ERMUDA international show jumpers, Patrick Nisbett and Jill Terceira, both qualified at the weekend for the 2007 Pan American Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Nisbett and Terceira, who have for many years based themselves in Europe, also both reached the qualifying standard at the same show ? the CCI three-star in La Bagnaia, Italy.

"It made is extra special that we both qualified at the same time," said a happy Terceira this week from her base in Holland.

Nisbett, who is normally based in England but who has been in Germany since the middle of July, added: "It was nice that we were both at the show and qualified. I think it is fair to say that it was a proud moment for both of us ? we have worked hard."

Terceira was riding her horse Chaka III while Nisbett was on his mount Antille 8.

Paul Pereech, chairman of the International Committee of the Bermuda Equestrian Federation, said: "It is fantastic they both qualified ? and at the same event. And they have worked so hard to get there. Patrick, over the past calendar year, has competed in 68 FEI events while Jill has competed in 128 events."

In order to represent Bermuda in Rio next summer, both riders had to have two results at CCI three-star events with jumps of at least 1.50 metres and no more than 12 faults at each event.

Nisbett's first result was at Hickstead where he only had one fault. Last Sunday he had only five faults.

Terceira's first result was at Giubiasco, Switzerland where she had 12 faults and then last weekend in Italy she had 10 faults.

Nisbett, said from Hanover, Germany this week: "I wish we could have both had a celebration after the show in Italy but we had to pack up and drive home. After Jill qualified I went over to her and congratulated her and then when I qualified she came over to see me. But both of us then had to get going ? especially Jill since she had a long drive back (to her home in Holland).

"Both Jill and I are happy everything went to plan. The show (in Italy) was the second qualifier for both of us."

Nisbett said he decided on Hickstead to be his first qualifier because he wanted his horse Antille 8 to have the experience of performing in the main ring. "I wanted him to experience that and it worked out well because I only had one time fault. She jumped really well.

"Antilla is only 10 years old and although she has got a lot of potential she is not that experienced with the big atmosphere. Sometimes she gets in the ring and does things that are green and other times she really shows her potential. She has jumped three weekends in a row now and she has performed well. She gives so much 95 percent of the time and during the other five percent she may have a glitch ? and I get disappointed. But that is good in a way because it is reminder than you still have to work on things."

For Terceira, who just failed to make the qualification for the World Equestrian Games this past summer in Germany, qualifying for Rio made it extra special.

"Not getting to the World Games in Germany was a disappointment ? I had worked so hard to get there and I was just one rail away from going. This makes it more special. Now we can prepare properly (for Rio) and that makes a big difference. It is so exciting."

Terceira noted that both herself and Nisbett had a chance to have that second qualification result two weeks ago at a show in Italy "but it was not our day".

She said: "So we had some pressure on ourselves going into the show at La Bagnaia because this was going to be the last three-star competition this year that would be outdoors ? the last one we could use for qualification. It was our last good chance before the summer was finished. Now it is a relief because we have the qualification out of the way and now we can concentrate on keeping our horses fit and not have such a heavy schedule leading up to the Games next summer.

"We could have qualified from indoors (in the winter) ? but that still means going all year long and trying to qualify at every show and then if you failed to qualify indoors, it meant that we would have had to try again when the season started next year. That would have been hard. Now we can plan accordingly and get the horses fit so they can peak at the Games ? instead of peaking for the qualification at the last minute."

She added: "It is such a relief to have the qualification out of the way. So many things factor into it when you compete ? the condition of the horse, the weather, the course ? you never know how things are going to go."

Now Terceira will let Chaka and some of her other experienced mounts rest and will be jumping her younger horses.

"I will be picking a few younger horses to go to Salzburg, Austria next weekend and will give the top horses a bit of a break. There is a nice eight-year-old I would like to start in the Grand Prix this winter. He is doing 1.4 and I would like to get to 1.45 or 1.5 in the spring."

Nisbett said: "I will be in Germany until end of October. Hanover is a good spot and centrally located ? it is in the heart of horse country. Training in Germany has been a great experience ? the standard here is unbelievable. Now I can truly say that I understand why the Germans are number one in this sport because the standard of the rider and horse are quite something.

"I am learning all the time. It is a matter of riding against a higher standard of rider and you have to push yourself if you want to keep up."

And he certainly values the essence of speed.

"I have had learn to to get the horses to go faster. At the end of the day against these riders and horses you have to be fast. Clear rounds are good but you have to be fast.

"One day (at a show) I had one rail down and I finished 52 out of 130 in the class! It is quite sobering to compete against this competition. It can be a real wake-up call. You have to take a much more prepared approach and go to the show ready to compete ? the learning has to be done at home."

Both Nisbett and Terceira are hoping that more Bermuda riders will qualify ? not only in show jumping but also in eventing and dressage.

Terceira said: "If Tim Collins qualifies in show jumping that means we would have a (show jumping) team which would be exciting."

Terceira has been trained by a variety of coaches including Henk Nooren, Joan Scharffenberger, Norman DelloJoio, George Morris and David Ballard.

In 1996 Nisbett moved to Belgium where he got a taste for international show jumping under the guidance of Jo Hermans, on great horses like Nero, Equinox and Playball. Nero.

At the end of 1998 he moved moved to England where he is still based in which he buys and sells and competes his horses on both the national and international circuits.

Earlier this year he had a successful time in Spain on the Sunshine Tour.