Polly Serpell jumps to the challenge in equestrian event
Polly Serpell riding Sunday’s Edition
(CNS): Cayman’s Youth Olympian bronze medal winner, Polly Serpell, took top honours at the recent second leg of the FEI World Jumping Challenge (WJC) hosted by the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation (CIEF).
Held at Cayman Riding School in Savannah, Sunday, 27 September, this competition involves top show jumpers from across the Caribbean region competing in their own countries on their own horses, and then measuring themselves against each other over the same courses.
Riding her sister’s horse, Sunday’s Edition, Serpell posted four faults in the first round and then jumped clear in the second round. Hannah Fowler and her horse, Seligkeit, came in a close second, posting four faults in the first round and then also going clear in the second round. However, Serpell was just under three seconds faster to the finish line in the second round so she was able to take first place.
In addition to their individual placing within Cayman competition, the riders are ranked alongside other participants in the Caribbean. The Cayman riders’ overall placing will be known after CIEF holds the third and final event of the WJC, which is scheduled for 8 November at Cayman Riding School.
Fowler won Best Presented Horse at the Vet Jog the previous day, which was judged by local veterinarian, Dr. Charles Dickinson.
After the World Jumping Challenge, CIEF hosted open jumping classes to give riders chance to practise their jump skills in advance of the first leg of the National Jump Series which will take place at the Equestrian Centre on 11 October.
The competition followed a new format. In the first round, riders jumping clear progressed to a jump off in a shorter course, measured against the clock.
Results were as follows:
0.6m
First: Eva Muspratt/Oscar
Second: Grace Bostock/Lucyanna
Third: Kayla Godwin/Harry
Joint fourth: Skye Buckley/Jack and Shayla Ebanks/Beanie
Sixth: Marleigh Smith/Max
0.7m
First: Eva Muspratt/Oscar
Second: Grace Bostock/Lucyanna
Joint third: Shayla Ebanks/Beanie, Kayla Godwin/Harry and Skye Buckley and Max
0.85m
First: Jenna Boucher/Katrina
Second: Chloe Fowler/Shirley
Third: Lea Rado/Never Ending Story
Fourth: Ashley van den Bol/Whindlass
1.0m
Joint first: Jenna Boucher/Edson Arantes MB and Lea Rado/Never Ending Story
Category: Equestrian, Sports
