Note: This text was originally prepared for a newspaper reporter from the Montreal Gazette. It was updated for her nomination to the Horseshoe Canada Hall of Fame, submitted by Andre Leclerc.
General: Born July 21, 1966 in St-Raymond, Quebec. Started playing horseshoes in local and regional fairs, accompanying her mother Angeline Moisan. First provincial competitions for Sylvianne were in 1981. She used the "flip" style until the end of 1984 when she switched to the "turn and a quarter". She's right-hander. Met her eventual husband, Andre Leclerc, on the horseshoe courts (married on July 21, 1990, they are parents of a girl, Sandra, born August 6, 1998). Her particularity is to pitch very fast, averaging about 7 or 8 seconds to pitch her two shoes. She uses "Deadeye E-Z- grip" horseshoes since 1986. She prefers to play on clay courts (used all the time at the World Tournament) rather than sand (used all the time in Quebec tournaments and most Canadian tournaments).
Canadian championships: Won the Canadian championship 8 times including the last 6 in which she participated. In the 2001 championships, she pitched a perfect game of 26 ringers out of 26 shoes pitched. This is only the second perfect game ever achieved at the Canadian championships since 1927! The first one was a 24-shoe perfecto by Diane Cantin in 1989. Sylvianne also recently pitched a 24-shoe perfect game during the 2002 Canadian championships. Holder of many Canadian records related to the longest game ever pitched in the women's division: 126 shoes pitched against Myrna Kissick of Alberta in 1995. They had 38 fourdeads and Sylvianne won that game with 110 ringers, while Myrna had 104 ringers. She also set a record in the 2002 championships with 25 consecutive doubles.
World championships: Won the World women's title four times (2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003). Was runner-up 3 times, despite twice registering the highest overall average for the tournament. Also finished 3rd twice. Sylvianne is the holder of many world records, most of them related to the longest 40-point game ever pitched at the World Tournament: 130 shoes pitched against Sue Snyder. She averaged 86.9 (the highest losing effort ever) in that last and deciding game of the 1995 World Tournament, while Sue Snyder had 89.2%. They had 40 fourdeads, including 11 consecutive ones. Together they had 100 doubles (51 and 49 respectively). Snyder had 116 ringers and Sylvianne had 113. The final score was 40-27. Sylvianne also has the record of 65.3 ringers per game (average) set in 1996. She pitched 28 consecutive games of 80% and more at the World Tournament (the last 14 of 1995 and the first 14 of 1996). She has averaged over 80% for the complete tournament in her last 7 appearances, and 8 times overall.
Other major tournaments or achievements: Has won the Greenville Ringer Classic 4 times (1997, 2000, 2001 and 2002). This prestigious tournament, considered second to the World Tournament is played at Greenville, Ohio since 1961. There, Sylvianne pitched her best personal tournament average ever with 86.1% in 2000. (She beat that in 202 with an 86.2% in Newton Falls, OH). In 2001, Sylvianne won a playoff over Joan Elmore. Elmore had thrown 52 consecutive ringers to beat her in the round-robin. They had 13 consecutive fourdeads in that game, which is considered a World record (including any tournaments).
Sylvianne also won the Elmer Hohl Ringer Classic, played at Wellesley, Ontario since 1989 in memory of the greatest horseshoe pitcher who ever lived. She won it 5 times (1991, 1992, 1999, 2000 and 2003). She has won numerous other tournaments and has played in most provinces and many States. Sylvianne pitched another perfect game there in 2003, a 28-shoe perfecto.
Sylvianne also pitched another perfect game, 16 shoes in March 2000 against her husband Andre in the Montreal Open.
Conclusion: One of the most naturally gifted women pitcher, she rarely practices. She loves competition and seems to achieve her best when the pressure gets tougher. She did record her personal best ever at the World Tournament in 1985, improving it in 1986, then 1992 and 1995. Sylvianne has established herself as one of the best female pitcher of all time. But most of all, her attitude has made her a model to follow. She is one of the best sports, win or lose, being very humble and respectful for her opponents. One of many reasons why she is my idol in horseshoe pitching!
Andre Leclerc.March 31, 2002 (updated February 17, 2004)
