Week eleven of the 2015 Winter Equestrian Festival (WEF) continued on Friday with Lucy Deslauriers taking top honors in the George H. Morris Excellence in Equitation Championship, presented by Alessandro Albanese in the International Arena at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center (PBIEC). Ali Tritschler followed in second, T.J O’Mara was third, and Virginia Ingram rounded out the top four. Earlier in the day, Italy’s Piergiorgio Bucci saw his first WEF win in the $34,000 Spy Coast Farm 1.45m speed competition aboard Heartbreaker vd Achteroe. Laura Chapot (USA) and Quointreau un Prince finished second, and Shane Sweetnam (IRL) and Beluga were third. The 8th Annual George H. Morris Excellence In Equitation, presented by Alessandro Albanese was held in three rounds with twenty-four riders competing in round one. The top 12 returned for round two, and the top four rode for additional testing in round three to determine the final placings. Course walk plans and schooling were the sole responsibility of the riders as competitors were allowed no contact with their trainers during the class, turned in their cell phones before the start of the class and were responsible for time management, warm up, and schooling of their own horses with the assistance of one groom. The course was designed by Bobby Murphy of Lexington, Kentucky, in conjunction with the judges. The riders were judged by two panels, both chosen by Morris, and also received a score in the schooling area after the first and second rounds. Judging Panel 1 included Ralph Caristo and Chris Kappler; Panel 2 included Jimmy Torano and Anne Kursinski, with Eric Straus as the Schooling Ring Judge. Fifteen-year-old Lucy Deslauriers handily led both rounds with scores of 90 and 93.75 in the irons of her mother, Lisa Deslauriers’, Class Action. Joining her in the third-round test was Ali Tritschler, T.J. O’Mara and Virginia Ingram. Last year was Deslauriers’ first experience with the Excellence In Equitation event and admits both her and her horse stepped it up. “Last year I did it more for the experience, and I was happy to have one year under my belt,” she said. “I felt confident going into this year, and my horse was a dream. I couldn’t have asked more out of him. He is really adjustable with a big stride, nice jump, and super sweet attitude in the barn. He’s really just amazing.” The top three riders – Deslauriers, Tritschler and O’Mara – agreed that the tracks were a true test of their ability to adjust. Visibly pleased with the result, Morris offered a special perspective on the top riders, commenting on how fun it is for him to see the children of the children winning. “I raised her [Lucy’s] mother and when I looked over to her, she looked exactly like Lisa,” he said. “It’s very fun for me to see the descendants all ride beautifully. Thank God I’m not in this anymore having to ride against them.”
