Prize money ? believed to have been offered for the first time on the local equestrian circuit ? made for exciting competition at the Bermuda Horse and Pony Association (BHPA) May Jumper Series last weekend.

The event was the last show of the equestrian season for points, but it was the cash incentive which seemed to inspire many of the riders.

Two jumper night classes were held with $250 in prize money for the winner.

One of Bermuda?s most successful equestrians, Catrina Adcock, won both classes, collecting a total of $500.

?The course was great, it rode really well,? she said afterwards. ?My horses jumped great ? they were on the ball.?

Adcock?s horse, Gucci, went clear in both classes with heights of 3?3?- 3?9? and 3?9? and higher.

In the 3?3? - 3?9? class, Adcock rode two horses, Gucci and Kenjolie, which placed first and second respectively.

Of the introduction of prize money, she said: ?The competition was more intense and more worthwhile ? but I don?t mean that in a bad way, it just makes us feel more like professionals when we are competing for money.?

Another of Bermuda?s top young riders, Lindsay Sousa, aboard Alize, placed fifth in the 3?3?- 3?9? class and second in the 3?9? and higher class.

Sousa said of the course: ?It rode really well and I was impressed with the height going up. The competition was rough because there was money on the line.?

The event was Sousa?s last show with Alize as she?s taking the horse abroad this summer to train with Beth Underhill and compete on the North American Young Riders circuit.

Of her second place finish, Sousa said: ?I didn?t ride as well as I wanted to. I missed a jump on course and had to come around again to jump it, so I got faults.?

Nick DeCosta, who regularly represents Bermuda abroad in equestrian events, said of the show: ?It went really well. Heidi Mello (course designer) has come a long way with her courses.

?They (the jumps) had a nice flow to them.

?The courses have improved a 100 percent due to riders getting experience off the Island and working alongside Grand Prix course designers.?

DeCosta said he was also impressed with the increased height of the fences.

In the lower jumping class, DeCosta placed sixth aboard Don Noir. And in the 3?9? and higher class he took home a fourth place finish aboard Helios.

Another notable winner was Cori Williams aboard Chocolate Ripple in the Pony Jumping 2?9?- 3?3?, who beat out a pony that is no stranger to carrying a blue ribbon, Royal Fortune.

The show marked the latter?s last appearance before entering retirement.

Stephanie Wilkinson received top honours in the Pony Jumping 3?0? - 3?6?, also aboard Royal Fortune.

The prize-giving ceremony for riders who racked up the most points for the season will be held on June 5 at La Coquille Restaurant.