Chantal Julien demonstrates her skills
TriniView.com Reporters
Event Date: May 06, 2007
Posted: May 09, 2007
One of the fun-filled and challenging sporting events in Special Olympics Trinidad and Tobago National Games 2007 was the Equestrian competition. This event was held on Sunday 6th May, 2007, at the Trinidad and Tobago Police Mounted Branch, Long Circular Road, St. James.
In sport history, Special Olympics World Summer Games in South Bend, Indiana, USA, thirty-eight athletes participated in the equestrian sports competition in 1987. One year later, equestrian was added as an official Special Olympics sport. As of the 2005 Special Olympics Athlete Participation Report, 16,914 Special Olympics athletes competed in equestrian events. The athletes who compete in the equestrian events learn to ride, develop sports skills and gain the confidence to direct and control a horse.
The competition was scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. but started a little late. The athletes started arriving at least half an hour before the scheduled time with their chaperones, allowing them sufficient time to prepare themselves for what was to come. As more people gathered, filling the medium-sized bleacher, which was nicely tucked under an old and large shaded tree, the horses were saddled up and brought out for the competition. Four horses were provided for the athletes, courtesy the Trinidad and Tobago Police Mounted Branch. The small crowd consisted mainly of the athletes, volunteers, friends and family members. The weather was ideal for the occasion with beautiful sunny blue skies.
O' Nika Charles of Memisa School assisted by side-walkers
Approximately forty-one athletes from five schools participated on Sunday. The schools were the Lady Hochoy Home North, Memisa Centre, Association for Developmental Education, Goodwill Industries of the West Indies and the Immortelle Centre. Even though each athlete performed their tasks exceptionally well, the athletes are shortlisted a year prior to the international games based on their performance at the national games. They would be judged on attendance, performance at training and the ability to fit into teams before they can be selected to match the quota to compete in Special Olympics World Summer Games.
There were seven events in the competition and the riders were grouped in rider skill divisions based on each rider's skill level. The athletes executed their tasks without the need for much assistance from their side-walkers. The younger riders had to demonstrate their ability to sit properly, coordinate, be comfortable, compare shapes and colour, efficiency of the exercise, and agility. The older riders had to demonstrate their level of comfort; Pole Bending; control of the horse; application of aid to the horse; how they looked, sat and blend; and efficiency. Other tasks also included the ability to trot/jog to a walk and from a walk to a halt. Many of the riders who demonstrated their skills in a smooth and gradual manner inevitably placed in the top positions of the competition.
Riders receiving awards
The placements were as follows:
Placement / Rider / School
Event #1 - Dev. III Category
1st / Grace Cunin / Association for Developmental Education
2nd / Thandy Jones / Goodwill Industries of the West Indies
3rd / David Cunin / Association for Developmental Education
4th / Crystel Perkins / Goodwill Industries of the West Indies
5th / Kwane Sai Ling / Lady Hochoy Home North
6th / Daniel Hewitt / Lady Hochoy Home North
7th / La Toya Gloster / Goodwill Industries of the West Indies
8th / Jameela Bart / Goodwill Industries of the West Indies
Event #2 - Dev. IV Category
1st / Mikael Williams / Association for Developmental Education
2nd / Kermelia Jules / Association for Developmental Education
3rd / Chantal Julien / Association for Developmental Education
4th / Petal Leid / Memisa Centre
5th / Crystal Perkins / Goodwill Industries of the West Indies
6th / Colin Pillai / Memisa Centre
7th / Shaquella Rapier / Association for Developmental Education
Event #3 - Dev. B1 Category
1st / Antoinette Jackson / Memisa Centre
2nd / Giselle Benjamin / Lady Hochoy Home North
3rd / Sherwyn Perryman / Memisa Centre
4th / Antoinelle Jackson / Memisa Centre
5th / Theresa Soochinchoo / Lady Hochoy Home North
Event #4 - Dev. 1A Category
1st / Mark McKie / Lady Hochoy
2nd / Rossi Ramoutar / Lady Hochoy Home North
3rd / Ernest Ottley / Lady Hochoy Home North
4th / Stephen Ramcharan / Lady Hochoy
5th / Michelle McCarthy / Lady Hochoy Home North
Event #5 - Dev. 1B Category
1st / Victoria Chow Fatt / Memisa Centre
2nd / Keegan O'Brian / Immortelle Centre
3rd / Cassie O'Brian / Immortelle Centre
4th / Oni Demerieu / Goodwill Industries of the West Indies
5th / Kevin Benjamin / Lady Hochoy Home
Event #6 - Masters Category
1st / Kelvin Sheppard / Memisa Centre
2nd / Sean Boucan / Memisa Centre
3rd / Adrian Babb / Memisa Centre
4th / Don_Franco / Memisa Centre
Event #7 - Dev. IIA Category
1st / Lisa Chen / Goodwill Industries of The West Indies
2nd / Judy_Anne James / Goodwill Industries of the West Indies
3rd / Marcus Williams / Memisa Centre
4th / Shawn Perryman / Memisa Centre
5th / Nicole Drayton / Memisa Centre
6th / Tyler Wellington / Immortelle Centre
7th / O' Nika Charles / Memisa Centre
Judging the equestrian competition were Chief Judge Lynne Mahon, Mrs. Margaret Bennett (also a coach), and Kerry Clarke. Retired Officer Clarke did an exceptional job of giving instructions to the athletes. The volunteers at the event also included the coaches, side-walkers of the Trinidad and Tobago Police Mounted Branch, Long Circular Road, St. James, teachers, friends, family and Mrs. Nevine Bocarro, one of the coaches at the Memisa Centre. Assisting in the display and distribution of awards were Wendy Yearwood, Jewel Francis and Patricia Wharff.
The competition ended after 1 p.m. but some of the athletes had to leave earlier to participate in some of the other games that were taking place at the Hasley Crawford Stadium and the Flying Fish Pool in Federation Park.
Special Olympics T&T 2007 Equestrian in pictures:
www.triniview.com/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=174262
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