The Tribune

ANNA Camille Vlasov has made history for Bahamas equestrian sport by becoming the first Bahamian to compete in a Regional Show Jumping Championship.

Vlasov represented The Bahamas in show jumping at the Central American and Caribbean Games, held in the Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic sub-venue.

Riding her superb mount Gulliver Du Saint-Chene, the pair completed three gruelling rounds over four days just to qualify for Wednesday’s Individual Final.

As an individual entry, Vlasov and Gulliver were required to compete not only in Sunday’s individual qualifying round but also in the team competition the next day.

The pair showed their quality with a smooth, competent round in the individual qualifier that put them in a solid position going into the team competition.

This was held under a Nations Cup format, with two rounds of 16 jumping efforts each, with fence heights between 1.45 and 1.47 metres.

In the first round, the pair had one of the fastest times, well under the time allowed, with two unlucky rails down.

Despite a refusal at jump two in the second round, they finished strongly on a score of 34.32 over the three rounds jumped, good enough to qualify for the individual final.

The individual final was an incredible test for the athletes - the first round alone comprised 17 jumping efforts, including a triple bar 1.85 metres wide, a double combination, a triple combination and an open water jump. After a shaky start and a pole down on the first fence, Vlasov and Gulliver got stronger and stronger as they rode through the course, finishing on 12 faults.

Sitting in 16th place – good enough to be near the top 10, but technically out of medal contention – Vlasov chose to retire from the competition rather than jump the second round of the Final.

“I made a horseman’s decision,” said Vlasov. “My horse gave his heart for this event. We are both still very inexperienced; we learned so much in this, our first Championship Games, and I felt it was unfair to ask him for more when he had already given so much.”

Vlasov was not the only athlete to make this decision: she was one of 5 riders in the top 20 who chose to retire from the competition rather than work their horses further. In the end, Vlasov and Gulliver placed 20th overall, tied with Colombia’s Jorge Andres Barrera and Explosive TV.

“It was the hardest test I have ever faced in my career,” said Vlasov. “I feel so honored to have such an incredible horse like Gulliver. I am so fortunate to be supported by an amazing team, who guided me every step of the way on this incredible journey.”

Vlasov was accompanied to the Games by her trainer, Gilles Bertran de Balanda, a former World Champion and member of the French Olympic Show Jumping Team; Chef d’Equipe Heidi Mello of Bermuda who has over 25 years of experience in equestrian sport at the CAC, Pan-Am and Olympic Games, and professional show groom Margaux Rampnoux of France, who has over 15 years’ experience preparing top horses for international competition.

“This is only the beginning,” said Vlasov. “I am so thrilled with our performance. Now we continue to train and set our sights on representing The Bahamas in the Pan-American Games in 2026!”