By Pamela Fowler CIEF

Equestrians across the island celebrated Olympic Day with two very different competitions this past weekend. The first was Event #1 of the FEI’s World Jumping Challenge (“WJC”), where top show jumpers from across the region compete in their own countries on their own horses, and measure themselves against each other over the same courses.

The second competition was an Olympic Day Handy Jumper, designed for riders of all abilities. The riders had to negotiate jumps or cross rails and certain ‘gymkhana-style’ obstacles before dismounting and ‘walking the plank’ to the finish line.

Isabelle Smith and her horse, Edson Arantes MB, took top honours in Event 1 of the WJC again this year, having won the inaugural event in Cayman in 2014. Smith posted four faults in each round and held her rhythm to scoop the blue ribbon. Second was newcomer Hannah Fowler, on her horse, Seligkeit. After a nervous first round clocking up 12 faults, Fowler went back in the arena and rode the only clear round of the competition over the second course, keeping her total faults to 12.

Polly Serpell rode two horses in the competition, Durango and Sunday’s Edition. Serpell placed third on Durango, with 16 faults, and fourth on Sunday’s Edition with 20 faults.

As well as receiving an individual placing amongst riders within their country, the Cayman riders are given a ranking alongside other riders in the region. Cayman riders’ overall placings will be known after we hold Events 2 and 3 which are scheduled for this fall.

Serpell won Best Presented Horse at the Vet Jog the previous day with Sunday’s Edition, which was judged by local vet, Dr Brandy Darby.

After the jumps were lowered, the Olympic Day Handy Jumpers set to work in teams of two, negotiating jumps, slalom cones of tennis balls, moving flags and a water obstacle. Competitors ranged in age from 5 to 18 and in ability from beginner to Youth Olympic Bronze Medalist, Polly Serpell. Teams were mixed up with a random draw and everyone was cheered on to complete the course in record time.

The winning team was Phoebe Serpell on Pony Up and Laney Bodden on Star. Chloe Fowler won the 0.65m individual competition on Shirley and Phoebe Serpell won the individual cross rails on Dreamy. The equestrians rounded the day out with a BBQ to celebrate Olympic Day and the end of a long but fulfilling show season for 2014/15.

Full Results of the Olympic Day Handy Jumper are as follows:

Team Results:

1st Phoebe Serpell/Pony Up and Laney Bodden/ Star
2nd Madeleine Aquart/Rambo and Chloe Fowler/Lollipop
3rd Isabelle Smith/Katrina and Thea Millward/Blitzen
4th Chloe Fowler/Shirley and Hannah Fowler/Tony
5th Jenna Boucher/Katrina and Jenna Boucher/Caitlynn Harrington /Peanuts
6th Kelsey Bodden/Star and Marleigh Smith/Diamond

0.65m Results

1st Chloe Fowler/Shirley
2nd Phoebe Serpell/Pony Up
3rd Jenna Boucher/Katrina
4th Isabelle Smith/Katrina
5th Madeleine Aquart/Rambo
6th Madeleine Aquart/Rambo

X Rails Results

1st Phoebe Serpell/Dreamy
2nd Laney Bodden/Star
3rd Chloe Fowler/Lollipop
4th Thea Millward/Blitzen
5th Kyra Slattery/Diamond
6th Skye Buckley/Max

IMAGES courtesy of Ash Sands