THREE Outerbridges will take on some of the best junior riders in the Caribbean this weekend at the National Equestrian Centre at Vesey Street in another round of the Caribbean Equestrian Association's Junior Jumping Competition.

Bermuda along with Jamaica, Trinidad and Barbados are involved in this competition.

Jana Outerbridge, 15, is the veteran on the Bermuda team. She has competed twice for Bermuda in the CEA in Antigua and Barbados. She also competed twice overseas in the 12 and Under Division.

Camille Outerbridge who is also 15-years old, will be representing Bermuda for the first time. She has been riding for the past 11 years. Last year, she placed first in the FEI Preliminary Dressage Challenge and was a team member of the FEI World Challenge taking second place. Camille is currently ranked in third place in the Rising Star Jumping Series.

Jeff Sousa who is on the CEA committee, said: "Camille, like Jana, competes extensively on the local show circuit and feels that the CEA competition will be a great stepping stone in her future in the sport."

Bermuda's representative in the 12 and Under Division is Camille's younger sister, Alison Outerbridge.

Sousa said: "Twelve-year old Alison is an all-round athlete having represented and medalled for Bermuda in track and field. Recently, she won both the high jump and long jump in her age group at the Interschool Sports. She is the 2003 recipient of the Denton Hurdle Award, and is now thrilled to be representing Bermuda in her first love as an equestrian. Alison has been riding for eight years and consistently places in the top three in her age group."

The CEA competition involves junior riders under 17 years competing in the participating countries. Due to the limited number of suitable horses in some of the countries, not all countries participate in all competitions, and riders travel on a rotation basis so that three countries compete in each round. It is held over two days with each competitor jumping three rounds each day on a different horse. The objective is to go clear with no jumping faults in the fastest time. "The purpose of this event is to give our very talented, young athletes additional exposure in overseas competition," said Sousa.

The title sponsor for the competition is Montpelier Re.

Spring Gardens Restaurant is sponsoring the team from Trinidad and Sousa's Landscape Management will sponsor the Jamaican team.

Sousa said: "The CEA committee, which encompasses Steve Gibbons, John Thorne, Starla Williams, Heidi DeSilva, Leslie Cox, James and Judy McKirdy and myself, urge all of Bermuda to come out and support our local team."

Admission is free and refreshments will be available. The Minister of Youth and Sports, Dale Butler, will be attending.

Sousa added: "We also appeal to any Trinidadians and Jamaicans in Bermuda to come down and urge your team on."

Sousa said that it was hoped that these young riders will follow in the footsteps of some of Bermuda senior international riders like Pan Am gold medallist M.J. Tumbridge and Tim Collins who it is believed to have booked his ticket to the Athens Olympics.

"There are other Bermudians competing overseas as well ? people like Patrick Nesbitt, Jillian Terceira, Natasha Sirjusingh, Cathy Fox, Suzie Dunkley Zanduoort and Rayman Butterfield," he added.