BERMUDA'S "Outerbridge team" came out on top at last weekend's Caribbean Equestrian Association's Junior Jumping Competition at the National Equestrian Centre at Vesey Street.

Jeff Sousa, chairman of Bermuda's Caribbean Junior Jumping Competition committee who was also the show director last weekend, said: "I am thrilled that Bermuda finally got the monkey off our back and won this event.

"Since our involvement, we've always been considered the more powerful of the islands when it came to equestrian sports, having young riders over the years participate in Young Riders, seeing MJ Tumbridge win a gold medal in the Pan Am Games and just recently learning that Tim Collins has qualified for the Olympics in Athens this year."

When the dust had finally settled on Sunday in the two-day event Bermuda's Camille Outerbridge picked up first place honours individually and her teammate, Jana Outerbridge, second place. Alison Outerbridge, Camille's younger sister, won the 12 and Under competition and all were presented with trophies at the prize presentation, by Minister of Youth and Sports, Dale Butler. Tom Busher, Chief Operating Officer of Montpellier Re, the competition's title sponsor, presented some of the championship ribbons for other classes on the day.

Sousa said: "In all, this proved to be a great competition giving our young equestrian athletes additional exposure to competitions from overseas and all of us an opportunity to raise funds for our junior programme."

With their win last weekend Bermuda have now moved into second place with 21 points in the overall competition just behind Barbados who have 23 points. Trinidad and Tobago are in third place with 18 followed by Jamaica with 10 and the Cayman Islands with nine points.

Sousa said: "Bermuda will next compete in Jamaica where with any luck we can pick up another win to win the overall competition. Certainly, the Outerbridge girls will be in contention to represent Bermuda again after their results this past weekend."

Day one of the competition saw 15-year old Camille Outerbridge go clear two rounds with some impressive times. Her teammate, Jana Outerbridge, the veteran on the team having represented Bermuda in Antigua and Barbados in this competition, put up the fastest times out of all the competitors, but had one rail giving her four faults.

As the 12 and Under Division is part of the 17 and Under normal CEA competition, the results for all rounder, Alison Outerbridge, counted. She had five faults in round one and went clear in a fast time in round two. After day one, Bermuda was sitting in a good position.

Jamaica were also in a great situation with both of their riders, Vanessa Francis and Maella Johnston, going clear in all of their rounds. However, their 12 and Under rider, Rebecca McConnel, had 15 faults after the first round.

Team Trinidad, coached by Patrice Stollmeyer, were definitely sitting in third place after day one as 15-year old Sara Looger had 4 faults in her first round, then went clear. Melissa Inglefield, who is also 15 years old, had 4 faults in each of her first two rounds. Regrettably, the 12 and Under rider, Garryk Jaggan, took ill and had to withdraw from day one's competition.

Sousa said: "So at the beginning of day two, both of the Bermuda coaches, Gina Flood and Catrina Adcock, knew what they had to do ? get their team to go clear in the fastest time and they knew we would win. All competitors had just one more round to complete. Both Camille and Jana went clear with Alison picking up a rail.

"Regrettably, Vanessa Francis, who rode well on day one, fell off her mount, automatically counting as an elimination. Maella had two fences down giving her 8 faults. Sara Looger and Melissa Inglefield went clear. This was enough for them to pick up second place in the competition and individually place third and fourth respectively. Young Garryk Jaggan bounced back from his illness to complete two clear rounds."