equestrian.

With over 400 awards decorating an entire wall of his Paget bedroom, talented young equestrian Rayman Butterfield has taken a symbolic jump into what should be an exciting future.

This weekend, the 16-year old former Warwick Academy student set off, along with his mount Storm Warning, for Toronto, where Hugh Graham of the Canadian Olympic Show Jumping Team has taken him under his wing as personal trainer.

And such is his faith in the young Bermudian's talent that the top rider has also purchased an additional horse, Zabadak, for Rayman to ride while he is in Canada.

Hoping that he might one day represent Bermuda in the Olympics, the son of Malcolm and Debbie Butterfield said he was "thrilled'' to have this chance of riding on the North American circuit.

Since he will also be attending Appleby College, the intense training required at this level of competition will keep him busy but, as he pointed out, hours of daily training has long been part of his life. A top student, he added: "I found time to play most sports -- and I also play the viola!'' According to his proud father, it has been his son's diligence, as well as talent, that has already taken him to the top of the local equestrian ladder.

"He rode his first Bermuda Grand Prix when he was only 14, in the Equefest '96. There were six professional riders from overseas and Rayman placed sixth, beating one of the professionals and all of Bermuda's top adult riders. I believe he was the youngest competitor ever to achieve that.'' Last year, he won the Junior Jumper Championship on Badger Boy, a horse owned by James and Helen Pitman on which he achieved a string of successes before acquiring his own mount, Storm Warning.

Admitting she was "just a little anxious'' about the welfare of her son's horse who was last week sent ahead of Rayman on the Oleander , Mrs.

Butterfield said, "He has worked very hard on Stormy -- as we call him -- and I think they make a great team. They've won all sorts of awards for jumping and dressage and as overall champion. Now Stormy doesn't like dressage -- or at least, had never done it before. But through training with Michelle (Johnson) they were looking very good in a short space of time, so I think you could say he has a wide diversification.'' Other achievements -- in a very long list -- include the rarely awarded Shalimar Trophy, last year, given to a junior rider betwen the age of 14 and 18 who had ridden the same horse in any class throughout the year.

In his first competition on `Stormy', in Bolton, Ontario, just weeks after acquiring his new mount, Rayman won the Schooling Jumper Division. At the close of the 1997-98 season in Bermuda, they took first place in the Inermediate Open Jumper Division.

Rayman, who began riding on ponies at Spicelands at the age of five, recalled that he went every Saturday for lessons. He was full of praise for the many trainers who have since helped him achieve his high rankings. Abby Tavares and Michelle Johnson are also proud of their student rider, having watched his progress over the years with increasing admiration.

"Michelle and I have seen him grow up from when he first came to Spicelands,'' said Ms Tavares, "and have always been impressed with his determination and staying power.'' Mrs. Butterfield, who paid tribute to other trainers including Mary Francis Gaglio, Moira Benbow, Leslie Wylie and Bermuda's `overseas' trainer Dave Ballard, said she has been heartened by the outpouring of support from the riding community.

Mr. Butterfield, who noted that very few teenage boys are involved in this sport in Bermuda, said: "Usually, bikes and girls take over, but Rayman has shown great diligence in sticking with it. We do, however, try to instil in him that riding is only worth doing if he really enjoys it.'' Asked where she thought her son had acquired his talent for horse riding, Canadian-born Mrs. Butterfield revealed that her great-great grandfather had been coachman to John Quincy Adams: "Maybe that's where it all began!'' JUMPING FOR THE TOP -- Young equestrian star Rayman Butterfield, competes on leased mount `Mirage' in the Collingwood (Ontario) Show in 1996.