(CIEF) On Sunday 1st February, the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation’s [CIEF] show jumpers gathered at Cayman Riding School for the second of four legs of the National Jump Series 2015.

In the week prior to the competition, top UK show jumping coach, Corinne Bracken, was in Cayman to coach riders in preparation for the jump show. Bracken was warmly welcomed by the CIEF and her coaching clinics were a huge success. She said of her experience, “This was an opportunity to coach somewhere in the world that I have never been to before. I cannot describe in words the hunger for new ideas and learning all the riders, parents and coaches showed. The improvement in the partnerships was very rewarding, and I hope to be able to return and continue to progress some exciting young combinations. Thank you Cayman, you made me very welcome!”

The growth in the sport was clearly exhibited by the size of the lower height classes where many beginner riders have joined in this year’s league, swelling these class sizes. With so much competition in the 0.6m and 0.7m classes, the coveted blue ribbon is hotly contended and the classes are extremely exciting to watch.

New riders joining the league in the second leg were Grace Bostock, Shayla Ebanks, Kyra Slattery, Kayla Godwin and Charlotte Shepherd.

The 0.6m Juniors class was won by a solid clear round from Basil Humphries on Storm. Second place went to Laney Bodden, third to Asheley van den Bol, fourth to Kayla Godwin, fifth to Lea Rado and sixth place to Meegan Slattery.

In the largest class of the day, Rado was first to go and jumped clear with an excellent time, laying down the standard for other riders to follow. Almost all of the 13 riders in the class went clear. Much later in the class, Jenna Boucher and Katrina went clear and shaved four seconds off the leading time. Last to go in the class was Chloe Fowler, who followed Boucher’s course shortcut to shave a second off Boucher’s time to win the class on Laney Bodden’s Cayman pony, Star. Boucher remained in second with Rado in third, van den Bol in fourth, Boucher in fifth (on a second horse) and Godwin in sixth.

In the 0.7m adults class, Juliette Forrester was first with Amara Thompson in second, Madeleine Aquart in third and Charlotte Shepherd in fourth.

Van den Bol went clear and took first place in the 0.85m open class on local horse, Durango, followed by Hannah Fowler in second with another clear round, on Seligkeit, and Boucher and Katrina in third with 8 faults.

Phoebe Serpell was first in the 1m open class, finishing on 8 faults, but she was also entered in the 1.1m class along with Isabelle Smith and Amara Thompson. The 1.1m class served as a trial for a place on the Cayman team heading to Wellington in March for the Caribbean Challenge. Smith took the first place in this class with a clear round, with Serpell in second on 12 faults. Thompson was eliminated after a fall from her horse. Smith and Serpell will therefore represent Cayman in the Caribbean Challenge next month. Smith also entered the 1.2m class but was eliminated after two refusals.

CIEF also hosted cross rail classes for beginners to get their first taste of competition. In the cross rail classes, a number of new riders tested out their skills and were delighted to go clear. The group comprised Grace Bostock, Kyra Slattery, Norah Hughes, Olivia Kluyver and Isabella Finlay.

The next leg of the league is on Sunday 1st March at the Equestrian Centre on Linford Pierson Highway at 8am. Entry is free and spectators are welcome. For further information regarding all of CIEF’s upcoming events, log on to the CIEF’s website at www.ciefcay.com

IMAGES:
Photo credits due to Slattery Photography
1. Qualifiers for the Wellington Caribbean Challenge 2015 : Isabelle Smith and Phoebe Serpell
2. Where it all begins – the Cross Rail Class (L to R): Norah Hughes, Kyra Slattery, Grace Bostock, Olivia Kluyver and Isabelle Finlay
3. Corinne Bracken, top UK Youth Coach