Author: andy

This past weekend Equestrian Bahamas was honoured to host representatives from the Fédération Équestre Internationale (FEI). Mr. Mark Samuel, Vice-President of the FEI Board and Chairman of Group IV (North America and the Caribbean), and Mr. Francisco Porras Lima (Director of Governance and Institutional Affairs) visited us from September 15-17 to conduct a site visit. This site visit was the final step to our recognition by the FEI and the IOC as an official member National Federation of the international Olympic body.

During the site visit Mr. Samuel and Mr. Lima met with EB Directors and Officials, representatives of the local barns, and members of the Bahamas Olympic Committee to undertake a comprehensive analysis of our competitions, facilities, development programs and more. As a result of the visit, upon the recommendation of the FEI Board our application will be presented for ratification at the upcoming FEI General Assembly in Moscow. EB Board Member Mr. Peter Vlasov will be in attendance at the GA to represent Equestrian Bahamas.

Equestrian Bahamas wishes to thank Mr. Samuel and Mr. Lima, as well as the Bahamas Olympic Committee, for their support and encouragement. We also thank those who worked to organize the logistics of the visit and helped to make it a success!

Membership in the FEI presents tremendous opportunities to expand our grassroots programs, provide comprehensive training programs for our coaches and riders, and afford access to international competitive opportunities for our riders at every level. This is an exciting step forward for equestrian sport in The Bahamas. We look forward to hearing positive news from the General Assembly in Moscow!

EB’s very own Elle O’Brien shone brightly last Friday at the Marshall & Sterling League 2019 National Finals in Saugerties, New York, placing 12th out of 76 riders in the 2’6” Children’s Medal class.

O’Brien was invited to compete as a League Finalist by virtue of having accumulated qualifying points in competitions throughout the year. She was accompanied to the competition by her trainer, Mrs. Erika Adderley-Coello of Mariposa Stables.

Riding Stacey Vertullo’s bay mare “My Way”, O’Brien was the 28th rider to enter the ring, facing a jump course designed by Rian Beals. Under the watchful eye of the judges Mrs. Paddy Downing-Nyegard and Mrs. Amy Nunnally, O’Brien and My Way jumped a crisp and stylish clear round, eventually called back 8th for the final testing phase. A costly mistake in the test phase caused her to drop in the rankings, but in the end, the pair rode proudly into the ring to claim 12th place overall.

Equestrian Bahamas President, Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre, praised O’Brien’s accomplishment in placing so highly at such a prestigious competition, and noted the important role played by her trainer. “The Marshall & Sterling Insurance League is one of several international organizations with which Equestrian Bahamas currently partners to provide competitive opportunities for our riders,” said Ramsingh-Pierre. “Elle’s success at the League Finals is a testament to the abilities of our Bahamian riders, and to the competency of our training programs here at home in the Bahamas.”

Trainer Erika Adderley-Coello also praised O’Brien’s performance, noting that although there is always room for improvement, to gain a ribbon in such a large, competitive field was a notable accomplishment. “12th out of 76?” she said with a broad smile on her face – “I’ll take that!”

The president of a Nassau-based equestrian organization raised the alert that the islands were sorely in need of a working ambulance. Now thanks to a US firm, four fully equipped ambulances are on the ground on the Abaco Islands.

Read more at Horse Welfare Notes

EB President Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre and Treasure Sabrina Sands-Wong were among the officers of various national Sporting Federations who attended a “meet and greet” event hosted by the Bahamas Olympic Committee. The goal of the event was to allow the various Federations to interact with members of the press as well as potential corporate sponsors.

(L-R): Cathy, Derron Donaldson, Secretary-General of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, Sabrina, and Romell Knowles, President of the Bahamas Olympic Committee.

Equestrian Bahamas sponsored local trainer Erika Adderley of Mariposa Stables to participate in a recent Mental Coaching Certification Seminar. The seminar was hosted by the Bahamas Olympic Association in partnership with Carroll Consultancy Group, and is the first module in a series of coaching endeavours designed to highlight the importance of mental preparation in training and successful competition. The BOC is looking forward to hosting more certification classes, providing opportunities for trainers to expand their skill sets. Equestrian Bahamas is proud to be a part of this program!

Above: Participants of Mental Coaching Certification Seminar – EB trainer Erika Adderley is seated front row, second from left.

A strong Queens College team rode to victory for the first time ever in last Saturday’s Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League horse show, the final event of the BIEL competition season. However QC’s strong showing was not enough to unseat the Lyford Cay International School team in the overall standings. For the third year in a row the LCIS team and coach Erika Adderley successfully defended their status as Champions of the Interschool Series.

“The Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League continues to grow. Each year we have added teams, the teams are fielding more riders, and the competition is fiercely competitive,” said Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre of Equestrian Bahamas, the country’s Equestrian Sporting Federation. “The Championship Series consists of three shows, and we are seeing more parity in competition. This year for the first time ever each show was won by a different school.”

The Championship Series consists of interschool horse shows held in December, February and May. Windsor School won the first competition while LCIS won the second, but last Saturday, the Queens College team of Peyton Wong, Mila Sands, Hannah D’Aguilar and Molly McIntosh turned in poised and consistent performances to assure QC’s first ever victory. The QC team coach, Ms. Kim Johnson, praised the riders for their effort and diligence.

The Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League Championship Series is designed to prepare junior riders for collegiate competitions. Shows are based on the format of NCAA and IHSA intercollegiate competitions in the United States. Last Saturday’s show was held at Camperdown Equestrian Centre and was judged by Ms. Sabrina Lightbourne, former member of the Bahamas National Junior Equestrian team. Mr. Dorian Roach, Vice-President of the Bahamas Olympic Committee, was on hand to congratulate the riders and hand out the awards.

The overall placings for the Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League Championship Series 2018-2019 were as follows:

1st place – Lyford Cay International School
2nd place – Windsor School
3rd place – Queens College
4th place – Independent Team
5th place – Saint Andrews School
6th place – Lucaya International School
7th place – Tambearly School

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