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On Wednesday February 17th Bermuda’s equestrians will be participating in the 2010 FEI World Dressage Challenge. This competition is entering its 30th year with an estimated 57 countries having participated in 2009. Bermuda is competing in Group X of the FEI World Dressage Challenge; this group comprises Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Cayman. Judges Ricardo Rojas from Costa Rica and Rosa Cristina Franco from Peru are currently traveling to the competing islands and will make their final stop in Bermuda next week. It is anticipated that Bermuda will have a strong group of riders; a few of the expected entrants are Dawn Fox and Lancelot competing in the Elementary and Medium Levels, Ashley Gibbs and Landtango competing in the Elementary and Preliminary Levels, Paula George and Wiriana competing at the Prix St Georges Level and Suzette Sailsman and Wiriana competing at the Medium Level.
The major objectives of this worldwide Dressage competition are:
1. to give the less experienced Dressage riders, who under normal circumstances, cannot take part in international Dressage competitions, in the more remote countries of the world, the opportunity to compete internationally without having to leave their own country;
2. to promote the new generations. Last year, over 200 Children from 53 National Federations competed in the Challenge.
Internationally experienced FEI Judges travel to the individual geographical regions of the world to judge this competition and give the riders a clinic to teach them the art of Dressage. Each Group of countries is judged by the same Ground Jury.
The 2010 competition has been made possible by the generous support of the Bank of Bermuda Foundation and Transworld Oil, the competition will start at 2pm at the National Equestrian Centre, Vesey Street Devonshire please come out and support our riders.
Fundraising at the event will be in support of the equestrians in Haiti who are unable to compete in this year’s FEI World Dressage Challenge. Proceeds raised will assist with the rebuilding of sports facilities damaged as a result of the recent earthquake.
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