Jerez de la Frontera, Spain - September 19, 2002 - The Canadian Show Jumping Team finished the World Equestrian Games (WEG) in Jerez, Spain, with a top ten placing.

In the World Championship event, held every four years opposite the Olympic Games, Canada finished in tenth position amongst the top 21 show jumping nations in the world. Eric Lamaze of Schomberg, ON, Melissa Brown of Claremont, ON, Karen Cudmore of Victoria, BC, and Mac Cone of King, ON, comprised the Canadian Show Jumping Team.

In the first of two rounds of Nations’ Cup competition, Canada accumulated a total of 24 faults. Added to the Team score following Wednesday’s Speed competition, Canada’s combined score was good enough for tenth position and qualified the Team for the second round that saw only ten teams returning. A second round total of 26 faults left the Canadian team in tenth place overall.

“Any time we can be among the top ten nations in the world, I am happy,” said chef d’equipe Danny Foster.

France earned a well-deserved gold medal while Sweden shined in silver medals. Belgium was third for the bronze. Three strong show jumping nations – Germany, the Netherlands and the United States finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.

Individually, Cone was the top Canadian riding CoCu, a 10-year-old grey Holsteiner mare owned by Southern Ways. After having eight faults in the first round and nine in the second round, including the problematic water jump on both occasions, Cone placed 39th overall.

In the first round, Brown and Karolus K made it all the way to the end of the World Championship course before dropping a rail. Sitting in 24th position heading into the second round, Brown had an unfortunate 12 jumping faults plus one time fault the second time out to finish in 41st position at the end of the day. Unfortunately, her result put her out of contention for Saturday’s Individual competition with the top 25 riders.

“He was fabulous, he is so brave and so smart,” said Brown, full of nothing but praise for her 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding. “I would have liked to have one less rail in the second round, or maybe not have had the foot in the water, but I am only 23, there’s still lots of time to get it right!”

Cudmore, who is now based in Omaha, Nebraska, had 12 faults in the first round with the nine-year-old Holsteiner stallion, Conejo, but returned to have only foot in the water in the second round to finish in 52nd position overall.

After accumulating 12 faults in the opening round, Lamaze and the 12-year-old Hannoverian gelding Millcreek Raphael had two refusals on course during the second round, resulting in elimination. Lamaze finished 67th as an individual in his third consecutive WEG appearance.

Following a day of rest, the top 25 riders based on their individual standings will compete on Saturday with the top four riders then advancing to the Final Four Individual Final on Sunday. In an exceptional format that tests skill and horsemanship, the four remaining riders will ride each of the four horses over the same course.

American Peter Wylde currently leads the pack with Fein Cera who produced double clear rounds in the Nations’ Cup. Eric Navet is lying second with Dollar du Murier while Sweden’s Helena Lundback is third with Utfors Mynta.

The World Equestrian Games, which sees seven equestrian disciplines – dressage, driving, endurance, reining, show jumping, three day eventing and vaulting, holding their respective World Championships, are held every four years opposite the Olympic Games. For full results or more information, please visit the official website at www.jerez2002weg.com and the Equine Canada website at www.equinecanada.ca