Young riders from Canada, the UK, United States, Jamaica, Haiti and Mexico will be converging on Bermuda this weekend when Bermuda hosts the two-day Junior International Show Jumping Competition at the National Equestrian Centre at Vesey Street.

"We have invited these countries to send pre-junior (12 to 14 year-olds) and junior teams (14 to 18), who will be sharing the horses of our ten local competitors,'' explains event chairman, Mrs. Mary Frances Gaglio. "There will be two classes of entry on each day and between those, we have other classes competing and some `fun' events which we think will be popular, both with riders and spectators.'' The show, which was last held in 1988, is a major event in equestrian circles and has attracted sponsorship from the Bank of Bermuda, Belco, Telco, Kempe & Whittle, Frith's Liquors, and Barritt's, as well as private sponsors and some "very generous'' trophy sponsors.

Quite apart from the obvious attractions for riding enthusiasts, Mrs. Gaglio believes that the whole concept of international competitions are an invaluable way of promoting understanding and friendliness between countries: "I think it exposes young people to the customs and cultures of other countries. Of course, our riders get to travel quite a lot through these exchanges, so they are meeting children from all over the world. They stay in families -- as our visitors will be doing -- and they all become great friends! It also helps to re-assert the values of sportsmanship.'' Committee member Mrs. Sydney MacPherson agrees. "Riding, as a sport, also teaches respect for animals and provides a wholesome way for a child to spend an afternoon -- not just riding, but taking care of the horse and taking on responsibility.'' Horse-riding is an increasingly popular sport, with stables reportedly finding themselves unable to keep up with demand. They point out that riding is not confined to children whose families can afford the expenses involved in owning a horse.

"A lot of children who like horses get involved, initially, by helping out at stables -- they may get free lessons and opportunities to ride in exchange.

And further on, there are scholarships for children who show talent, so that they can take lessons with visiting teachers,'' says Mrs. Gaglio.

The organisers are particularly thrilled that the show's course designer is Mr. Dave Ballard, from Ontario. "He's been our national coach for the last three years and we are very fortunate to have someone of his calibre, because he has just been the assistant designer for the World Championships in Stockholm and has been chosen as the assistant for the Atlanta Olympics,'' says Mrs. Gaglio, who adds that when Mr. Ballard conducts clinics on his many visits here, he always donates a series of free lessons.

There are 11 Bermuda riders taking part and they include:- Tiffany Heslop, who has been riding for 11 years and was the Best Foreign Junior Rider in last year's show in Puerto Rico; 14-year old Gemma Morrison, who won the Dressage Championship and Sportsmanship Award and came 4th in show jumping in Jamaica last year, helping her team to win the Bronze Medal for Bermuda; 13-year old Sara Leighton, who represented Bermuda in Jamaica in 1992 where she won the overall Jumper Championship and was also a member of the Bronze-winning team last year; Rayman Butterfield, who has been riding since he was five, has already won several local awards this year, includring the Agricultural Exhibition's Junior Equitation for 12-14 year-olds; Christina Dove, 13, has also been riding since she was five, and recently won the Novice Horse Jumping at the Malabar Show; Jane Dunmore, who has only been riding for two years won the Pony Jumping Championship at this year's Bermuda Horse and Pony Association Spring Show; 15 year-old Catrina Adcock, who represented Bermuda in Puerto Rico in 1994, and has had successes in Hunter, Equitation and Jumper division, plans to spend most of the summer training in Canada with Mr.

Ballard; Steffania Dimeglio, who at 14 has been riding for eight years, scoring successes in Equitation and Hunter divisions; 18 year-old Kristy Mullin, who has been riding since she was four, has only been riding `Jigsaw' for eight months, showing him successfully in Hunters and Jumpers classes; Furquan Khaldun, who began his riding career at nine when he arrived here from New York, has enjoyed a successful season jumping at the novice level in his first show season; and finally, Melody Smith, who rode for Bermuda in Puerto Rico, hopes to go on and compete with Mr. Ballard in Canada.

Bermuda last hosted the International Show in 1988, although the team makes regular visits overseas, including an annual invitation to compete in Puerto Rico. "It takes a lot of organising and one of the problems is that it's not always easy to obtain the appropriate number of horses needed. As it is, the visitors will be sharing local horses.'' Partly as a safeguard against any mishaps and in view of the fact that the foreign competitors will be riding strange horses -- with the horses themselves having to jump twice, rather than once -- the jumps will be "slightly'' lowered, "to 3-feet 3-inches for pre-juniors, and 3-feet 9-inches for the junior division. Also, Lisa Palfrey and Tina Epps have very kindly lent their horses, Quiet Man and Just Do It, as reserve mounts,'' explains Mrs. Gaglio.

"We have improved facilities at Vesey Street this year,'' she adds. "The stables are now in use there, and a tent is being erected at the end of the collecting ring so that the horses have shade and fans to keep them as cool as possible. There will be a vet on duty -- Andrew Madeiros -- and Carl Terceira will be on hand in case a horse pulls its shoe!'' Mrs. MacPherson, whose children both ride ("that's how I got roped in!''), says the Show organisers are grateful for the support this event is receiving from the community. "There will be a Patrons' Tent and Covered Bleachers which costs $175 per couple for the two days and includes dinner on the Saturday and lunch on Sunday. There will also be a canteen for refreshments and some bleachers for the general public,'' she explains.

The Governor, Lord Waddington will perform the opening ceremony, followed by a Parade, where the flags of participating countries will be paraded round the field.

The Bermuda Junior International Horse Show takes place at Vesey Street on Saturday from 2 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. and on Sunday, from 10 a.m. to around 4.30 p.m. General admission is $5. for advance ticket sales and Patrons' tickets please telephone 236-1263.