Jamaica well set in Carib dressage

Jamaica are nicely placed in both the adult and children's sections of the Caribbean Equestrian Association (CEA) dressage competition with one round remaining to determine the champions.

Last Saturday in the Jamaica leg at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates, the top riders (adults) Susan Wates and Julian Hyde topped the fourth leg of the championships by winning the preliminary and elementary sections, respectively, of the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica dressage competition to keep Jamaica in first place overall.

In the children's division, Jonathon Vaz, riding Shabba Ranks, and Leslie Hamilton aboard Calamity Jane topped the elementary and preli-minary sections, respectively, putting Jamaica in second place with one round remaining.

Tomorrow's final leg of the Inter-Carib competition will see the Bermudians hosting their competition in a bid to secure well-needed points.

Countries already hosting their championships are Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and The Cayman Islands.

Last weekend's competition was judged by Lisette Purcell, visiting from the Dominican Republic.

Susan Wates, riding Casanova, won the adult preliminary with 72.41 percentage points, finishing ahead of Hyde aboard Captain Bligh with 70.34, Christa Gore on She's All That in third with 64.82, with Heidi Lalor finishing fourth on Rum And Coke with 57.93 points.

Tables turned

In the adult elementary, however, Hyde (70,2) easily turned the tables on Wates (64.86) in a straight duel between them.

Leslie Hamilton aboard Calamity Jane topped the children's preliminary with 68.62 percentage points, just ahead of Jason Prouheze-Willets (67.58) atop Rum And Coke and Sara Misir on Trelawny tied for second.

Kelly Nunes, riding Appeal, also had 67.58 percentage points, but the collective marks for both Prouheze-Willets and Misir were better, hence she was placed fourth.

Jonathon Vaz, younger brother of top showjumper Justin Vaz, was the lone competitor in the children's elementary, tallying 63.78 percentage points aboard Shabba Ranks.

- O.C.