By Pamela Fowler

On Saturday night, the membership of the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (“CIEF”) met at the George Town Yacht Club to celebrate the winners of their dressage and jumping leagues for 2015.

About 100 people gathered to find out who had won the coveted Champion and Reserve Champion titles for the current season in the the National Dressage Championship and the National Jumping Series.

Veteran equestrian and President of Jamaica’s Equestrian Federation, Betty Wates, was in Cayman for the FEI Level 2 Coach Course taking place on island this week. She graciously agreed to present the awards to the winners, saying her heart was “full” to see so many riders competing in Cayman. She noted how much the Federation had grown during the many years she has been involved with equestrianism.

Notable among the award winners were Phoebe Serpell, who took home four awards, and Isabelle Smith and Amara Thompson, who each took home three awards. In addition, Jenna Boucher put in a solid performance over the course of the season and scooped the Champion ribbon in both the 0.7m and 0.85m jumping classes .

Newcomers to the awards this year were Kayla Godwin, Abbey Swartz, Eva Muspratt, Basil Humphries and Lea Rado, highlighting the growth and development of equestrian sport in Cayman over the past few years.

A full set of results can be found at www.ciefcay.com.

The CIEF’s final show of the season is this Sunday when Cayman’s top show jumpers compete in the FEI’s World Jumping Challenge, Category C, over fences at heights of 1.1m. There are three events to this competition, which are spread out over the course of the year. Cayman Riding School on Hirst Road in Savannah hosts Event 1 this Sunday 28th June at 8.15am. The World Jumping Challenge will be followed by an Olympic Day Handy Jumper for all levels of rider. Spectators are welcome and entry is free. Refreshments are available for purchase, including a BBQ lunch.

Photo credit due to Joanna Humphries