Canada’s Mario Deslauriers Captures $300,000 DOHA.INC Grand Prix CSI4* to Close 44th Hampton Classic Horse Show

Bridgehampton, N.Y. – Aug. 2019 – The 44th edition of the Hampton Classic Horse Show ended in spectacular fashion Sunday, with two-time Canadian Olympic veteran, Mario Deslauriers, capturing the $300,000 DOHA.INC Grand Prix CSI4* on his mount Bardolina.

Mario Deslauriers and Bardolina Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography
Mario Deslauriers and Bardolina
Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography

An annual tradition signaling the end of summer and the famed Hamptons social season, the Classic hosts every level of horse and rider from the smallest lead-line competitor up to World Cup, World and Olympic champions.

The Deslauriers family will have extra celebrating to do after this particular win. Mario’s daughter, Lucy, who just returned from the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, where she competed as a part of the U.S. bronze-medal winning team, had a stellar week at the Classic. She followed a win on Friday in the $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4* with a second-place finish in Sunday’s marquee event. Lisa Deslauriers (wife of Mario and mother of Lucy,) a past Grand Prix and USET competitor, is Chairman of the Board of the Hampton Classic.

Course Designer Michel Vaillancourt built a challenging course at the maximum height of 1.60m, including a triple combination which took the competitors nearly the entire length of the packed VIP tent. The tough course was a true test of ability, resulting in just three of 39 combinations progressing to a jump-off round.

Mario Deslauriers and Bardolina Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography
Mario Deslauriers and Bardolina
Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography

The start order for the class was determined by the final placings in Friday’s $75,000 Douglas Elliman Grand Prix Qualifier CSI4*, which meant the better you did Friday, the later in the order you went on Sunday. Lucy had the luxury of being the final rider to go in the jump-off, which only consisted of three combinations that jumped clear in the first round. American team gold medalist from the 2018 FEI World Equestrian Games™ (WEG), Devin Ryan with his WEG mount Eddie Blue went first, sandwiching Mario in the middle.

The jump-off course consisted of eight jumping efforts, in a series of S-curves across the ring from side to side, and a long gallop down to the last fence headed toward the in-gate. Ryan misjudged the striding to the second fence and Eddie Blue had it down. They were able to hold it to just the four faults, crossing the timers in 42.66 seconds.

Next to go, the senior Deslauriers executed a masterful pivot turn with Bardolina from the third fence in front of the VIP tents, to cross in front of the open water, cutting across the field to the Hermès oxer at fence four. They were slightly off Ryan’s time, but more importantly they kept the jumps up to finish on a clean score in 42.82 seconds.

Lucy Deslauriers and Hester Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography
Lucy Deslauriers and Hester
Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography

Last to go, Deslauriers’ 20-year-old daughter also took the inside turn with long-time partner Hester, and with his effortless galloping stride they easily had the best time, finishing in 39.60. However, in a heartbreaking turn, they pulled the top rail on the final fence, to finish second on a score of four faults.

“I got a little excited,” admitted Lucy as she recounted her jump-off round. “If I had it to do over again, I should have pulled a little harder to the last fence.”

When asked what he was thinking as he watched Lucy follow him in the jump-off, knowing that if she had a rail, he would win the class, Mario replied: “Lucy won on Friday so today was my turn! Seriously, she and Hester make a great pair, and I know they are very quick. I did what I had to do to put a little pressure on her.”

Mario received beautiful new timepieces courtesy of Longines for his win, as well as a check for $99,000.00 and a beautiful award of a large-format bottle of Whispering Angel wine from Chateau D’Esclans. Lucy’s check was for $60,000, but she had to ask her mom to carry her wine – she’s not old enough to drink yet!

Shane Sweetnam won the $30,000 LONGINES Leading Rider Challenge. Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography
Shane Sweetnam won the $30,000 Longines Leading Rider Challenge.
Photo: © Shawn McMillen Photography

For each of the seven years the $30,000 Longines Leading Rider Challenge has been in place, it has been won by an Irish rider, going back and forth between Shane Sweetnam and countryman Richie Moloney. With his consistent results this week, Sweetnam secured another win, amassing 364 points to finish on top for an incredible third year. He received the $30,000 prize as well as a lovely new timepiece courtesy of Longines.

RESULTS

$300,000 DOHA.INC Grand Prix CSI4*
Place / Horse / Rider / Country / R1 Faults | Time / R2 Faults | Time
1. Bardolina / Mario Deslauriers / CAN / 0 | 82.56 / 0 | 42.82
2. Hester / Lucy Deslauriers / USA / 0 | 84.55 / 4 | 39.60
3. Eddie Blue / Devin Ryan / USA / 0 | 83.81 / 4 | 42.66
4. Keoki / David Blake / IRL / 1 | 88.62
5. Loughnavatta Indigo / Jonathan Corrigan / IRL / 1 | 88.99
6. Noche de Ronda / McLain Ward / USA / 4 | 81.56
7. Chaqui Z / Shane Sweetnam / IRL / 4 | 81.68
8. VDL Cartello / Cormac Hanley / IRL / 4 | 83.06
9. Cassandra / Molly Ashe Cawley / USA / 4 | 83.82
10. Fedor / Scott Keach / AUS / 4 | 83.85
11. Chameur / Georgina Bloomberg / USA / 4 | 84.60
12. Carollo / Andrew Kocher / USA / 4 | 84.76

For full results, click here.

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