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Canada's Eric Lamaze claimed Individual Jumping Gold on the final equestrian evening of the 2008 Olympic Games at Sha Tin stadium in Hong Kong tonight (Thursday), pipping Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson in a thrilling two-way jump-off against the clock. And on a night full of surprises it was American stalwart, Beezie Madden, who collected the Bronze. (Pictured at the right - Eric Lamaze and Hickstead flying to Olympic Gold. Photo (c) Kit Houghton)

For Lamaze and Canada it was an extraordinary moment, the 40 year old from Schomberg, Ontario, claiming the first-ever individual Jumping title for his country, previous best being Michel Vaillancourt, who took Silver in Montreal, in 1976. And the man who has experienced some major highs and lows during his career wanted to lay some ghosts. "The past is the past," he said, "and if this doesn't make people forgive and forget then I don't know what will....."

FINAL CHALLENGE

For the final challenge Leopoldo Palacios and Steve Stephens (- the Course Designers) were as inventive as ever; but, with all riders now starting again on a zero score in this last test, ten of them found the key to the first-round track. The rainbow-coloured triple combination proved the undoing of many here including Germany's Ludger Beerbaum and All Inclusive who hit the second element and his sister-in-law Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum, who steadied after the previous vertical; but, then couldn't quite find the distance to the combination which she hit at the front oxer.

There were two sensational rounds from the Dutch - Angelique Hoorn and O'Brien and Marc Houtzager and the ebullient stallion Opium – putting a big smile on the face of their Chef d'Equipe Rob Ehrens, whose temperament has been tested to the limit due to a series of unfortunate events in recent months. Fourth-last to go in this opening round were Belgium's Jos Lansink and Cumano, who received a huge cheer as they joined the clear-round club and as they cantered toward the gate a group of Dutch supporters hoisted a flag reading "Jos Lansink, Made in Holland" - and the reigning World Champion, who originally rode for The Netherlands, raised his hand in recognition.

There were 22 back for the second round over a new course and this was colossal. Starting out over an oxer and straight on to a vertical, the third fence was a big double of oxers followed by a right-hand turn to a massive 1.60m wall. The pressure was further increased on the following line of 1.60m vertical to a triple combination with 1.52m oxers at the first two elements followed by a 1.60m vertical at the third. Then it was on to a liverpool oxer, a left-hand curve to a white triple bar with just four strides to a vertical with red planks on topm and the tenth and last question was asked at a big final oxer, 1.55m high with a 1.90m spread.

NO MERCY

All the first-round four-faulters were brought back for round two along with those who had jumped clear, and there was no compromise this time out. If you didn't have a big-jumping horse with plenty of heart left under you then this was always going to prove a bridge too far; but, Ludger Beerbaum and Meredith Michaels-Beerbaum were in their element, All Inclusive putting in the first foot-perfect run while Shutterfly followed suit.

Superb riding from the defending Olympic champion, Rodrigo Pessoa from Brazil, coaxed Rufus around the track without incident while America's McLain Ward and Sapphire were also clean all the way; but, fourth-last to go, Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and the brilliant little Ninja were the first of those still carrying a zero score to leave all the fences intact. That really put the pressure on the remaining three and when Britain's new young star Ben Maher collected 20 faults to slip right down the order with Rolette, it was up to Lansink and Lamaze to force a jump-off with the Swede. Lansink's stallion seemed to be fading, however, as he hit the back bar of the front element of the double at three and then lowered the top rail on the triple bar at eight, his long layoff due to injury probably beginning to take its toll.

Hickstead (Lamaze/Canada) in contrast was still jumping like a buck, the Dutch stallion typically strong and forward all the way and popping the last to ensure a two-way run-off for Gold.

BATTLE FOR BRONZE

Before that, however, the seven riders sharing four faults would battle it out for Bronze, and pathfinder Ludger Beerbaum left the door ajar when hitting the penultimate oxer. Meredith and Shutterfly, however, left them all up to set the standard in 35.37 seconds. There were only seven jumping efforts this time out and when Pessoa stopped the clock clear in 37.04 seconds he was still in the game. McLain Ward looked like blowing them all away with a storming round from his great and courageous mare (Sapphire). The spectators cheered as he cheekily popped a decorative hedge before setting off on his tour of the track; but, this wasn't just for fun because Ward had a cunning plan. He had seen a time-saving short-cut from the oxer now at fence two to the following planks and was way up on time galloping to the last. All his ingenuity was in vain, however, when he completely missed his stride to the final wall to shatter his chances.

Angelique Hoorn hit the second element of the double, now fourth on the track; but, Beezie Madden just threw caution to the wind with Authentic. Taking exactly the same line as her fellow-countryman, she skipped over the hedge to shave off precious fractions of time and when she raced to the finish line she was almost two seconds faster - the clock showing 35.25 as she broke the beam. Dutchman Marc Houtzager was last to take his turn and took the new hedge-line en route; but, hitting the second part of the double and the final wall he presented no threat. The Bronze would go to the USA now for sure.

SO CLOSE

Bengtsson (SWE) was first of the two now going for Gold and took the longer route from the oxer to the vertical. (Pictured at the left Sweden's Rolf-Goran Bengtsson had to settle for silver at the end of a thrilling jump off. Photo (c) Kit
Houghton) Really pressing his brave little chestnut gelding, he was seriously piling the pressure on Lamaze going to the last;but, too forward and too close, Ninja hit it hard behind and as Lamaze came into the ring he had a choice. He could go for a steady clear to clinch the golden prize or press for more speed in case he left a fence down - and he opted for the latter. Hickstead set off again with that sense of purpose that is his trademark and Lamaze was right on the button all the way although, as it happened, he registered exactly the same time as the Swede when crossing the line in 38.39. The Gold would go to Canada while Slver would be Swedish - and Bengtsson, always the gentleman, was gracious in defeat.

"I had a very good feeling with my horse all week; but, in the second round today I was a bit worried when I came in because the water at the Liverpool was leaking and what came back to me was that night in Athens when the gate fell down and then after it was put up again and I rode down to it again it fell down once more. I thought, "Typical - this would happen to me!" he said good humouredly. His last round tonight was a great one; but, he said, "I knew Eric was coming behind me and he has a very fast horse so I have to try - but my horse got too strong on the last run and couldn't steady for the jump. I'm super-satisfied with Ninja, he is not so big; but, he is very brave and he never thinks about not jumping. If I steer him at something he always tries to jump it and clear it. In everything he is a very sweet horse and I really enjoy every minute of riding him - but, we had a great winner today," he said, paying tribute to Lamaze's effort.

Lamaze talked about Hickstead. "He basically is a really, really careful horse - I have all the confidence in the world in him" he explained. Talking about some troubled times earlier in his career he said, "You can't come back in a sport if you don't have the support of your friends, your family and people who wanted it for me - they made it impossible for me not to try." He talked about Hickstead's colic surgery which kept him out of action for four months, ". . . but he is a light horse and it was easy for him to get back into his work. In Florida early this year he was still a bit bothered; but, now he is feeling really good," he said of the horse who has jumped like a cat for the last week.

Madden explained that both Ninja and her horse Authentic are both by the same stallion, Guidam, " . . . and all three horses of the riders on the podium were Dutch-breds, all three quite small; but, light and full of energy," she pointed out.

FEI President, Princess Haya, said that these Games have been a wonderful platform for equestrian sport - " . . . and the people of China and Hong Kong have been so welcoming," she added. And she singled out course-designer Leopoldo Palacios for special mention, "Thank you for the amazing courses you build that allow so many people to shine" she concluded.

Tonight Canada's Eric Lamaze was shining brightest of all.

The 2008 Olympic individual medallists in Jumping: Rolf-Goran Bengtsson (SWE) - Ninja - Silver; Eric Lamaze (CAN) - Hickstead - Gold; Beezie Madden (USA) - Authentic - Bronze.
Photo (c) Kit Houghton

Contact

Malina Gueorguiev
FEI Communication Department
Fédération Equestre Internationale
malina.gueorguiev@fei.org
t +41 21 310 47 47
f +41 21 310 47 60
www.fei.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 21, 2008

Bronze for Beezie! Madden Outruns Six in Jump-Off for Individual Medal at 2008 Olympic Games
By Joanie Morris

Hong Kong, China – Under the unsettled skies of the impending typhoon the individual medals were decided by not one but two jump-offs. America’s Beezie Madden and Authentic out ran six other combinations to be the fastest of the four faulters to win her first individual medal.

“In the Olympics there is usually a jump off for medals,” said Madden. “So we expected it. When it ended up being seven to jump off for the bronze it made for a very exciting day.” (Six actually jumped.)

Canada’s Eric Lamaze rode Hickstead to another clear round in the jump-off for Gold and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson and Ninja had one down in the Gold medal jump-off to end up with Silver for Sweden. They were the only two combinations to jump clear in both rounds. Hickstead jumped four out of five clear rounds (plus he jumped off for the team medals) throughout the entire competition. Madden and Lamaze both take home Team and Individual medals and Lamaze won the first individual show jumping gold medal for Canada.

“I have all the confidence that he will go clear,” said Lamaze of Hickstead.

The horse rewarded his faith.

Authentic did have the final part of the triple combination down in the second round; but four faults was good enough to return to the ring to jump off for the Bronze.

Authentic has a reputation for being very, very fast. Their time of 35.25 was the fastest in the Bronze Medal jump-off. Madden made a risky move, jumping over some brush to shave seconds off her time. It made the difference.

“McLain pulled it off,” said Madden of her teammate McLain Ward. “He paved the way, I didn’t think you could do it so it was thanks to him. It was kind of fun out there, jumping the brush – he’s brave and handy so it worked well for him. He’s always been a fast horse.”

Madden was the first US rider to return to the ring for the first round of the Individual Final with Authentic. Abigail Wexner’s seasoned veteran, who has won two consecutive Team Gold medals in addition to the Individual Bronze, jumped in his usual phenomenal clear, looking very bright.

“He felt great tonight,” said Madden who lives in Cazenovia, NY after the first round. “He had lots of energy, he’s ready to go again.”

Ward, from Brewster, NY, and Sapphire were absolutely fantastic over the first three rounds, having just one foot in the water on Monday night in their successful Team title defense on Monday. Now 13, Sapphire has somehow continued to improve since the last Olympics and her performance over the last three rounds has been exceptional.

Ward joined Madden in the jump-off after redeeming their first round rail with a textbook clear in round two.

“The second round, she was good,” said Ward. “We tried our best. The course was very difficult which is what we were hoping for. My horse was spectacular in both rounds ¬- one fence down all week.”

The Belgian mare owned by Blue Chip Bloodstock, Ward and Tom Grossman, flew through the jump-off and were the first pair to take the short cut and jump the brush. They looked golden until the very last fence where Ward took a big risk and Sapphire couldn’t quite get it done.

“I wanted to win a medal and we tried our very, very hardest,” said Ward about jumping the brush. “I tried to leave it out at the last too but we ended up too far away. I had to try. We gave it everything we had.”

They had one rail down in the first round; but, they went through to the second round with 11 other four faulters.

“She jumped brilliantly,” said Ward after the first round. “I was a little quiet into the triple, I was worried about B so I under rode A. I needed more leg. I can’t fault how she jumped.”

Laura Kraut and Happy Hill Farm’s Cedric didn’t go through to the second round after having eight faults in round one. The 10-year-old Dutch gelding was his usual impressive self; but, he put a toe on the tape in the water and then Kraut made a mistake at the narrow plank.

“I am really happy with him,” she said. “I was totally focused on the team, I hadn’t really considered the individual . He barely had the water and had jumped it well all week. I was too deep to the skinny, he did everything he could to try to jump it clean. I’m thrilled with him, this isn’t hard for him.”

Cedric has grown up during these Games, he arrived as one of the most inexperienced horses here, but he will head home a much more seasoned horse.

“I have set my sights on Kentucky (for the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games in 2010),” said Kraut, who lives in Wellington, FL. “And then London, he’s only 10.”

Kraut heads to Barcelona for the Samsung Super League with FEI final when she leaves Hong Kong.

All four American show jumping riders qualified for the Individual Final; but, unfortunately for Simpson, under the Olympic rules, only the top three got to jump. This meant that Will Simpson and Carlsson vom Dach (whose fantastic clear in the jump off clinched the Team Gold medal for the USA on Monday night) had to watch from the sidelines.

Canada’s Eric Lamaze Claims Olympic Gold Medal in Show Jumping

Hong Kong, China – Eric Lamaze, 40, of Schomberg, ON, won the Individual Gold Medal on Thursday, August 21, at the Sha Tin equestrian venue in Hong Kong, China.

Lamaze riding Hickstead and Rolf-Goran Bengtsson riding Ninja were the only two riders to jump clear over the two rounds comprising the Individual Final to force a jump-off for the Individual Gold Medal. Over the shortened jump-off track, Bengtsson (SWE) had the final fence down and completed the course in 38.39 seconds. Lamaze also took 38.39 seconds to complete the course; but, left all the rails in place to claim the Gold Medal. A seven-horse jump-off was also necessary to determine the Individual Bronze Medal with Beezie Madden of the United States emerging the winner riding Authentic. (Pictured at the left - “Eric Lamaze celebrates his Individual Gold Medal in show jumping at the 2008 Olympic Games in Hong Kong, China.” Photo Credit - Cealy Tetley, www.tetleyphoto.com

Canadian flags waved throughout the crowd of 18,000 spectators as Lamaze made history by becoming the first Canadian equestrian athlete to claim an Individual Gold Medal. Michel Vaillancourt is the only other Canadian equestrian athlete to win an Individual Medal. He won, Silver in show jumping, at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

“He felt really good in the first round, and was still fresh in the second round,” said Lamaze of his horse, Hickstead, a 12-year-old Dutch Warmblood stallion owned by Torrey Pines Stables and Ashland Stables. “He is a careful horse and when you need to leave the rails up, you can count on him. He makes my job easy. It is an honour.”

In reference to not competing at the 1996 and 2000 Olympic Games, Lamaze said, “Hopefully I will speak about this for the last time. You can’t come back in the sport without great support from your friends, family and owners, and they supported me and made it impossible for me not to try. The past is the past. If this doesn’t make people forgive and stop talking about it, I don’t know what will.” (Editor's Note: Lamaze has had dependency problems in the past.)

Following its Silver Medal victory on Monday night, Canada qualified three riders for the Individual Final. Lamaze, Jill Henselwood, 45, of Oxford Mills, ON, and Ian Millar, 61, of Perth, ON, were all among the top 35 riders in the individual standings to qualify to compete on Thursday night. The fourth team member, Mac Cone of King City, ON, was not able to compete in the second round of the Team Final due to an injury to his horse, Ole, making him ineligible for the Individual Final. The Canadian Show Jumping Team was under the guidance of chef d’equipe Terrance ‘Torchy’ Milla, of Hillsburgh, ON.

In the first round of the Individual Final, Lamaze and Hickstead posted one of 10 clear rounds to tie for first place and guarantee their starting spot in the second round which consisted of the top 20 athletes, including ties, bringing the total to 22. Henselwood and Special Ed incurred four faults, to tie for 11th position and advance to the second round where they retired to end their Olympic debut in 22nd place. Placing 23rd, Millar did not make the cut for the second round after he and In Style had eight faults in the opening round of competition.

Hours before the start of the Individual Final, it was announced that four horses had positive drug tests. All four were qualified for the Individual Final, but did not compete due to an immediate provisional suspension by the International Equestrian Federation (FEI). They were Bernardo Alves, of Brazil with Chupa Chup;, Christian Ahlmann, of Germany with Coster; Denis Lynch, of Ireland with Latinus;, and Tony-Andre Hansen, of Norway with Camiro. If the suspension is upheld, Norway will lose its Team Bronze Medal to Switzerland.

Contact: Jennifer Ward
Starting Gate Communications
On-site cell: (852) 6719 5760

DOPING CASES:

The following combinations will not be competing in the Jumping individual final competition held tonight (Thursday, 21 August). They have been provisionally suspended by the FEI further to doping/medication control tests that indicated the presence of capsaicin in each horse.

Rider Horse

Bernardo Alves (BRA), Chupa Chup

Christian Ahlmann (GER, Cöster

Denis Lynch (IRL), Latinus

Tony Andre Hansen (NOR), Camiro

Capsaicin is classified as a "doping" prohibited substance given its hypersensitizing properties, and as a "medication class A" prohibited substance for its pain relieving properties.

As previously communicated, the FEI provisionally suspends all competitors who test positive in doping or positive medication cases at the Olympic Games in the interests of the integrity of the sport.

As a clarification, Will Simpson and Carlsson vom Dach did not have a positive drug test as has been reported in the foreign media.

Per the Olympic rules, a maximum of three riders per nation are allowed to jump in the individual portion of the competition. Simpson was the fourth placed US combination so that is why he did not jump.

Christian Ahlmann (GER) was notified of his suspension yesterday evening (Wednesday, 20 August) further to receipt of the test results by the FEI from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Laboratory yesterday afternoon.

A preliminary hearing was held at 10h00 this morning (21 August) before a member of the FEI Tribunal who confirmed the suspension.

The other riders - Tony Andre Hansen (NOR), Bernardo Alves (BRA), Denis Lynch (IRE) - were notified earlier today (21 August) further to receipt of their positive test results this morning. All three of them were provisionally suspended.

Preliminary hearings were held with the respective National Federations in the following order: 14h00 – Brazil; 15h00 – Ireland; 16h00 – Norway. The hearings were held before a member of the FEI Tribunal who confirmed the suspension.

FURTHER STEPS

Confirmatory analysis of the B-samples will be carried out very shortly according to the accelerated procedure in place for the Olympic Games. Upon report of a positive B-sample result, evidence and written submissions will be requested from the rider, and a three member panel of the FEI Tribunal will be appointed. This panel should take a decision as to the applicable sanctions as early as possible further to the accelerated procedure, and providing for a hearing to be held as necessary. The competition results will be amended as indicated in the Tribunal’s final decision.

REPORT BY THE SECOND FEI VICE PRESIDENT ON DRESSAGE

A detailed report on the findings of the FEI Second Vice President concerning a meeting held in Hong Kong was produced. The conclusion of the report is that the meetings had not affected the judging. The procedure will, however, be tightened so that this will not happen again. Dressage has had an excellent competition which was judged to the high standards expected at the Olympic Games. For more information please see: www.fei.org.

ENDS

* * *

FEI Reports Four Horses with Forbidden Substaces in Show Jumping

DOPING CASES

Rider Horse

Bernardo Alves (BRA), Chupa Chup
Christian Ahlmann (GER), Cöster
Denis Lynch (IRL), Latinus
Tony Andre Hansen (NOR) Camiro

Capsaicin is classified as a« doping » prohibited substance given its hypersensitizing properties, and as a « medication class A » prohibited substance for its pain relieving properties.

Christian Ahlmann (GER) was notified of his suspension yesterday evening (Wednesday, 20 August) further to receipt of the test results by the FEI from the Hong Kong Jockey Club Laboratory yesterday afternoon.

A preliminary hearing was held at 10h00 this morning (21 August) before a member of the FEI Tribunal who confirmed the suspension.

The other riders - Tony Andre Hansen (NOR), Bernardo Alves (BRA), Denis Lynch (IRL) and - were notified earlier today (Thursday, 21 August) further to receipt of their positive test results this morning. All three of them were provisionally suspended.

FURTHER STEPS

REPORT BY THE SECOND FEI VICE PRESIDENT ON DRESSAGE

CONTACT
Malina Gueorguiev, FEI Communications Manager
Tel: +852 6765 0042, +41 78 750 6133
email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org

How the Forbidden Substance Findings Will Be Handled

Clarification on the procedures to be followed in relation to the positive doping /medication cases at the 2008 Olympic Games 21/08/2008 View online Below are some clarifications on the procedure that will be followed in relation to the positive doping /medication cases at the 2008 Olympic Games unveiled by the FEI on 21 August 2008.

The process will follow the Accelerated Medication Control Procedure during & after the 2008 Olympic Games which is part of the FEI Regulations for Equestrian events at the 2008 Olympic Games (Annex G), available on FEI Olympic website.

Further to that procedure, B tests commence within 2 days of notification of the positive A results.

The following is an indicative timeline. As per Annex G, these are procedural deadlines intended to ensure prompt resolution of judicial proceedings affecting competition results. As with any legal proceeding, specific circumstances may affect these deadlines.

Indicative timeline:

· Samples received by lab 18 August (Ahlmann/Cöster- Germany) & 19 August (others = Alves-Chupa Chup- Brazil; Lynch/Latinus Ireland; and Hansen/Camiro - Norway).

· Positive A result reported to FEI 20 August (Ahlmann/Cöster - Germany) & 21 August (and others - Alves-Chupa Chup- Brazil; Lynch/Latinus Ireland; and Hansen/Camiro - Norway).).

· B sample analysis process to commence 22 August (Ahlmann/Cöster - Germany) & 23 August (others - Alves-Chupa Chup- Brazil; Lynch/Latinus Ireland; and Hansen/Camiro - Norway).).).

· B sample results to be reported within 7 days (30 August).

· Hearing to be held within the next week (by 8 September).

· Tribunal (per its own targets) to issue decision no later than 28 days of hearing or last submissions, whichever occurs last (latest first week of October).

Updates will be issued on the results of the B sample tests (by 30 August), hearings (by 8 September) and final decisions (latest first week of October).

Contact:
Malina Gueorguiev
FEI Communications Manager
Mobile in Hong Kong + 852 6765 0042
Mobile: + 41 78 750 61 33
Email: malina.gueorguiev@fei.org