Junior show jumping star Katerina Coello made history for Bahamas equestrian sport
this weekend as the first equestrian athlete to compete in the FEI Jumping World
Challenge. The FEI Jumping World Challenge is a multi-stage event contested at three
height categories. It takes place over three competitions, each consisting of two jumping
rounds, and is designed to allow riders from developing nations to compete
internationally without having to leave their own country. Riders competing over identical
jumping courses and at the end of the year results from competitors all over the world
are tallied and ranked.
Riding the 10-year old Irish Sport Horse gelding Whiterock Duggie, Coello carried a
clean sheet through 3 competitions and 6 grueling rounds of jumping, navigating the
courses designed by FEI Course Designers Marina Azevedo of Brazil, Cristina
Larangeiro of Portugal, and Erica Sportiello of Brazil with ease. In the final competition
at Moonstone Stables last weekend, the pair rode the first round in 62.22 seconds and
then returned to complete the speed round in 58.79 seconds, shaving valuable fractions
off their previous time of 59.18 seconds achieved in Competition 2 back in October.
A team of high-ranking FEI officials were on hand to validate Coello’s performance,
including FEI Level 4 Judge David Distler (USA), FEI Level 3 Judge Colleen Hoffman
(CAN), FEI Level 3 Steward Heidi Mello (BER) and FEI Level 4 Veterinarian Dr.
Kimberly Snyder (USA). Before the competition Coello was required to present
Whiterock Duggie to the panel in a mandatory horse inspection, for which she was
awarded a sparkling 99% score for overall presentation.
As a result of her performance Coello is currently ranked in first place in the FEI Zone
10 Category C standings, and near the top worldwide. With just a few competitions
remaining on the international Challenge 2025 calendar, she stands poised for a
spectacular international finish!
