Cayman Riders Best in the Region

The Cayman Islands Equestrian Team has proved its strength by winning First (Adults) and Second (Children) in the 2017 Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) Caribbean Dressage Challenge.

The competition, in its 13th year, enables riders from CEA member countries to compete without having to travel. Instead, a single judge travels to each island nation. Riders are ranked individually and by country team. The country team consists of the top three adult and top three junior riders, based on the difficulty of the test they ride and the scores they receive. Of the 63 competitors from Barbados, Bermuda, The Cayman Islands and Trinidad, Cayman had a total of 14 riders enter the competition.

Finishing in first place, ahead of Barbados, Bermuda and Trinidad, was the Cayman Islands adult team, comprised of riders Stephanie Lloyd, Tracey Surrey and Jessica McTaggart-Giuzio. The Cayman children’s team, Megan Swartz, Anja Van Genderen, and Abby Swartz, won second place, ahead of Barbados and Trinidad.

“On behalf of the Cayman Islands Equestrian Federation, congratulations to our riders. We are incredibly proud of their efforts and their hard work is clearly paying off. This is the first year that our adult team has won this event, and they won with a sizeable lead ahead of Bermuda. Our junior team also produced outstanding results, especially given that they are a relatively young group", comments Eve van den Bol, the organization’s president.

High point for the overall competition went to Tracey Surrey on Dusty in the Adult First Level Test 3 with a score of 72.265%. Also to note is Jodie McTaggart who won first place at the Fourth Level. Her mount, Ray of Light, is a veteran to competition having participated in the Central American and Caribbean Games in 2010 and the Pan Am Games in 2011.

The CIEF wishes to congratulate all it riders, membership, volunteers, friends and family on a successful show season. The annual awards gala will be held at the Holiday Inn on Saturday, 24 June 2017.

Please visit the CIEF website at www.ciefcay.com for complete results.

Photo credits: Eve van den Bol / Tracey Surrey