Bermudian equestrian Tim Collins? goal to compete at the Olympics could well come at the expense of another Island rider ? MJ Tumbridge.

Both are battling to top the International Equestrian Federation?s North America zone and capture the one slot automatically allocated to that individual.

There is the possibility of the Island receiving a wild card for another rider but that would not be known until sometime later.

Collins, who last Thursday began a points qualifier in Portugal (the Lisbon CIC), headed the division?s standings before that competition with 16 points while his compatriot was in second place on four points.

?There?s only one slot available and the points leader gets it. I have about 16 points now and as long as I stay in the lead in the North America zone then I would be the first person chosen to go to Athens,? said the 28-year-old Collins.

?Hopefully, if this competition goes well and I can pick up another 15 or 20 points, then it would be very difficult for MJ to catch me on the points system but she could go out and do very well and top the zone.

?It seems horrible to compete against another person from Bermuda but that?s the way it is.?

Mindful that his cut-off date for accumulating points is May 1, Collins wanted to finish in the top 15 in Portugal, thereby adding another 12 or so points to his total.

A factor he must also bear in mind is that whichever mount he hopes to ride in Athens must qualify separately for the Olympics and there?s a deadline for horses too.

?What I?m trying to do now is to get enough points. If I have enough points before May then I have until late June to qualify my horse,? he said, explaining that horses must complete a three-day event within certain qualifying times and limits.

While currently using two mounts ? Mr. K.Starr and Delton Magna ? the Bermudian favours the former and will seek to qualify him at a competition in Patroni, Italy, next month.

?I?ve got two very good horses but Delton Magna is not reliable. Mr. K.Starr is honest, brave and does everything.

?If I can get him qualified that?s what I?d like. He?s getting better and better,? said Collins of his preference for the horse christened after American lawyer Ken Starr, famed for investigating the Bill Clinton-Monica Lewinsky scandal.