Riders take part in international jump on home soil

(CNS): Isabelle Smith on Edson Arantes became the first rider to take the championship trophy when the Cayman Equestrian Foundation hosted the FEI’s World Jumping Challenge for the first time. Smith entered the contest with four other local riders Alexandra Rado on Larkin, Polly Serpell on Calidad, and Amara Thompson on Rumour Has It. The competition is designed for riders who cannot easily travel to international shows because they live in remote locations. As well as getting individual placing within their geographic zone, the best three riders constitute the Cayman Team and are given a ranking alongside other teams in the region.

After all the horses had passed the vet jog, the riders competed over the first course. Rado was first to go and had one knock down posting four faults. Thompson and Smith followed her anddid the same, each posting four faults, whilst Serpell clipped two fences, finishing round one on eight faults.

In the second round of the day, Smith posted the first clear round of the day, with Rado and Serpell both having one knock down resulting in four faults each. Thompson had three knock downs and an additional penalty for cantering in the compulsory trot section, finishing round two on 16 faults.

In the first round of the second day, the third round of the competition, Smith and Thompson posted four faults, each having one knock down and Rado posted eight faults for two knock downs. Unfortunately for Serpell, her horse refused the same fence twice resulting in her elimination.

The final round was a ‘jump off’ of sorts, with time coming in to play in the event of a tie on overall faults for the winning place. Rado finally got the clear round she coveted along with Smith and Serpell. Thompson finished the day with fifteen faults in the final round.
After the faults from all four days were tallied, Smith was declared Champion, Rado Reserve Champion and Thompson was placed third. These three ladies now form the Cayman Team for the competition.

Sharon Hinds, president of the CIEF said for many years it had been a goal to host this contest locally and she added, “It gave the four riders who entered some great competition experience on FEI designed courses and a ranking in the region for themselves and for the team.”