Decision day looms for Nisbett and Terceira
Bermuda Equestrian Federation (BEF) are braced for another tough decision on whether Patrick Nisbett or Jill Terceira represent the Island in show jumping at the Olympics.With Bermuda allowed just one show jumper to compete in London a spot earned by Terceira at last year’s Pan Am Games the BEF have until June 17, the Olympic deadline, to break the news to the riders.It leaves the BEF facing the same dilemma that confronted them four years ago when the Games were held in Beijing.On that occasion Nisbett was given the nod after a three-legged competition that determined the winner, a decision that left Terceira fuming when the BEF made the announcement.In a remarkable turnaround, Terceira then replaced Nisbett whose dreams were dashed when his horse, Antille 8, fell ill en route to their final pre-Games competition in Europe.This time around, the BEF will base their decision on Nisbett and Terceira’s form throughout the season rather than how they fared at selected events.BEF president Mike Cherry refused to be drawn on which rider was in the pole position to land the coveted Games spot but expected it to be a close call.“We’re giving the riders as much time as we can to do as well as they can and then, after the 17th of June, we will be making a decision,” he said.“Basically, the decision will be based on current performance, based on how they have done throughout the course of the season, especially this year.“I would like to think they’re pretty close but unfortunately we can’t make any decision just yet.”With no easy way to resolve the contentious matter, Cherry admits he is not looking forward to the dreaded phone call informing the unlucky rider they had missed out.“It’s good in some ways. It’s nice to have two riders in contention it would be a lot easier if we just had one, he said.“It was a similar situation (at the Beijing Olympics) with the same two riders, although we did have a different criteria and went on their performances at certain shows that they were required to compete in.“This year we have left it entirely up to them; they can pick and choose what shows they want to go to and we will just access their performances after they have competed.“It will a be difficult decision but, hey, somebody has to do it.”Terceira and her horse, Bernadien, excelled at the Pan Am Games, finishing ahead of six-time Olympian Ian Millar and number one ranked rider Eric Lamaze.Nisbett, however, failed to make it through to the final round.
