Bermudian equestrian Tyler James has signaled his intent for the new season with a string of impressive performances at the World Equestrian Center’s Winter Spectacular Series in Ocala, Florida.
Under the continued guidance of coach Wendy Arndt and the Team I.E.C. banner, James is building on a breakthrough 2025 campaign that saw him establish himself as a rising threat on the competitive United States circuit.
The highlight of the opening weeks came in the Young Jumpers division, where James partnered with Zero to Sixty. The pair demonstrated exceptional pace and technical precision to claim a prestigious first-place finish, followed by a solid fourth place in a deep field of emerging equine talent.
James’ success extended into the Junior/Amateur Classic, where he guided Vino Blanco to a podium finish, securing third place. The result reinforces the consistency of a partnership that flourished during his first full year of U.S. competition last season.
The veteran mount Cruise Control proved to be a versatile asset across the equitation and medal classes. James secured a notable third-place finish in the USHJA Amateur Jumping Seat Medal, an event for which he successfully qualified for the national finals in 2025.
Further points were banked with a seventh-place finish in the Ariat Adult Medal and an eighth-place result in the THIS Adult Medal, showcasing James' ability to maintain form across multiple high-stakes rounds.
The strong start in Ocala provides a perfect platform for the rest of the month. James is scheduled to remain at the World Equestrian Center throughout February, continuing his partnership with Team I.E.C. as he looks to climb further up the regional rankings.
With all three horses performing at a high level, the Bermudian contingent in Florida appears well-positioned for a landmark year on the North American stage.
Thursday, February 05, 2026
Rego & Oakland 12 Navigate Challenging WEF U25 Grand Prix
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Bermudian equestrian standout Cody Rego continued his development on the world stage as he featured in the prestigious twenty-five thousand dollar BrainJuice Under 25 Grand Prix Series Team Event.
The competition, a centerpiece of the 2026 Winter Equestrian Festival in Wellington, Florida, saw some of the finest young riders in the sport convene for a high-stakes evening under the lights at the Wellington International arena.
Rego was part of a four-rider contingent competing under the banner of Oakland 12. In a field characterized by technical complexity and tight time allowed, the team faced a stern test of their partnership with their mounts. Despite a spirited collective effort, Oakland 12 concluded the evening in ninth place overall, finishing with a combined total of twelve penalty fault points once the drop score was applied.
The Bermudian rider, partnered with the experienced Mendoza VDL, produced a performance that balanced speed with careful jumping. The pair navigated the intricate course with precision but were unfortunate to see a single rail fall, resulting in four penalty fault points. They stopped the clock in 68.37 seconds, contributing a solid score to the team’s tally.
The theme of four-fault rounds became a recurring story for the Oakland 12 squad as they struggled to find the elusive clear. Livia Martin, riding Pick Wick Van De Kruishoeve, matched Rego's jumping performance by also picking up four penalty fault points, though she managed a slightly faster time of 65.60 seconds. Her consistency mirrored that of Elena Haas, who guided Ogue BT Special through the course in 66.35 seconds, but she too was unable to keep all the fences up and finished with four faults.
Completing the team’s effort was Mimi Gochman, a highly decorated competitor on the American youth circuit. Partnering with Tage BH, Gochman mirrored her teammates' frustrations by finishing on four penalty fault points with a time of 65.96 seconds. While the individual times were competitive, the cumulative faults kept the podium out of reach for the Oakland 12 side on this occasion.
For Rego, the experience in Wellington remains a vital part of his transition into the upper echelons of the sport. Competing in a team format at the Winter Equestrian Festival provides a unique pressure that serves as ideal preparation for future international representative duties. The Bermudian will now look to build on this performance as the Wellington circuit moves into its final months of competition.
Tuesday, February 03, 2026
Bardgett & SCAD Equestrian Makes History with Perfect Score
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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.
Saturday, January 31, 2026
Bermuda Riders Dominate CEA Regional Jumping Challenge
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Bermuda’s elite equestrian talent delivered a masterclass in precision and composure, securing a formidable team result at the Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) Regional Jumping Challenge. Competing at the National Equestrian Centre on Vesey Street, the home side produced a collective effort that underscores the island’s rising status in the regional jumping ranks.
The CEA Regional Jumping Challenge is a unique competitive format that sees Bermuda go head-to-head with riders from across the Caribbean, including Barbados, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, and the Cayman Islands, as well as representatives from Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Haiti, and Martinique.
Bermuda's three-member squad finished the high-stakes encounter with a combined total of just four faults, establishing a high benchmark for the chasing Caribbean nations.
Leading the charge in Class A (0.75m) was McKenna Redcliffe aboard the seasoned Tuck Everlasting. Redcliffe navigated the technical course with poise, delivering a clinical clear round in a rapid time of 59.09 seconds to secure a perfect start for the team.
The momentum continued in Class B (0.85m), where Sophie Greenway and Chevy CG Z faced a challenging set of related distances. Despite picking up four penalty fault points, Greenway’s aggressive pace of 63.80 seconds ensured her contribution remained vital to the overall team score.
The day’s most dominant individual performance came from Logan Flood in Class C (0.95m). Riding the talented Dorus du Domain Z, Flood produced a blistering clear round, stopping the clock at 58.24 seconds—the fastest clear time of the Bermuda trio—to anchor the squad’s impressive performance.
Following the conclusion of the international challenge, the Bermuda Equestrian Federation (BEF) hosted a comprehensive Support Show, providing a platform for the island’s junior and amateur ranks to gain valuable competitive experience at the national stadium.
The focus for Bermuda’s jumping community now shifts to the FEI Jumping World Challenge, with Competition 1 scheduled to return to the National Equestrian Centre on Saturday, February 7th.
Steele & Rambo lead the way at Inwood/RES Horse Show
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Bermuda’s equestrian community gathered at the National Equestrian Center on Vesey Street for the Inwood/RES Hunter & Equitation Horse Show, where a series of polished performances highlighted the island’s talent across the divisions.
The day’s premier event, the BEF Open Equitation Medal Series, was claimed by Vicki Steele. Riding the seasoned Rambo, Steele produced a masterclass in precision and poise over the 3 feet 6 inch fences to secure the top spot on the podium. Simone Sainsbury, aboard Deltas Roulette, provided stiff competition to finish in second place, underlining the high standard of the elite equitation field.
In the 3 foot Equitation Medal class, Courtney Bromby took top honors with a commanding round on Dorus Du Domain Z. She was followed closely by Sophie Greenway on Chevy ZG Z and Julia Cooper on Colbi Moon, both of whom demonstrated remarkable consistency over the fences. Bromby’s success continued in the Hunter division, where Logan Flood guided Dorus Du Domain Z to another victory at the 3 foot height, edging out Greenway and Sainsbury in a tightly contested jumping class.
The junior and amateur ranks also saw significant success. Vee McKey claimed victory in the Open Equitation up to 2 feet 9 inches class with Harrison, while Nathalie Rushe on Lollipop and Laura Lister on Deltas Roulette completed the top three. In the walk and trot division, Drew Myers led the way on Red Sky At Night, finishing ahead of Lilabelle Trebing on Creme De La Creme and Brinkley McCormick on Puff The Magic Dragon.
The event, which serves as a key qualifier in the domestic equestrian calendar, once again showcased the depth of talent within the Bermuda Equestrian Federation’s ranks as riders look ahead to the major season-ending shows.
