headline this weekend's Equefest at the Botanical Gardens.

Canada's Beth Underhill, American Chris Kappler, Robert Smith of Britain, and Frenchman Herve Godignon join frequent local rider Yannick Patron, also from France, in the biennial showjumping competition.

Basically a charity fund-raiser, Equefest is also a showcase for the Island's top jumpers.

Along with the professional overseas rider, each team will be composed of a local pony rider, a horse novice rider, a horse intermediate rider and a horse open rider. Saturday sees the Team Cup competition and Sunday the Grand Prix, both getting underway at 9.00 a.m.

Horses for the professionals have been donated by Ocean View Farm.

Patron, who rides for Ocean View, will have on his White team Adrianna Jones on Bizzy Lizzy (pony), Stacey Whitecross on By Design (novice), Cole Simons on Over The Top (intermediate) and Rayman Butterfield on Badger Bay (open).

Underhill's team features Nicholas DeCosta on El Greco (pony), Helene Hart on On The Rocks (novice), Carla Simmons on Pure Country (intermediate) and current Samsung champion Ann Lindroth on Central Carolina (open).

Gemma Morrison on MB Flying Squirrel (pony), Michelle Johnson on Believe It Or Not (novice), Frances Weddup on Doc's Hat (intermediate) and Dale Rochester on Artist (open) round out Kappler's Green team.

Smith's Blue team features Gregory Outerbridge on Royal Fortune (pony) Melody Smith on Silent Bailey (novice), Diana Cheese on Blue Moon (intermediate) and Tiffany Heslop on Mr. Bond (open).

Philip Correia on The Gremlin (pony), Erin Smith on No Hesitation (novice), Harriett Richold on Filthy Rich (intermediate) and Patrick Nesbitt on Gulliver (open) make up Godignon's Red team.

Four classes compete each day with the two highest scores being dropped in the Team Cup competition.

The reserves in the pony section are Katie Dunmore on All Spice and Ki-Juan Minors on Um A Onion. The reserve for the novice section is Kristy Mullin on Donovan's Friska while the reserve for the intermediate section is Catrina Adcock on Hemmingway. Reserves for the open section are Adcock on Hemmingway and Joan Taplin on Crystal Light.

Bermuda Riding for the Disabled, Council Partners and the Bermuda Equestrian Federation are the charities benefiting from the competition.

FRENCHMAN Yannick Patron, a frequent competitor in Bermuda, returns for this weekend's Equefest at the Botanical Gardens.