Category: News

A big thanks to all riders, parents and coaches who contributed to the 2nd Annual BIEL Championship event a resounding success. We were happy to welcome back the Lucaya International School team from Freeport, Grand Bahama! Congratulations to the Queens College Team which outscored LCIS by one point to win Sunday’s team competition. Of course ultimate congratulations must go to the Lyford Cay International School team for successfully defending their title as overall Champions of the Interschool League! Well done everyone…see you next year!

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The nation’s sporting community was all smiles as officials gathered at Government House on Friday, February 16, 2018, for the Outstanding Youth Awards ceremony, held under the patronage of the Governor-General Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling, GCMG. Minister of Youth Sports and Culture the Honourable Michael Pintard spoke of the five pillars of focus for Sport in the Bahamas: as a vehicle to promote discipline and teamwork; as an agent to promote healthy lifestyle; as a mechanism to produce elite and professional athletes; as an opportunity for sport and scholastic advancement through scholarship, and a means to create employment opportunities.

Director of Sports Mr. Timothy Munnings congratulated all nominees on their achievements in their respective sports, and noted the honour of being recognized as an Outstanding Athlete by each individual Federation.

Congratulations to Ms. Lila Nottage, our nominee for the 2017-2018 Outstanding Youth Athlete Award!

Congratulations to all riders, teams and coaches, and a big thank you to all parents, teachers and other supporters who came out to Camperdown Equestrian Centre last weekend for the year’s first BIEL show!  Although we were sad that our friends from Lucaya International School were unable to make the event, CEC teemed with excitement and energy, with great riding and sportsmanship taking centre stage!
The BIEL-sponsored shows differ from EB’s regular shows in several important respects. They are team-oriented, free of charge to EB members, and feature a ‘horse-draw’ format in which riders are required to compete on potentially unknown horses with minimal preparation. Based on the format of NCAA and IHSA competitions, this process is fun and challenging, and designed to prepare our riders for collegiate competition!
25 riders competed in six teams, representing Lyford Cay International School, Queens College, St. Andrew’s School, Tambearly School, Windsor Preparatory School, and an Independent team comprised of St. Augustine’s College, Summit Academy and Homeschooled students. The show was judged by Jane Dow-Burt, a ‘R’ licenced USEF judge and President of the Westbrook Hunt Club in Westbrook, Connecticut. Judge Dow-Burt was impressed on many levels. She commended EB and BIEL for the smooth running of the show, noted the dedication and professionalism of our trainers, and above all commended the riders for their sportsmanship and positive attitudes!
At the end of the day the teams lined up proudly to receive their ribbons. Lyford Cay International School was the winning team, followed by St. Andrew’s School in second place and Queen’s College in third. Windsor Preparatory School and the Independent team tied for fourth place, followed by Tambearly School in sixth.
The regular EB horse show season continues with the Annual Rotary show on March 10-11. The next interschool equestrian competition will be held at Camperdown Equestrian Centre on April 28, 2018. Admission is free and the public is welcome to attend.

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Equestrian athletes Mila Sands and Gabriella Moran returned home to Nassau this week in triumph after their success in the first leg of the Tropical Show Series, held in Wellington, Florida. Sands and Moran were accompanied by their trainer, Mrs. Kim Johnson.

Although this was the first time competing abroad for both riders, Sands and Moran distinguished themselves from the very first day. Sands was Champion in the Child Pony Equitation Division, while Moran bested a field of over twenty riders to win Champion in the Child/Adult Equitation Division. Success continued on the second day of competition, when Sands placed second in the Pony Medal. Throughout the competition, Sands and Moran rode horses owned by Carriage Hill Farms of Delray Beach, Florida.

Trainer Kim Johnson expressed pride at the riders’ performance. “There was a lot to take in,” she noted. “It was their first horse show abroad, on unknown horses, as well as their first time riding in a covered arena.  They were poised and focused on the technical elements and the results showed.”

Mila Sands attends Queens College and is the daughter of Sakina Sands and the Honourable Dr. Duane Sands, Minister of Health.  Gabriella Moran is a student at St. Andrew’s School, and the daughter of Dominika Moranova and Moran. Both riders are looking forward to their next show abroad!

Thank you to the Rotary Clubs of New Providence for their continued generosity, and to all the riders, trainers and spectators who came out to participate in the 14th Annual Rotary Horse Show on March 11-12. Held at Camperdown Equestrian Centre, the show was judged by Clay Farrell of Venice, Florida.  In this last rated show of the season, our young riders showed their very best – Mila Sands won the Judge’s Choice Tibri Sportsmanship Award, and Taylor Haines captured the overall High Point trophy.

The show also featured the exciting two-part finale of the Bahamas Junior Classic.  Siena Holowesko aboard Erika Adderley’s Valhalla led after the Hunter phase on Saturday, especially remarkable since she was forced to change mounts at the last minute when her regular ride, Gandolfe, went lame. On Sunday, Maya Tilberg aboard Dehlia mounted a challenge with a fast and flashy Jumper round – but in the end, Siena prevailed to win the Classic. Maya was second, and Carisa Brogdon aboard Kim Johnson’s Sterling Silver was third.

Now that the regular show season is over, our young riders can look forward to one more exciting experience – the Bahamas Interschool Equestrian Championship Event, which will take place on Saturday, April 29, at Camperdown Equestrian Centre.  Coaches are currently in the process of team selection, and riders can look forward for the first time to a team event where they will represent their schools!

Stay tuned for more information, which will be coming soon!