Eric Lamaze (CAN) secured an incredible fifth victory in the Ruby et Violette WEF Challenge Cup Series at the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) on Thursday. Lamaze began the 12-week circuit by winning four Challenge Cup classes in a row. He won in weeks one and two with Artisan Farms LLC and Torrey Pines Stable’s Rosana du Park. He then topped weeks three and four with Artisan Farms LLC’s Fine Lady 5. In the eleventh week of WEF competition, Lamaze and Fine Lady 5 returned to take one more round. Ramiro Quintana (ARG) and St. Bride’s Farm’s Whitney finished second in 35.21 seconds, and Darragh Kenny (IRL) guided Caroline Lloyd’s Sans Souci Z to the third place prize, clear over the short course with a time of 36.09 seconds. Ireland also finished fourth and fifth, with Kevin Babington and Shorapur LLC’s Shorapur crossing the timers 37.80 seconds, and Shane Sweetnam and Spy Coast Farm LLC’s Chaqui Z finishing in 39.61 seconds. Russia’s Ljubov Kochetova and Balou du Reventon placed sixth in 40.20 seconds, and Nick Skelton (GBR) jumped the seventh clear round in 46.96 seconds with Stone Hill Farm’s Vindicat W. Lamaze plans to compete Fine Lady 5 at the LGCT event in Miami just after WEF and was pleased to see her back in top form this week after a minor injury. The 12-year-old Hanoverian mare (Forsyth x Drosselklang II) was out of competition midway through the winter season, but returned easily. In addition to the winning portion of Thursday’s prize money, Lamaze was awarded the $3,000 SSG Gloves “Go Clean for the Green” bonus for the fifth time this winter. Each week of the WEF Challenge Cup Series, a $3,000 bonus will be awarded to the winning rider if they are wearing SSG ‘Digital’ Riding Gloves in all rounds of competition with the SSG logo clearly visible. This week’s win brought his tally up to $15,000 in bonus money.
