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Horses and riders put to test in blustery conditions

Grace Lightower, riding Patrick, secured 1st place in FIrst Level Test 3 and was High score Junior in Bermuda Round of CEA Regional Dressage Caribbean Championship. (photograph by Laura Williamson)

While plenty of sports cancelled fixtures on Saturday as a result of gale-force winds, Bermuda’s dressage horses and riders braved the conditions to compete in the 2022 Caribbean Challenge.

With time running out as the competition must be completed this calendar year, the event was held under the watchful eyes of FEI 4* Colombian judge Cesar Torrente, who travels to assess each of the competing nation on their home soil before collating the results.

Bermuda were the last team to host their event this year, which is why competitors were keen to continue through the inclement weather, and they are now eagerly awaiting the results, which are scheduled to be revealed early in the new year.

National coach Angela Halloran Smith aboard Evert with judge Cesar Torrence

In the Regional Challenge, national dressage coach Angela Halloran Smith was awarded the high score for adults in Training Test level 3 aboard Evert with a score of 75.35 percent.

Also in the adult section, Abby Bardgett was awarded 70 percent for her ride on Cruise Control in First Level test 3 and Claire Turner scored 65.38 percent aboard Baltazar Olympus in Third Level test 3.

Alejandra Tafur and Grace Lightower starred for the juniors with the latter awarded 72.5 percent on First Level test 3 and Tafur registering to rides above 60 percent on Edelweiss.

In the mini challenge, Kayla Bardgett, Scarlett Smale and Charlotte Arthur all picked up first-place honours.

Winning combination: Scarlett Smale and Lollipop won first place in junior section of Mini Challenge. .Also pictured (left to right) Heidi Shelley Mello, CEA President, FEI judge Cesar Torrente and Dr Lucy Richardson, Bermuda National Vet. (photograph by Laura Williamson)
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Published December 14, 2022 at 7:41 am (Updated December 14, 2022 at 8:08 am)

Horses and riders put to test in blustery conditions

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