Bermuda's top showjumpers will be put through their paces this weekend when the Island stages the AON/FEI World Jumping Challenge.

The event will be held at the National Equestrian Centre at Vesey Street and takes place on both Saturday and Sunday.

Although it is known as the World Jumping Challenge, only Bermuda's riders will be taking part. That's because the event, created in 1979, aims to provide less experienced riders with an opportunity to compete at an international level without having to leave their own countries. The courses for the competition worldwide are designed by an FEI designated course designer who this year is Jose Gamarra of Bolivia.

In 1979 there were eight countries involved, but by 2002 the number had swelled to 47 with 523 competitors in Category A and 31 countries with 274 competitors in Category B. Categories A and B require fences of 1.20 metres and 1.05 metres respectively and they in turn are divided into ten Groups. Bermuda falls within Group 10 along with Antigua, Barbados, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, and Trinidad & Tobago.

Of the 16 competitors in 2002 in Category A, Group 10, Island riders Catrina Adcock and Philip Correia placed first and second, thereby securing an invitation to compete in Hagen, Germany at the World Jumping Challenge final in August. Last year was the first year that Bermuda had competed in this category and the hope is that this time around both riders and horses will have improved.

This year's competition, which will see four riders compete in Category A and 13 in B, is being organised by Paul Pereech, an FEI qualified official. Competition gets underway at 10 a.m. on both days.

Those taking part in Category A are Helios and Nick DeCosta, Jenerations Debut and Philip Correia, Alize and Lindsay Sousa and Gucci and Catrina Adcock. Adcock will also be riding Kenjolie, but although in the competition the horse will not form part of the official results as individuals can only have one `official' ride.

Category B will see China Doll and Heather McKirdy, LA Baltic Star and Christy Holder, Lightly Frosted and Melinda DeCosta, Nemesis and Rachel Roblin, Unbelievable and Michelle Smith and Invincible and Virginia McKey. Also in that category are Just A Whisper and Claire Howard, In Motion and Ki Minors, Mr. Sandman and Frances Weddup, Felipe and Daniella DeSilva, Central Carolina and Ann Lindroth, Mr. Bond and Tiffany Heslop and Amazing Grace and Amanda Mayne.