altDefending champion Sandhya Moll, ably retained her title when she won the High League class of the third leg of the T&T Equestrian Association’s (T&TEA) Super League Competition on October 30. The league was held at the international-level show grounds at Hidden Valley Stables, Santa Cruz. The League consists of two rounds of jumping with the faults of both rounds being added to give the rider a final score. If there is an equality of faults, the time in the second round is used to break the tie. There are three levels of competition and numerous jumps were set at the maximum height however, this did not daunt the riders who proved their worth with many having clear rounds or just four-fault rounds. The competition was keen in the High League class, with athletes jumping heights of 1.10 metres. Moll rode her way to victory on her horse “Majestic Seven” with a total of four faults in this class.

She was followed by Steven Degheldere who rode in second on his horse “A Great Team.” Degheldere finished with two impressive clear rounds (no knock-downs), but unfortunately had a total of 6 time-faults. Melissa Inglefield took the third spot on “Waiting at the Front” with a total of 8 faults, from just one knock-down in each round. Meanwhile in the Mid-League class, Mariel Lanser easily guided her horse “Rhapsody” to first place with two very impressive clear rounds. However, competition for the remaining spots was very stiff as the second, third and fourth positions in this class were keenly contested. Charlotte Morrison on “Alfie Meh Boy”, Chelsea Thomas on “Zimbu” and Adelle Stollmeyer on “Amigo Mio” all had one clear round and one round with four faults. In the end, the combined times on their rounds were used to determine their final positions.

Less than two seconds separated the second and third places which were taken by Thomas (71.997) and Stollmeyer (72.858) respectively. Morrison trailed in fourth with 73.940. The Low-League class had both junior and senior entrants, and Hadley Rahael riding “Zeus” placed first among the juniors, and first place in the seniors went to Inglefield on “Nobill LX.” The T&TEA will be hosting the fourth and final leg of the league on December 3 as well as the Caribbean Equestrian Association’s Dressage Challenge on November 27, both at the same venue.

Source: www.guardian.co.tt