Ziemniak shines at second jump show of the Cayman Islands’ season

By Eve van den Bol From CIEF

This past Sunday at the Equestrian Center in George Town, the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF) held the second leg of its four-part National Jumping Series. The CIEF is the national governing body for equestrian sport in the Cayman Islands and is a member of the Federation Equestre Internationale (FEI), the Pan American Equestrian Confederation (PAEC), the Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) and the Cayman Islands Olympic Committee (CIOC). Its mission is to grow equestrian sport in the Cayman Islands and to support its elite equestrian athletes who are representing the Cayman Islands in international sporting events.

Highlights of the day include a double-win by Olivia Ziemniak, riding Amarilla in competition for the first time. The pair posted double clears in both of their classes and from the speed she galloped, it was apparent that Amarilla was happy to be in the competition arena after a long break. New to the National Jumping Series was Milly Serpell on her horse Sunday’s Edition, who normally only compete together in dressage. Ms. Serpell said she hadn’t competed in show jumping since she was a teenager, but declined to state exactly how many years it had been. The final class of the day, the 90cm Open, ended up being a showdown between sisters Jessica McTaggart-Giuzio and Jodie McTaggart, where Ms. McTaggart-Giuzio came out on top riding Ms. Serpell’s horse, Sunday’s Edition and Ms. McTaggart had to settle for second place on her horse Nala.

The next CIEF horse show on the calendar is National Jumping Series #3 that will take place on March 4th at 8:00am at the Equestrian Center.

IMAGES: Sydney Crowley