Wates, Vaz win FEI show jumping

KELLEY WATES and 12-year-old Justin Vaz emerged winners of the annual FEI. World Jumping Challenge adult and children divisions respectively, at the Kingston Polo Club, Caymanas Estates, on the weekend.

The third event over the four days of competition, the Hi-Pro Grand Prix, saw 15-year-old Westwood High student, Bianca Fedele outjumping her opponents aboard Dusty to win ahead of Joel Azan on Symphony, Justin Vaz aboard Shabba Ranks, Mark Clarke atop Appeal and many-time national representative Julian Hyde aboard Chauvanist.

Fedele did a clear first round over the 10 obstacles and made only one mistake (four fault points) in her second round. Justin Vaz also rode well in this event, despite finishing fifth, this largely due to a refusal by his mount Ali Baba in the second round which badly affected his time.

Clarke, however, returned the best time even though placing fourth overall. He attacked the fences in daredevil fashion in the second round of the jumpoff, not only completing a clear round in the process but clocking the fastest time 33.93 seconds.

ONE MORE WIN

Wates, who hails from a renown equestrian family, added the Hi-Pro Grand Prix to the FEI Children title she won in 2003.

Riding the 12-year-old chestnut gelding Merlot, the 16-year-old Hillel student finished ahead of the experienced Trina Delisser aboard Hanks with Fedele placing third and defending champion Mark Clarke fourth.

In the FEI children event, the diminutive Justin Vaz provided a rare display of horsemanship for one so young, going two clear rounds on Sunday to end the day as the leader.

The Campion College student, who is attached to the St. Ann Polo Club in Drax Hall, St. Ann where he is coached by Yvonne Whittingham, came back yesterday to seal the issue in the final two rounds, winning convincingly from Joel Azan, Jason Wates, Raina Morrison and Brittany Cooper in that order.

Over the past two months, Vaz has represented Jamaica in Germany and Columbia in both dressage and show jumping.

The competition was organised by the Equestrian Federation of Jamaica for which Laurence Heffes is president.

He said the FEI jumping challenge was created to provide the less experienced equestrians with an opportunity to compete on an International level without having to leave their own countries. FEI International judge, Jorge Verswyvel from Columbia presided over the event.

- O.C.