Rosa Mackensie rode off with the day’s top honours at the first event of the Barbados Equestrian Association show jumping competition for the 2011 season.
Competing in Classes 4 and 5, jumping in the 70-metre and the 70-80 metre events, Mackensie had success at the recent meet at the Whitehall Equestrian Centre in St Peter which served as a warm-up for the up-coming FEI and Super League shows.
In the 70-metre jump on board Whirl Wind, she got the better of Georgia Porter on Moon Beam, a locally-bred pony from Big C Stables.
When the two exchanged horses in the 70-80 metre jumps, Mackensie showed her previous performance was no fluke and again got the better of Porter, who finished second on each occasion.
Also competing was the ever-improving Heather Walker on Super Trooper who took the top honours in Class 1A, jumping a height of 1-1.10 metres.
However she had to settle for third place jumping in the 0.85-0.95 metre event which was won by Gillian Sampson on Sky at Dusk.
Adriana King, making a comeback, was second aboard Bombay, an ex-thoroughbred race horse which has raced here locally.
The event also saw the return of dressage competitor Naomi Roachford to the jumping circuit for the first time in many years.
She competed with limited success in the 0.70m aboard Zinarde on who she has been successfully campaigning in dressage.
Public relations officer for the association, Sara Jones, told WEEKENDSPORT she was heartened by the performances and enthusiasm of the young riders who were full of confidence as they took the horses through their paces.
“The future of show jumping and dressage looks very bright. We were pleased to see so many youngsters taking part in the day’s action,” she said.
“We are therefore looking forward to an exciting and energetic year of equestrian sports, especially in show jumping.” (CH)
