Author: andy

Under the guidance of coach Erika Adderley and Chef D’Équipe Heidi Mello, riders Katerina Coello, Gabriella Moran, Marlo Pinder and Connor Watkins made a strong showing at the Grand Caraibe Martinique 2025 competition, held at the EquiLibre facility in Le François, Martinique.

The competition featured 92 riders from 9 countries (Antigua, The Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Jamaica, Martinique, and Suriname). Other EB members were on the scene too, as Sennen Fitzmaurice, Anouk Formige and Alana Pyfrom rode in a mixed-country team under Coach Rai Burch. All visiting teams competed on horses lent for the competition by riders from stables across the island of Martinique.

Highlights included:
• Connor Watkins aboard Blues King de L’Esque – 3rd place in the Espoir Division Day 1
• Erika Adderley aboard Endrix d’Eliapi – 3rd place Grand Prix Division Day 1
• Marlo Pinder (Violine du Buhot) – top 15 placings both days, Espoir Division
• Katerina Coello showed her usual style aboard Himam d’Or and was voted Most Elegant Rider at the competition’s final awards ceremony.

Thank you to our wonderful hosts at the EquiLibre facility and the Martinique FFE Federation!

Led by a trio of solid performances from Kelsey Pyfrom, Quinn O’Brien and Katerina Coello, Team Bahamas finished on a total of zero faults in The Bahamas leg of the Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) Mini Jumping Challenge held this past weekend at Camperdown Equestrian Centre.

Riders faced a track of 9 obstacles set by FEI Course Designer Tatiana Kholodniakova of Russia. FEI Jumping Judge and CEA President Heidi Mello was on hand to judge the performances.

Congratulations to the top performers from each of three height classes, who were named to Team Bahamas, with their scores being combined for an overall Team score. Top performers were:

• Height Class A (0.50m): Kelsey Pyfrom riding her own pony Salt and Pepper – 0 jumping faults in 62.20 seconds (5.80 seconds off the Optimal Time)
• Height Class B (0.60m): Quinn O’Brien riding Erika Adderley’s Vivawell – 0 jumping faults in 68.51 seconds (0.51 secs off the Optimal Time)
• Height Class C (0.70m): Katerina Coello riding AHG Whiterock Duggie – 0 jumping faults in 63.45 seconds (4.55 secs off the Optimal Time)

Next up: the CEA Regional Jumping Challenge which will be held on 29 March, 2025, at Moonstone Stables!

A big THANK YOU to FEI 3* Dressage Judge Mr. Omar Zayrik of Mexico for presiding over the Bahamas leg of the 2024 Caribbean Equestrian Association Dressage Challenge. Thank you also to CEA President Heidi Mello who was on hand for the successful event. The next day Judge Omar gave clinics to our dedicated Dressage riders who could only describe the experience as AMAZING!

The overall winners from each category were:
Introductory Test A – Childrens: Kennedy Albury riding Rags to Riches (69.062%)
Introductory Test B – Childrens: Isla Whylly riding Rags to Riches (66.875%)
Introductory Test C – Childrens: Gabriela Souza riding Casino Royale (69.500%)
Training Level 1 Test – Childrens: Sennen Fitzmaurice riding Lea’s Pride (69.423%)

Introductory Test B – Adults: Krystal Darville riding Vivawell (65.937%)
Training Level 1 – Adults: Amber Lleida riding Querida FSH (56.153%)
Training Level 3 – Adults: Lorrinda Maura riding Shakespeare in Paradise (69.200%)

The overall top-scoring pair (69.500%) was Gabriela Souza riding Erika Adderley’s Casino Royale.

The riders named to the Childrens Team were Gabriela Souza, Kennedy Albury and Sennen Fitzmaurice. (Due to a CEA rules technicality, insufficient competitors qualified to field an Adult Team score.)

The Caribbean Dressage Challenge takes place in Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago. Overall ranking of the teams will not be known until all the participating countries have held their 2024 Dressage Challenge competitions.