performance, beating out a former world champion and an Olympic gold medallist on his way to an eighth place finish in Ireland over the weekend.

Nineteen year-old Collins, based in England, was among a top class field of 63 competitors from 11 countries who competed in the International Championships of Ireland CCI three star Olympic Qualifying three-day event in Punchestown.

Riding Brincador, Collins finished ahead of such top riders as New Zealand's Mark Todd, the former world champion, and Great Britain's Olympic champion Karen Dixon.

He was one of only four riders who went clear within the allotted time across the country and in the show jumping which moved him from 37th after a dressage score of 64.2 to finish in eighth place -- the biggest improvement by any rider over the three days.

The event saw the top 15 equestrians qualify for next year's Olympics in Atlanta, although Bermuda have yet to decide whether an equestrian team will be sent to the 1996 Games.

Tim's father, Mike Collins, who flew to Ireland to watch the event said yesterday: "He was right up there with the cream of the cream. Some of the best riders in the world were competing.

"If he'd scored better in the dressage, he would have placed even higher.'' The event was won by Great Britain's World gold medallist Mary Thomson on Star Appeal while second place went to Australia's Olympic gold medallist Matt Ryan on Alater Pedis.

Collins' horse, Brincador will now take a break until the fall.

The Bermuda rider's next international event will be in Chantilly, France the week after next where he will ride Bermuda Twist, a young horse that impressed at Le Lion D'angers last year and won the Open Intermediate class at Lanhydrock in Cornwall, England two weeks ago.

JUMPING FOR JOY -- Bermuda's Tim Collins rides Brincador towards a clear round in the cross country segment of the international three-day event in Punchestown, Ireland. He went on to finish eighth in a field which included many of the world's best.