Serpell wins U16 team spot for Jam show jumping leg

(CNS): Two of Cayman’s young show jumpers went head to head for a place on the Cayman Islands’ team headed to Jamaica this month for the final round of the 2014 Caribbean Equestrian Association’s Junior Show Jumping Competition (“CEA JSJC”). Phoebe Serpell (14) (left) and Isabelle Smith (15) put themselves forward to trial for the place in the under 16 category. Over the course of two rounds, Smith knocked one fence down resulting in four faults. However, Serpell rode both rounds clear giving her the win over Smith and the U16 place on the Cayman Team for the Jamaica leg.

Riders are required to jump 1m height courses overseas on borrowed horses. Although only 14 years old, Serpell elected to compete in this higher height category. The selection process established by the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF) to select the team member involves both riders riding two jump courses of 1m fence heights; one course on their own horse, and the second course on each other’s horse. The idea being that this assesses to the extent possible, riders’ competence in a borrowed horse situation.

Having secured her place Serpell will be joined by Chloe Fowler as the U14 team member. Fowler put herself forward for selection and was uncontested for the place. The duo will head to Jamaica this month for the final round of the CEA JSJC. Cayman is currently lying joint first with Jamaica, who will have the home advantage in this title deciding competition.

Mary Alberga of the Equestrian Centre will accompany the Team as the National Coach.

The CIEF’s next competition in Cayman is on Sunday 16 November and is the first of the national dressage shows for the 2014/15 season.  Experienced dressage coach and judge, Cindy Thaxton of High Point Farm, Georgia, has long supported Cayman’s dressage riders and will be coming to the island to judge the competition and offer clinics to riders to improve their performance, the federation stated in a release.

The competition will be held in two venues for the first time, in order to maximize the number of entries and the make the competition available to as many riders as possible. The first half of the competition will take place at the Equestrian Centre, off the Linford Pierson Highway in George Town from 8am until noon and the second half of the competition will take place at Cayman Riding School on Hirst Road in Savannah from 2pm – 6pm.

Awards for the entire day will be presented at Cayman Riding School at 6pm. Both sections of the competition are free entry for the public and support is welcome. Refreshments can be purchased on site.