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Monday, April 20, 2026
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Bardgett & SCAD Secure Historic National Series Title
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Bermudian equestrian Kayla Bardgett helped rewrite the history books this weekend as the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) were crowned the 2025-26 Tournament of Champions Series winners.
The victory marks SCAD’s first national title of the season and comes during a landmark 35th-anniversary year for the collegiate series. The "Bees" established their dominance early, claiming victory in three of the four major shows across the season to secure the overall series trophy with a record-breaking performance.
For Bardgett, a senior who has been a cornerstone of the SCAD program, the triumph was the culmination of a historic individual campaign. Earlier this year, she was instrumental in the team achieving the first-ever perfect score in the tournament’s three-decade history.
Following the final trophy presentation, an emotional Bardgett took to social media to reflect on the conclusion of her collegiate chapter and her partnership with her horse, Bettina.
"What an incredible way to close out my final time competing at such a challenging, yet unforgettable competition," Bardgett wrote. "Bettina, you gave me absolutely everything and more. I truly couldn’t have asked for a better partner to finish this chapter with. You showed up with so much heart, strength, and fight."
Bardgett was quick to credit the support system that has carried her through her three years at the Savannah-based institution, specifically highlighting coaches Ashley Henry and Sammy Perlman.
"Ashley and Sammy, thank you for the heart you put into me every single day," she added. "For all the behind-the-scenes work, the constant support, and the trust you’ve always had in me, even when I couldn’t find it in myself. I am so incredibly grateful for everything you’ve given me."
The victory in the Tournament of Champions series sets a high bar for the remainder of the postseason. With the IHSA Zone 5 Championship already under their belt, Bardgett and her teammates now turn their attention to the IHSA National Championships, where they will look to add further silverware to a season that has already secured its place in the SCAD history books.
"This team, these people, and these horses have given me more than I could ever put into words," Bardgett concluded. "Saying goodbye to this chapter is so bittersweet, but I couldn’t have asked for a more perfect ending."
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Thursday, April 16, 2026
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Waldron Back with Busy Night at Hoosier Park
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Bermudian driver Kiwon Waldron continued his impressive run of form at Harrah’s Hoosier Park in Indiana, securing two podium finishes during a demanding three-race outing on the trot.
The evening began with a standout performance in the fourth race of the program. Partnering with Wiggy Hill in a competitive Trot Class field, Waldron demonstrated his tactical awareness from the start. The pair challenged for the lead throughout a swift contest, eventually crossing the line in second place. They stopped the clock in a sharp 1:58.2, finishing just a length behind the winner in a display of consistent pace.
Waldron returned to the bike for the seventh race, this time piloting Ima Mess. In a tightly bunched field, he managed to navigate heavy traffic to keep his charge in contention as the field rounded the final turn. Ima Mess showed plenty of grit in the home stretch to secure a third-place finish, recording a time of 2:00.0 and ensuring Waldron’s second podium appearance of the night.
The final appearance of the night came in the twelfth race, where Waldron took the sulky of K-lyn. Despite matching the evening's personal best time of 1:58.2, the intensity of the top-tier field meant the pair found it difficult to break into the lead pack. They eventually crossed the line in seventh place, concluding a productive night for the Bermudian who remains a prominent figure on the Indiana harness racing circuit.
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Monday, April 13, 2026
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High Scores Highlight Bermuda Dressage Challenge
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Bermuda’s National Equestrian Center was the backdrop for a weekend of technical excellence as the island hosted the Regional Caribbean Dressage Challenge alongside a local Mini Dressage fixture.
Under the bright skies at Vesey Street, the discipline of dressage—often described as horse ballet—took center stage. Competitors navigated the rigorous demands of the Regional Caribbean Dressage Challenge, where the partnership between horse and rider is scrutinized by officials for rhythm, suppleness, and accuracy.
In the Junior division of the regional event, Lila Readdy emerged as the standout talent. Riding Edelweiss, Readdy demonstrated a composed performance that earned the pair a winning score of 57.8 percent. Her victory underscores the growing depth of youth talent within the Bermudian equestrian community, proving that the next generation is more than capable of handling the pressure of a regional stage.
The Adult division saw an equally impressive display from Vee McKey. Partnered with Happy Dance, McKey produced a fluid and harmonious test that was reflected in the judges' cards. Their score of 67.4 percent was enough to claim the top spot in the adult category, showcasing the years of preparation required to reach such a high standard of communication in the ring.
However, the headline performance of the weekend came from the local ranks during the Mini Dressage Challenge. Kelsie Carreiro, riding Sunrise Surprise, delivered a masterclass in precision that captivated those in attendance. Carreiro’s performance was not only the peak of the local competition but also represented the highest mark across the entire weekend of racing.
By recording an overall high score of 68.85 percent, Carreiro and Sunrise Surprise claimed the ultimate honors between the two challenges. The result served as a perfect conclusion to a weekend that celebrated the meticulous nature of the sport and the enduring strength of Bermuda’s equestrian programs.
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Friday, April 10, 2026
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Waldron Finds Form at Hoosier Park
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Harness driver Kiwon Waldron enjoyed a relentless and productive evening at Harrah’s Hoosier Park, navigating a demanding five-race card to secure several high-placed finishes. Competing against a formidable field in Indiana, Waldron demonstrated his tactical versatility across both trot and pace disciplines, culminating in a standout podium finish in the night's final sessions.
The evening began for Waldron in the fourth race, where he took the lines of Wiggy Hill in a competitive Trot Class. The pair maintained a steady rhythm throughout the mile, crossing the wire in fifth position with a recorded time of 1:58.4. Waldron was back in action immediately in the fifth, shifting to the Pace Class behind He’s Bubbly. In a faster-paced encounter, he steered the gelding to a sixth-place finish, stopping the clock at 1:55.2.
As the program moved into the seventh race, Waldron opted for a more aggressive line in the bike of Bluebird Capt Pj. Competing in another Pace Class, he managed to shave significant time off his previous efforts, finishing fifth in a sharp 1:53.4. The technical challenges continued into the tenth race Trot Class, where Waldron guided Ima Mess to a solid fourth-place finish, clocking a time of 2:00.4 on a track that was beginning to test the endurance of the field.
However, the highlight of the night was saved for the thirteenth race. Competing in the Trot Class, Waldron settled into the sulky of Bluebird Fancyswan for a spirited drive that saw him challenge for the lead in the final stretch. While the victory narrowly eluded him, a superb second-place finish in a time of 1:58.3 ensured the Bermudian ended his shift on a high note. The performance continues a consistent run of form for Waldron as he solidifies his reputation on the ultra-competitive American harness racing circuit.
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Tuesday, April 07, 2026
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Bardgett & Bees Crowned Tournament of Champions Winners
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Kayla Bardgett and her Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) teammates have reached the pinnacle of collegiate equestrianism, officially being named the 2025-26 Tournament of Champions Series winners.
In what has been a historic 35th anniversary season for the prestigious series, the SCAD "Bees" delivered a campaign of unprecedented dominance. The team secured their first national title of the year by claiming victory in three of the four major shows across the calendar, a feat that underscored their status as the premier force in the discipline.
Such was the clinical nature of their season that SCAD entered the final show of the series—the Spring Classic in Findlay—having already mathematically secured the overall championship. However, rather than coasting to the finish line, the Bees produced a performance that served as a definitive exclamation point on a legendary year for the program.
Under the guidance of Director of Equestrian Ashley Henry and Assistant Coach Sammy Perlman, the team finished the series with a record-high 98 points, a total calculated from their highest two-show scores. The season will be long remembered for a historic milestone reached in January 2026, where the Bees achieved the Tournament’s first-ever "perfect" score during the Winter Classic.
For Bardgett and her teammates, the Series Championship marks the culmination of a relentless training program and a testament to the depth of talent within the Savannah-based stable. With one national title already secured, the focus now shifts to the remaining postseason championships as SCAD looks to add further silverware to a record-breaking 2025-26 campaign.
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