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BERMUDA international show jumpers, Patrick Nisbett and Jill
Terceira, both qualified at the weekend for the 2007 Pan American
Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Nisbett and Terceira, who have for many years based themselves in
Europe, also both reached the qualifying standard at the same show –
the CCI three-star in La Bagnaia, Italy.
"It made is extra special that we both qualified at the same time,"
said a happy Terceira this week from her base in Holland.
Nisbett, who is normally based in England but who has been in
Germany since the middle of July, added: "It was nice that we were
both at the show and qualified. I think it is fair to say that it
was a proud moment for both of us – we have worked hard."
Terceira was riding her horse Chaka III while Nisbett was on his
mount Antille 8.
Paul Pereech, chairman of the International Committee of the Bermuda
Equestrian Federation, said: "It is fantastic they both qualified –
and at the same event. And they have worked so hard to get there.
Patrick, over the past calendar year, has competed in 68 FEI events
while Jill has competed in 128 events."
In order to represent Bermuda in Rio next summer, both riders had to
have two results at CCI three-star events with jumps of at least
1.50 metres and no more than 12 faults at each event.
Nisbett's first result was at Hickstead where he only had one fault.
Last Sunday he had only five faults.
Terceira's first result was at Giubiasco, Switzerland where she had
12 faults and then last weekend in Italy she had 10 faults.
Nisbett, said from Hanover, Germany this week: "I wish we could have
both had a celebration after the show in Italy but we had to pack up
and drive home. After Jill qualified I went over to her and
congratulated her and then when I qualified she came over to see me.
But both of us then had to get going – especially Jill since she had
a long drive back (to her home in Holland).
"Both Jill and I are happy everything went to plan. The show (in
Italy) was the second qualifier for both of us."
Nisbett said he decided on Hickstead to be his first qualifier
because he wanted his horse Antille 8 to have the experience of
performing in the main ring. "I wanted him to experience that and it
worked out well because I only had one time fault. She jumped really
well.
"Antilla is only 10 years old and although she has got a lot of
potential she is not that experienced with the big atmosphere.
Sometimes she gets in the ring and does things that are green and
other times she really shows her potential. She has jumped three
weekends in a row now and she has performed well. She gives so much
95 percent of the time and during the other five percent she may
have a glitch – and I get disappointed. But that is good in a way
because it is reminder than you still have to work on things."
For Terceira, who just failed to make the qualification for the
World Equestrian Games this past summer in Germany, qualifying for
Rio made it extra special.
"Not getting to the World Games in Germany was a disappointment – I
had worked so hard to get there and I was just one rail away from
going. This makes it more special. Now we can prepare properly (for
Rio) and that makes a big difference. It is so exciting."
Terceira noted that both herself and Nisbett had a chance to have
that second qualification result two weeks ago at a show in Italy
"but it was not our day".
She said: "So we had some pressure on ourselves going into the show
at La Bagnaia because this was going to be the last three-star
competition this year that would be outdoors – the last one we could
use for qualification. It was our last good chance before the summer
was finished. Now it is a relief because we have the qualification
out of the way and now we can concentrate on keeping our horses fit
and not have such a heavy schedule leading up to the Games next
summer.
"We could have qualified from indoors (in the winter) – but that
still means going all year long and trying to qualify at every show
and then if you failed to qualify indoors, it meant that we would
have had to try again when the season started next year. That would
have been hard. Now we can plan accordingly and get the horses fit
so they can peak at the Games – instead of peaking for the
qualification at the last minute."
She added: "It is such a relief to have the qualification out of the
way. So many things factor into it when you compete – the condition
of the horse, the weather, the course – you never know how things
are going to go."
Now Terceira will let Chaka and some of her other experienced mounts
rest and will be jumping her younger horses.
"I will be picking a few younger horses to go to Salzburg, Austria
next weekend and will give the top horses a bit of a break. There is
a nice eight-year-old I would like to start in the Grand Prix this
winter. He is doing 1.4 and I would like to get to 1.45 or 1.5 in
the spring."
Nisbett said: "I will be in Germany until end of October. Hanover is
a good spot and centrally located – it is in the heart of horse
country. Training in Germany has been a great experience – the
standard here is unbelievable. Now I can truly say that I understand
why the Germans are number one in this sport because the standard of
the rider and horse are quite something.
"I am learning all the time. It is a matter of riding against a
higher standard of rider and you have to push yourself if you want
to keep up."
And he certainly values the essence of speed.
"I have had learn to to get the horses to go faster. At the end of
the day against these riders and horses you have to be fast. Clear
rounds are good but you have to be fast.
"One day (at a show) I had one rail down and I finished 52 out of
130 in the class! It is quite sobering to compete against this
competition. It can be a real wake-up call. You have to take a much
more prepared approach and go to the show ready to compete – the
learning has to be done at home."
Both Nisbett and Terceira are hoping that more Bermuda riders will
qualify – not only in show jumping but also in eventing and
dressage.
Terceira said: "If Tim Collins qualifies in show jumping that means
we would have a (show jumping) team which would be exciting."
Terceira has been trained by a variety of coaches including Henk
Nooren, Joan Scharffenberger, Norman DelloJoio, George Morris and
David Ballard.
In 1996 Nisbett moved to Belgium where he got a taste for
international show jumping under the guidance of Jo Hermans, on
great horses like Nero, Equinox and Playball. Nero.
At the end of 1998 he moved moved to England where he is still based
in which he buys and sells and competes his horses on both the
national and international circuits.
Earlier this year he had a successful time in Spain on the Sunshine
Tour.
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