PAN AM GAMES NEWS

NO: 8

Michael Cherry, President, Bermuda Equestrian Federation

Contrary to claims in some of the news report the three equestrians representing Bermuda in the 2007 Pan American Games were never really in the hunt for medals, but that would be a real bonus.  All that was expected was a respectable finish, with the possibility of an individual Olympic qualifying country spot in Show Jumping.  Things got off to an incredible start with Dressage rider Annabelle Collins qualifying for the individual final by virtue of fine performances in the first and second rounds at Prix St. George and Intermediaire level test respectively.  A great performance in the Kur final put Annabelle and Medici on 10^th place out of the top 15 who reached the final competition, 27 started.  The PanAm Games dressage incorporated an Olympic qualifier for teams, but not for individuals so all of the countries competing sent their best riders in order to ensure their best chance.  In other words this was a high level competition, with five of the top FEI judges in the world appointed.  Sincere congratulations to Annabelle.

Good performances in the Show Jumping arena followed even though Jillian Terceira was disappointed with her first round when she ended up with 34.49 penalty points compared to Patrick Nisbett’s 10.99.

The Show Jumping competition had a very complicated format based upon a Nations Cup type competition incorporating team and individual scores.  Two stops in the first round gave Jill a score equal to the worst score plus twenty, so she was first to go in the second round where she incurred 17 faults, total 51.49, with Patrick incurring 12 faults, total 22.49.  In the 3^rd round Jill again incurred 17 faults for a total of 68.49 with Patrick incurring 9 faults for a total of 31.99.  There were a total of 13 eliminations and one retirement in these two rounds thereby moving Patrick up to 24^th and Jill to 33^rd out of 47 starters.  There was one competitor from Barbados.

The quality of the competition is illustrated by the fact that the teams of Brazil, Canada and USA who won gold silver and bronze respectively contained such well know names as World Champion Rodrigo Pessoa, 8 time Olympian Ian Millar, Eric Lamaze, Jill Henshelwood, Mac Cone, Laura Chapot and many other world ranked riders.  The first three rounds decided the team competition so now the final day on Sunday (tomorrow) will decide the individual results.  Subject to confirmation, but due to the fact the USA and Canada have qualified for the team competition, it appears that provided either of the two Bermuda riders complete the competition we will obtain one of the individual Olympic places in our area of North America.

That is only the first step as anyone competing in the Olympics is required to achieve other stringent levels of competition, but based upon their performances prior to leaving for the Games and their excellent performances there; both Jill and Patrick are capable of representing their country at that level.

Bermuda should be proud of all three riders and their support team of family members, Chefs d’Equipe Mike Collins and Paul Pereech, BOA Officials and those who undertook the long journey to support them from the side lines, including our Sports Minister.

We have had some good photographic coverage in the Royal Gazette and Mid Ocean News, but what a pity there has been no local TV coverage whatsoever.

Many thanks are due to all of those people who supported the fund raising efforts to get Team Bermuda to the Games and who had faith in the aims of the BEF.

As a matter of further interest of the 42 countries participating in Pan Am Games, Bermuda is ranked 25^th overall in the medal count with 3 bronze, 4 silver and 1 gold, the latter being won by Equestrian event rider Mary Jane Tumbridge in 1999 in Winnipeg Canada, when we also had a team of dressage riders.  2007 is the first time that we have been represented by Show Jumpers!