Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF)

CAYMAN RIDERS JUMP TO THE CHALLENGE

This past Sunday, the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF) held the Cayman leg of the CEA Regional Jumping Challenge (RJC) at Cayman Riding School. Only in its second year, the RJC is a competition designed by the Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) to give show jumpers of all ages the chance to measure their skills against other riders in the Caribbean region. Riders compete in their home countries on their own horses and ride a preset course twice, first for faults and the second for faults and time. This year, the RJC consists of three different height categories: 0.7 meters, 0.85 meters and 1.0 meters, versus only two last year. A total of 21 Cayman riders competed for Cayman, up from just six last year.

Each country participating in the competition generates a team score based upon the results of their top two riders at each height level. The score is comprised of the sum total of all of the faults generated over the two rounds by each team rider and the sum of the time taken by these two riders in their second jumping round. Once all of the participating countries have held their RJC, the results will be tallied and countries will be ranked at each height category. In addition, an individual ranking at each height level will be made for all participants in the Caribbean. Barbados completed their event already, while Jamaica will be holding their RJC in June with Trinidad and Bermuda holding their events in October.

The teams for the Cayman Islands are:

0.7 Meters — Juliette Forrester on Apollo (1st) & Jessica McTaggart-Giuzio on Blue Ridge Dream On (2nd)

0.85 Meters — Chloe Fowler on Will to Win (1st) & Libby Galloway on Dublin’s Bay (2nd)

1.0 Meters — Polly Serpell on Sunday’s Edition (1st) & Jenna Boucher on Edson Arantes MB (2nd)

For complete results of the CEA Regional Jumping Challenge, please visit the CIEF website (ciefcay.com). Show results can be found under the Events tab in the main menu.

The next show jumping event to be held by the CIEF is the National Jumping Series–Event #3 which will take place this coming weekend at Cayman Riding School located on Hirst Road in Newlands at 7:45am. Spectators are welcome and admission is free.
SERPELL NAMED CHALLENGE CHAMPION FOR CAYMAN

On Saturday, April 9th, the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF) held the third and final event of the Cayman leg of the 2016 FEI World Jumping Challenge – Category C at the Equestrian Center located on the Linford Pearson Highway in George Town. Once again, Youth Olympic bronze medalist, Polly Serpell came out on top and was named Champion of the series. Riding her sister’s horse, Sunday’s Edition, Serpell had a bit of rough trip in the first round over an extremely difficult course, but then pulled off a clear round in the second and final go of the event.

The FEI World Jumping Challenge is designed to enable riders who live in more remote countries the opportunity to compete internationally without having to leave their own country. At the end of the year, when all of the participating countries have reported their riders’ scores for Category C which has jump heights of up to 1.1meters, Serpell, representing the Cayman, will be able to see where she ranks in the Caribbean region and in the world.

Sharon Hinds, President of the CIEF, commented that she was thrilled to that the CIEF could hold the WJC again this year and have the opportunity for Cayman’s riders to obtain a world ranking score. “The FEI’s World Jumping Challenge is a unique competition that allows our riders to compare their overall skill levels against their counterparts worldwide, and especially with our friends in the Caribbean.”