(SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): What better way to celebrate your 20^th birthday than with a win in tonight’s Scotiabank Cup?  For Clementine Goutal (USA) it was a perfect birthday gift to beat some of the best riders in the world, taking her first Spruce Meadows international win.

The Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) designed course featured 14 jumping efforts over a 470 metre track.  It was a course that got the best of even the most elite riders.  With his 8 year-old mare Coriana Van Klapscheut, Canada’s Eric Lamaze was eliminated after jumping the standard, a rarity for the usually unbeatable Lamaze. 

He wasn’t alone as Ashlee Bond (USA) voluntarily retired after a scary crash across the water jump.  It was, however, Mexico’s Enrique Gonzalez who had the most memorable moment of the evening, going for a dip in the water after his mare Katina had a refusal.

For the young Goutal it wasn’t personal experience that helped her through, it was learning from the veterans around her.  Coached by American great, Norman Dello Joio, Goutal took his last minute advice, “He told me to keep my leg on my horse,” said Goutal.  It worked as Goutal came across the finish line in 60.50 seconds.

“It was very intimidating, very scary,” said Goutal after her win.  “You learn a lot when there are so many great people competing, and you pay attention,” said Goutal.  Perhaps she could teach a lesson or two herself after having the best round of the Scotiabank Cup.

Scotiabank Cup top 10 –

1-         Clementine Goutal                USA                Kelline Fonroy

2-         Eric Lamaze                          CAN               Take Off

3-         Yann Candele                        CAN               Azzaro Van’t Hagenhof

4-         Daniel Bluman                      COL                Fatalis Fatum

5-         Antonio Maurer                     MEX               Charro

6-         Pablo Barrio                           VEN               G&C Napoleon

7-         Daniel Michan                      MEX               Ragna T

8-         Karl Cook                               USA                Uno De Laubry

9-         Ashlee Bond                          USA                Chivas Z

10-       Patricio Pasquel                   MEX               LoretoTop 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

(SPRUCE MEADOWS, Calgary, AB): It was a tight race, to the end in today’s ConocoPhillips Canada Cup at Spruce Meadows.  Canada’s Eric Lamaze hardly ever touches the breaks, especially in a jump-off, and today he found himself ahead of the rest by less than half a second.

The Leopoldo Palacios (VEN) designed course featured 17 jumping efforts over 580 metres with a time allowed of 87 seconds.  It was a demanding course that took advantage of turns, distances and the water.  Of the 51 entries only 7 made it back for the jump-off round. 

One of those was Olympic Champion, Eric Lamaze.  Riding his 10 year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Atlete Van T Heike, Lamaze blazed around the course in a time of 44.12 seconds.  Even with his young mount, Lamaze proved why he is one of the best.  “I brought a lot of young horses here, I’m very excited about them,” said Lamaze.

It was Jonathan Millar (CAN) who came the closest to Lamaze’s time.  Riding his sister’s 11 year-old Belgian Warmblood mare, Piccobello Du Val De Geer, Millar came across the finish line in 44.53 seconds.  So close but Millar had to concede to the Olympic Champion.  “I’m riding Piccobello Du Val De Geer while Amy enjoys her new baby,” said Millar, adding, “It’s going well so far!”

“It was a very difficult competition,” said Lamaze after his win.  “The course was challenging and a lot of great riders and horses, it was just a great competition,” added the champion of the ConocoPhillips Canada Cup.

ConocoPhillips Canada Cup top 10 –

1-         Eric Lamaze              CAN               Atlete Van T Heike

2-         Jonathan Millar         CAN               Piccobello Du Val De Geer

3-         Ian Millar                   CAN               Star Power

4-         Patricio Pasquel        MEX               Loreto

5-         Will Simpson              USA                Black Cherry

6-         Daniel Bluman          COL                Fatalis Fatum

7-         Ashlee            Bond               USA                Cadett 7

8-         Jonathan Millar         CAN               Contino 14

9-         Yann Candele                        CAN               Azzaro Van’t Hagenhof

10-       Reed Kessler             USA                Mika  

Eric Lamaze will look to continue his winning ways tomorrow in the $100,000 CN Performance Grand Prix.  The second leg of the CN Precision Series and World Cup competition is set to begin on Meadows on the Green at 1:45 pm.  Parking and admission are complimentary for the Spruce Meadows “Continental” Tournament.