Equestrian history was rewritten this weekend at the Ronald C. Waranch Equestrian Center as the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) delivered a masterclass performance, securing the first perfect score in the 35-year history of the Tournament of Champions (TOC).
In an event that was nearly derailed by a significant snowstorm, the resilience of the SCAD program was on full display. After weather forced a rescheduling of the original competition dates, the Winter Tournament of Champions finally got underway, pitting the nation's top collegiate riders against one another in a test of technical precision and grit.
SCAD, as the defending Series Champions, fielded two elite squads: Team BEE-Lieve and Team BEE Strong. In a remarkable display of internal depth, both teams dominated the field from the opening classes, eventually finishing the day in a dead heat.
For the first time in the tournament's three-decade history, two teams from the same school finished with a perfect total of 50 points apiece. The achievement was so unprecedented that officials were forced to dig deep into the tie-breaker system. After four tie-breakers—including blue ribbons and jumping points—failed to separate the teams, a fifth tie-breaker involving the highest placing in Intermediate Fences finally saw Team BEE-Lieve crowned Champions, with Team BEE Strong taking the Reserve Champion title.
Bermudian senior Kayla Bardgett was instrumental in the historic result, anchoring the SCAD efforts with a string of flawless rides. Competing for Team BEE Strong, Bardgett showcased the form that has made her a crucial point-scorer throughout the 2025/26 season.
Her individual haul was nothing short of exceptional:
Open Over Fences: 1st Place
Open Flat: 1st Place
TOC High Medal: 2nd Place (Reserve Champion)
The High Medal class provided some of the day's most compelling action. Riders were initially split into three flat sections, with the judge calling back the top eight picks for a decisive round over fences.
Bardgett navigated the flat phase with poise before delivering a clinical performance over the hurdles. While she narrowly missed out on the top spot, her crowning as Reserve Champion in the High Medal class added another significant accolade to her collegiate resume.
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