The Tribune

BAHAMIAN equestrian athletes took the Florida equestrian circuit by storm this weekend, winning ribbons and championship honours in major competitions across the state from Palm Beach to Ocala.

At the Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, 15-year-old Sienna Tinker got off to a successful start riding Pella VD Wolfskooy (owned by Cassandra Orpen) to a 7th place finish in the 0.80m Training Jumpers, then moved on to compete at 0.90m and finally in the 1.0m Low Children’s Jumper Classic, where she and Pella jumped clear but off the pace, finishing 3.207 seconds over the time allowed and gaining 4 time faults.

Further north in Ocala, FL, a contingent of Bahamians were making a splash at the World Equestrian Center Winter Spectacular VIII competition.

Under the guidance of trainer Erika Adderley of Mariposa Stables, Katerina Coello piloted Hazelbrook Farm’s Manhattan to reserve champion in the 0.80m Child/Adult Jumpers and then moved on up several divisions to finish with a 5th place in the 0.90m Novice Children’s Jumper, while Sienna Jones, riding Aliza Guerreiro’s Kavalier V/D Brouwershoeve, was Reserve Champion in the 0.70m Child/Adult Jumpers.

Other riders finishing in the ribbons were Isabella Coello (5th place, 0.80m Jumpers), Amber Lleida (4th place, 0.80m Jumpers, 8th place, 0.90m Adult Jumpers), Henricia Beauchesne (5th place, 0.65m Child/Adult Jumpers), Elle O’Brien (7th place, Low Adult Hunters), and 11-year-old Charlotte Rose, who brought home a clutch of rosettes, placing 3rd and 6th in the 11 & Under Equitation and 4th, 5th and 6th in the Short Stirrup Hunters.

Also competing at Ocala was Virginia-based Bahamian junior rider Kacy Lyn Smith, who rode her own Chicago M. to a tie for champion in the 1.30/1.35m Medium Junior Jumpers Division and then stopped by to socialise with the other Bahamian riders.

The weekend was a milestone for Bahamian equestrian sport, marking the first time that the athletes travelling abroad focused on competing in classes in the jumping discipline, one of only three equestrian disciplines recognised by the IOC.

“Our goal is to build a junior team for international competition,” said federation president Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre.

“Focusing on the jumping discipline is therefore an essential step towards this goal.

“Congratulations to all riders on their strong efforts.”