October 8, 2004 – Quebec, Quebec – Show Jumping jumped into overdrive on Friday at the Quebec City Horse Show with international competitor Roberto Teran of Colombia scoring victory in the first major event, the $10,000 Open Welcome.

From a field of 19 entries, Teran was one of seven riders to successfully negotiate the course set by internationally renowned Robert Jolicoeur of Montreal, QC, to advance to the jump-off. With a clear round in a time of 34.86 seconds, Teran jumped into the lead riding Polyfax, a 12-year-old Westphalian stallion owned by King Ridge Stables. None who followed were able to match Teran’s faultless jump-off performance, giving the young Colombian victory.

In second place was Ainsley Vince of Milton, ON, who had been the first rider into the ring. Riding Iron Horse Nicarta, a scopey bay mare owned by Iron Horse Farm, Vince had posted the only other double clear effort of the night, but in a slower time of 39 seconds. Vince qualified a total of three horses for the jump-off, also placing sixth with Uno and eighth riding Catch 22.

Clocking in at 34.64 seconds, Beth Underhill was the only rider to be faster than Teran, but the Canadian Olympian paid the price for a tight turn off the corner by having one rail down for four faults, leaving her in third position with the 10-year-old Dutch Warmblood mare, Magdaline.

Quebec favourite Mario Deslauriers of Bromont, QC, arrived at the show just in time to take fourth place after having a rail down at the final fence with Amica, his 11-year-old Westphalian mare, while Erynn Ballard, 24, of Hornby, ON, rode into fifth position with her big brown Belgian Warmblood gelding, Robin Van Roosendael.

In the Open Jumper class held immediately prior to the $10,000 Open Welcome, Angela Covert of Hudson, QC, took top honours riding Marc and Louise Sabbah’s Tomboy Major. A native of Nova Scotia, Covert was one of eight riders to advance to the jump-off where her time of 33.42 seconds was good enough to hold off the final challenger, Alison Moore of Ottawa, ON, who stopped the clock at 33.56 seconds.

Held October 7-10 at Expo Cite, the Quebec City Horse Show is an indoor event offering over $120,000 in prize money. Saturday evening will feature the special $10,000 Francois Ferland Cup, held in honour of the internationally-respected judge who has officiated at every major championship event, including this summer’s Olympic Games in Athens, and is proud to call Quebec City home. On Sunday, the $50,000 Grand Prix du Quebec will take place at 3 p.m., followed by the ever-popular $5,000 Horse-Dog Relay. Hunter competition will also be featured daily, culminating with Sunday’s $5,000 Hunter Classic.

For more information on the Quebec City Horse Show, please visit www.hippiquequebec.com

$10,000 Open Welcome, Quebec City Horse Show – Final Results

Rider, Hometown, Horse, Faults, Time
1. Roberto Teran, Colombia, Polyfax, 0:0 34.86
2. Ainsley Vince, Milton, ON, Iron Horse Nicarta, 0:0 39.00
3. Beth Underhill, Schomberg, ON, Magdaline, 0:4 34.64
4. Mario Deslauriers, Bromont, QC, Amica, 0:4 35.64
5. Erynn Ballard, Hornby, ON, Robin Van Roosendael, 0:4 36.06