From The Barbados Advocate

Dressage challenge today in St. Andrew

By Petra Gooding 6/1/2013

Some of the best dressage riders on the island will be in action today when the Barbados Equestrian Association stages the Barbados leg of the Caribbean Equestrian Association’s Mini Dressage Challenge at the Cleland Equestrian Facilities in St. Andrew.

This year will see one of the largest group of entrants for some time with riders representing Ride Barbados, Sandy Turf Stables, Big C, Congo Road Equestrian Centre and Cleland Equestrian Club.

The competition is slated to begin at 2 p.m. and Barbados will be represented in both the Adult and Children Categories. The top three scores in each category will be used to make up the overall Barbados score that will go up against those recorded around the region.

The competition will be judged by international FEI Judge, MerriLynn Griffith of the United States, who will travel to all the participating CEA territories to preside over this Dressage competition. To date, Jamaica and Bermuda have held their competitions with the Bermuda Adult Team scoring 216.115% and the Jamaica Adult Team 207.775%. The Jamaican Children’s Team scored 206.724%, while Bermuda did not have a Children’s Team.

Expected to turn out for Barbados are the likes of Akoele Roachford on Cadans and Galantino; Mackenzie Manning on Sisco; Kibila Gittens on Victorious; and Georgia Porter on Montana. The Barbadian riders have been training hard and are confidant of equalling or surpassing the scores already posted by their regional counterparts.

Meanwhile, in the show jumping arena, the Barbadian team of Heather Walker and Georgia Porter with Coach Mrs. Di Clarke travelled to the Cayman Islands recently for the second leg of the CEA Junior Jumping competition. The team improved on their 2011 Cayman Islands competition, placing second, whilst hosts The Caymans were first. Whilst this was Porter’s first overseas equestrian assignment, this is the last year that Walker will be eligible for the CEA Junior Jumping Competition.

After two of the four legs having been completed, The Cayman Islands is out front on 10 points while Barbados is second with six points. Trinidad, with four points, is third and Jamaica fourth with two points.

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http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/newsitem.asp?more=sports&NewsID=30868