Category: News
BIEL proceeds under new format
Due to Hurricane Matthew and government funding re-allocations, the Bahamas Interschool Equestrian League competitions have been re-formatted this year to comprise a single event, the Inter-school Championship Show. The Inter-school Championship Show will feature riders and teams from all competing schools in Nassau and Grand Bahama, and will be held on Saturday, April 29, 2017, at Camperdown Equestrian Centre.
Mariposa Fall Fest 2016 a Smashing Success
Thanks to everyone who came out on October 1 and 2 for the first show of the season, which was a great success! The Mariposa show was judged by Carolyn Vaillancourt, a senior Equine Canada Hunter, Jumper and Equitation Judge for over 32 years. Judge Vaillancourt gives judging clinics all over Canada, and with fellow judge Randy Roy has co-authored the best-selling books “Here Comes the Judge”, and “The Judge is Back”. As always Mariposa provided great hospitality for all visiting horses and riders, and we finished off the show with Miguel’s fantastic paella!
We look forward to seeing everyone at the next show, to be held at Camperdown Equestrian Centre on November 12 and 13. See you there!
Equestrians Shine at Marshall & Sterling League Finals
Bahamian equestrian athletes continue to shine abroad! This past weekend, young Bahamian riders Ella Holowesko, Siena Holowesko, and Tamsin Nottage travelled to Saugerties, New York, with their trainer, Mrs. Erika Adderley-Coello of Mariposa Stables, to compete at the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League 2016 National Finals. All three athletes rode very well, but undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend was Ella Holowesko’s victory over a field of 60 riders in the 3’0” Sore No-More Children’s Medal Final.
The Marshall & Sterling Insurance League is a grassroots organization dedicated to providing competition for up-and-coming Children and Adult Hunter, Jumper and Equitation riders. It has grown, since its inception in 1991, from 10 member shows with 100 riders to over 1,300 horse shows with more than 2,500 competitors today. The league offers members the opportunity to compete throughout the year for
points that will earn them a place at the prestigious National Finals competition, held each September at the world-class HITS-on-the-Hudson show grounds in Saugerties, New York.
By virtue of their qualifying points accumulated in local competitions throughout the year, the three riders were invited by the Marshall & Sterling Insurance League to compete as Finalists in their respective events. Siena Holowesko qualified as a Finalist in the 2’6” Children’s Medal, while Tamsin Nottage and Ella Holowesko qualified as Finalists in the 3’0” Sore No-More Children’s Medal. The competition began on Friday, September 16, as all three rode in preparatory classes. Siena Holowesko was the first to compete, riding Veronica Mullin’s talented horse Keating’s Lord, and placing 5th in the Hudson 2’6” Children’s Equitation Classic. On Saturday, her sister Ella followed suit by placing second in the Hudson Children’s Equitation Classic 3’ (Section B).
It was in the Medal Finals, however, that the riders would truly be tested, as they faced a challenging course designed by Rian Beals. Once again Siena was the first to compete, riding against 54 other young competitors, all hoping to take home the Marshall & Sterling Children’s Medal Final title. She placed 34th out of the group of 54 with a very respectable score of 61.5 (out of 100).
In the 3’0” Sore No-More Children’s Medal Final, Tamsin Nottage and Ella Holowesko faced an even tougher challenge against a talented and competitive field of 60 riders. Riding the chestnut gelding Iko Iko, Nottage had a stylish round, but due to a few unfortunate mistakes ended up with a score of 51. It was Holowesko, however, who stole the show. Riding Keating’s Lord, she rode with elegance and flair, earning a first round score of 86. This excellent score qualified her to move forward into the final round, where she stood in second place just one point behind the leader, Annie Walsh, riding Erosmith. After a reset of the course the top 12 finishers rode another round, and in the end consistency was the key to victory: Holowesko scored 85 in her final round, which combined with her first round score gave her the winning total of 171.00! Walsh’s second round score was 80, enough to secure second place. The top five finishers all scored in the mid to high eighties, highlighting Holowesko’s tremendous accomplishment in scoring the winning round.
Equestrian Bahamas’ President, Cathy Ramsingh-Pierre, noted the importance of all three riders’ achievements. “The Marshall and Sterling League is an example of one of the international organizations with which EB currently partners to provide competitive opportunities for our riders,” said Ramsingh- Pierre. “The success of our riders in qualifying for those Finals – and in particular Ella Holowesko’s victory- is a phenomenal testament to their abilities, and to the competency of our training programs here at home in the Bahamas.” Indeed, trainer Erika Adderley-Coello was ecstatic about the performance all three young riders. “Happy, happy, happy!” she said, “I’m so proud of all my girls!”
Proper riding helmet fit and concussion safety
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EB-Year ending event is a smashing success
Check out the article at ‘The Nassau Guardian’
Horse Show Update
Congratulations to all riders, exhibitors, trainers, and owners for their successes at the Annual Rotary Horse Show held at CEC in March! Next up is the Annual Kiwanis Horse Show, to be held at CEC on April 18 & 19. The highlight of the show will be the Bahamas Junior Classic Final, which will be held on Sunday, April 19. USEF ‘R’ Judge Lori Arnold will preside.
Over at the Global Dressage Festival in Wellington, FL, Liz McConnell and the team from Sugar Apple Farms are having a very successful season! At Dressage Festival 12 (March 24-28) Megan McConnell took 1st place in Dressage Seat Equitation (74.502%) and qualified for Regional finals. Liz and Nancy Holowesko’s Roubaix gained two firsts riding First Level Test 3 (73.5% and 70%). As for our local favourite Steinway, Liz has been thrilled with his progress: Steinway achieved good scores at Prix St. Georges (65%) and Intermediare I (62%), and has now achieved the scores necessary to compete at International level!