October 10, 2004 – Quebec, Quebec – Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, gave the Quebec crowd something to cheer about by winning the $50,000 Grand Prix du Quebec held Sunday, October 10, at the Quebec City Horse Show.

A field of 21 challengers attempted the technical indoor track set by Montreal’s Robert Jolicoeur, one of the few course designers in the world to hold his ‘O’ license from the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), but only five negotiated the first round successfully to advance to the jump-off.

As the final rider on course, Deslauriers guided Amica to a clear round in a time of 26.79 seconds to claim victory over Mac Cone of King, ON, who had clocked in at 27.31 seconds. After spending the summer based in Germany, Deslauriers’ horses had just been released from quarantine on Friday before heading directly to the Quebec City Horse Show.

“It feels really good to win, especially in front of a Quebec crowd,” said Deslauriers, who collected the $14,000 winner’s purse aboard his 11-year-old Westphalian mare. “My horse was off with an injury for about six months, and this is only her third show back. She felt really good in the jump-off, she is a really good horse.”

Cone, 52, who was aboard the 10-year-old grey Dutch Warmblood mare, Melinda, was forced to settle for second and $10,000 in prize money after posting the only other double clear round of the evening.

First to challenge in the jump-off, Ainsley Vince of Milton, ON, laid down an incredibly fast time of 24.99 seconds with Uno, a nine-year-old Dutch Warmblood gelding owned by the KMA Group, but a rail down at the second last fence cost her the win, putting her in third place overall.

Erynn Ballard of Hornby, ON, had four faults in a slower time of 27.51 seconds to place fourth riding Robin Van Roosendael, her 10-year-old Belgian Warmblood gelding. Unfortunately, another Quebec rider, Laurie Bucci of Mont St-Hilaire, had a stop on course with her remarkable one-eyed horse, Catesko, to finish in fifth position with a total of eight faults.

Formerly an outdoor event held at the end of June, the Quebec City Horse Show has recreated itself as an indoor event. Held October 7-10 at Expo Cite, the Quebec City Horse Show offered over $120,000 in prize money and proved to be a welcome addition to the Canadian show jumping fall circuit. For more information on the Quebec City Horse Show, please visit www.hippiquequebec.com.

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Rider, Hometown, Horse, Faults, Time
1. Mario Deslauriers, Bromont, QC, Amica, 0:0 26.79
2. Mac Cone, King, ON, Melinda, 0:0 27.31
3. Ainsley Vince, Milton, ON, Uno, 0:4 24.99
4. Erynn Ballard, Hornby, ON, Robin Van Roosendael, 0:4 27.51
5. Laurie Bucci, Mont St-Hilaire, QC, Catesko, 0:8 34.84

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PHOTOGRAPH
“Mario Deslauriers and Amica on their way to victory in the $50,000 Grand Prix du Quebec held October 10, 2004, at the Quebec City Horse Show.”
Photo Credit – Cealy Tetley