By next week another Bermudian should have officially qualified for the Olympics.

The news may even be doubly wonderful because by the time equestrian Tim Collins gets the nod from the International Equestrian Federation (French acronym FEI) of having secured its North American zonal berth, one of his mounts might have qualified to compete at the Summer Games in Athens also - thus sealing his participation.

President of the Bermuda Equestrian Federation (BEF) Mike Cherry was virtually assured of the Island's place in that Olympic discipline at the recent FEI General Assembly in Paris, France.

“Unofficially we were advised that Tim Collins has indeed got enough points to qualify for the Olympics as a competitor from the North American area. There is nobody else who can theoretically get enough points between now and the deadline which is May 2 to catch him.

“So, as we understand it, he will have a spot in the Olympics,” he told The Royal Gazette, stressing it's subject to FEI confirmation and Collins' horses qualifying.

Cherry explained that following the May 2 (Sunday) deadline the FEI would double-check its data and points allocation from all qualifiers and notify national equestrian federations of which riders would be eligible to compete in Greece.

The BEF chief was delighted with Collins' achievement and anticipated the England-based rider giving a sterling account of himself and his country.

“We're pleased. He is performing well and he has done the necessary competitions to be in a position to qualify. We know he is capable of competing well at such a level.”

Collins, who has amassed 44 points, was thrilled at having qualified but remained somewhat muted in his reaction, keenly cognisant of the fact that his prospective mount(s) must qualify too.

He is currently competing at a CCI event in Patroni, Italy where he was hoping both Mr. K.Starr and Delton Magna might pass the test. However, the latter suffered a minor accident on Wednesday and is now out of the reckoning for this weekend.

“One of my horses is fine and the other is lame. He managed to hit himself yesterday (Wednesday) with his back foot and he can't compete so I have to find another event for him,” explained Collins, speaking from Italy as he walked the trail yesterday.

“Mr. K.Starr is fine and I will do the entire competition with him so by Monday I will know whether I've got one (mount) qualified or not.”

The 28-year-old has two more shots at qualifying his horses at meets in Ireland and England in June.

“If I don't do well here or in Ireland then I don't have a horse. So this is very important,” said Collins, adding that while he officially has until the end of July to qualify horses the last competition will be the one in England.

Meanwhile, Collins' qualification has virtually put paid to the Island's other top equestrian MJ Tumbridge's Olympic aspirations.

Cherry noted that while wild cards won't be decided until later - at the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) discretion - it's unlikely one will go to Bermuda.

“At the moment she is sitting and waiting. She does not have and cannot get enough points to catch Tim and basically a wild card is her only chance,” he said.

“But the fact that we have one rider qualified in his own right probably reduces her chances. Wild cards are given, as I understand it, to countries where they have a single competitor for an event and there is no-one else (in that country) contending for a place.”

As example, he used the situation with triathlete Tyler Butterfield who was the lone Bermudian vying for an Olympic berth with no-one from here having qualified for that discipline. Thus the way was clear for Butterfield to receive a wild card.

“In equestrian, where we have a rider who has already qualified, then they are saying ‘Hey, the wild card situation is no longer applicable' and it would go to another country who have no riders qualified yet.”