Ottawa, Ontario — The final week of the Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) in Wellington, FL, saw the Canadian show jumper athletes continue to receive international recognition for their performances.
As part of a long list of Canadian accomplishments at this year’s WEF, the seventh and final week left a lasting impression, highlighted by a sensational victory for Team Canada in the $75,000 CN Nations’ Cup on Friday, March 10. The Canadian Show Jumping team, comprised of Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, Ian Millar of Perth, ON, and Chris Pratt of Belfountain, ON, had accumulated just four faults over two rounds of jumping to stand tied for the first place with the United States. In a jump-off to determine the winner, Lamaze was able to post a clear round with the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion Hickstead (Hamlet), to secure the title for Canada over 10 other nations.
Two Canadian riders also enjoyed top ten finishes in the $150,000 CN Wellington Finale Grand Prix held on Sunday, March 12. Both Lamaze and Millar advanced to the jump-off with Lamaze and Hickstead eventually placing seventh and the eight-time Olympian finishing eighth aboard Susan Grange’s 11-year-old Holsteiner gelding In Style (Acord II).
The $150,000 CN Wellington Finale Grand Prix also marked the final event in the new $200,000 FTI Rider Challenge, a series where riders earn points based on their results in select grand prix events at the WEF. Finishing as the runner-up was Deslauriers, earning a $50,000 bonus cheque.
About Jump Canada
Jump Canada is a committee of Equine Canada responsible for all hunter, equitation and jumper activities in Canada from the grass roots to the international level. Jump Canada is governed by a board of directors, the majority of whom are elected by the stakeholders in the sport. For more information regarding Jump Canada programs and activities, visit www.jumpcanada.ca.
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