Bermuda’s equestrians took advantage of an additional opportunity to compete on home soil at the weekend.

The National Equestrian Centre hosted the first ever Caribbean Equestrian Association Mini Jumping Challenge and the CEA Regional Jumping Challenge last Saturday, which provides local riders and horses with the opportunity to compete at lower jumping heights against Caribbean islands without having to travel overseas.

Representing Bermuda at the main event were McKenzie Kowalski riding Edelweiss (0.50m), Georgia Hughes riding Mr. Wizard (0.60m) and Isla Curtis riding Carolina Gold (0.70m).

Bermuda Equestrian Federation spokeswoman Elka Gibbs was delighted with the chances the new competition provides.

“To provide equestrian with an additional opportunity to compete at lower jumping heights, the Caribbean Equestrian Association introduced, this year, the CEA Mini Jumping Challenge [CEA MJC],” she said.

“This competition is in addition to the CEA Regional Jumping Challenge [CEA RJC], in which Bermuda has successfully participated for several years.

“Similar to the CEA RJC, the newly introduced CEA Mini Jumping Challenge provides an additional opportunity for local riders to compete against Caribbean Islands without having to travel overseas. Competing islands must host their competition within the calendar year.

“As such, the overall results will be announced at the end of the year. The Bermuda Equestrian Federation recently hosted the Bermuda round of the CEA Mini Jumping Competition at the National Equestrian Centre on Saturday, October 1.

“The competition provided for individual placings as well as the selection of a Bermuda Team and Judging this year’s event was Bermuda FEI Judge Pamela Mahoney.”

The inaugural event was followed by the Bermuda Equestrian Federation Support Show.

Logan Flood claimed the pony jumping 0.75m title riding Storm Watch, with Ryan Wright victorious in the horse jumping 0.85m event with Sunny Days.

Cooper White claimed the horse jumping 0.95m title with Forza, Isabelle Pelletier reigned supreme in the horse jumping 1.00m event with Kaid HZ while Jaylynn Hines secured the horse jumping 1.10m and 1.20m titles riding Toto D’Ysenbeeck Z.