The Tribune

RIDERS from the Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League travelled to Tryon, North Carolina this past weekend to compete in the US-based Interscholastic Equestrian Association (IEA) Zone 4 Hunt Seat Finals.

The competition, judged by Anne Keenan and Kat Mulkey, took place at the Tryon International Equestrian Centre March 19-20.

The highlight of the day was Ella Saidi, who placed 2nd in the Future Intermediate Equitation Over Fences Individual competition. As one of the top two finishers in her class, Saidi earned a spot to compete in the IEA National Finals, scheduled for April 28-May 1 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Fourteen riders - Adiza Albury, Isabella Coello, Katarina Coello, Hannah D’Aguilar, Anouk Formige, Emma Johnston, Kaia Kull, Melania Nixon, Alexis Osazuwa, Hannah Ritchie, Ella Saidi, Samantha Sands, Sienna Tinker and Connor Watkins – competed in team and individual categories at various levels.

The Bahamas Interscholastic Equestrian League has partnered with the IEA to become its newest Region in Zone 4 because of a shared mission - to provide affordable opportunities for young equestrians to compete at local, regional and national levels.

Zone 4 is comprised of 13 Regions featuring 140 teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee and The Bahamas.

The competition at Tryon marked Region 13’s first official IEA competition abroad. The first day of competition was devoted to the Varsity teams and riders (grades 9-12). Hannah Ritchie started the ball rolling for Region 13 by winning 6th place in the Junior Varsity Novice Over Fences Team class, representing the Camperdown Blue Marlins Team. On Sunday the Futures (grades 4-8) riders competed with even more success. Katarina Coello placed 3rd in the Future Intermediate Equitation on the Flat Team to represent the Mariposa Gold Drops. Coello also won individual honours, placing 6th in the Future Intermediate Equitation Individual competition. Emma Johnston made her mark in the Future Beginners Walk Trot Canter Individual class, placing 3rd overall.

Said Erika Adderley, Region 13 president: “Against this competition they rode well, they worked hard, and pulled together. I’m absolutely pleased with Ella (Saidi)’s ride, and the fact that she has qualified to go to Nationals. I’m very proud.”

Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre, president of Equestrian Bahamas, also praised the coaches, Erika Adderley of Mariposa Stables and Kimberly Johnson of Camperdown Equestrian Centre.

“Our riders’ success is a testament to the solid fundamental techniques we have in our training programmes here on-island,” she noted. “We are very proud of our riders and look forward to their continued successes.”