, competed at CSIO4* Lummen, Belgium, and CSIO5* La Baule, France, before landing at CSI5* Madrid, Spain. Lamaze and his horses, including Hickstead, will return to Canada to contest the summer tournaments at Spruce Meadows in Calgary, AB, beginning June 10.