FOR the first time ever, Bermuda will have a show jumper competing at the Olympics.

The news came during the early hours of yesterday morning from the ruling body of the sport, the FEI, from their headquarters in Switzerland.

Paul Pereech, who was the Chef d'Equipe for show jumpers Patrick Nesbitt (pictured right) and Jill Terceira at the recently-concluded Pan American Games in Brazil, said yesterday: "This is indeed a historic day for Bermuda. We will have a show jumper competing at the 2008 Olympics."

While all the sports at next summer's Games will be in or around Beijing, the equestrian competition will be held in Hong Kong.

Pereech said: "It has also been confirmed that both Patrick (Nesbitt) riding Antille 8 and Jillian (Terceira) riding Navantus have obtained the Certificate of Capability for the Olympic Games as a result of their Pan Am success."

Now it will be a question of who goes to Hong Kong next year to represent Bermuda. And it is not only Nesbitt and Terceira who will be in the mix for the coveted Olympic spot.

Pereech, who is the Bermuda Equestrian Federation's chairman of the International Committee as well as being an FEI international judge, said: "Both Patrick and Jill have attained the minimum standard to compete at the Olympics but someone else could also qualify in the next year.

"For instance Tim Collins, who was also trying to qualify for the Pan Am Games in Rio, could meet the minimum standard (this coming season). He or anyone else who meets the minimum standard could also be in the running."

But no matter what, Bermuda will have a rider flying the flag next summer.

"There will be a selection process," said Pereech, who added that he made the qualifying standard for the Pan Am Games quite tough.

"I made it more stringent than many other countries because I knew the standard in Rio was going to be high. And Patrick and Jill met those standards."

The selection process later this year will take into account past performances leading up to the Pan Am Games as well as performances this up coming season.

Nesbitt is based in England while Terceira and Collins are both based in Holland.

Collins presented Bermuda at the 2004 Olympics in Athens when he competed in the eventing division. He has since started to concentrate solely on show jumping.

Bermuda's best moment in equestrian came in 1999 during the Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Canada, when MJ Tumbridge won the gold medal in eventing.