Tyler Lopes, the Bermuda show jumper, underlined his potential with a string of sterling performances in Portugal over the last few months.

The 18-year-old was consistently in the hunt for top honours, capturing as many as three wins competing in the amateur ranks.

“I had a few really good shows,” Lopes said. “I won three of the eight classes that I jumped and had placings also in the other ones.”

Lopes’s three wins all arrived at the CSI Vilamoura. He was also second at the CSI Vilamoura and fourth at the CSI Wieze.

“It was a very good experience and it took a lot of dedication seven days a week which takes its toll,” he added. “But when you love what you do it keeps you going.”

Lopes plans to return to Portugal to resume competing early in the new year.

“I am due to go back to Portugal again in February for four weeks and after that see how things go,” he said. “I intend to go back and do as many shows as I can.

“I definitely enjoy it and I want to keep pursuing it as much as I can.”

The grandson of veteran harness driver David Lopes travelled to the Netherlands last summer to train with Jill Terceira, the Bermuda Olympic show jumper, who has since moved to Belgium. “Jill was willing to give me the opportunity and I am really grateful for that,” Lopes said.

“Jill recently moved to Belgium with about eight or nine horses, so it has really been busy the last couple of weeks with just the two of us riding.

“I compete in the amateur level at the same shows that Jill goes to. Even though it is still the amateurs the level of difficulty is still quite a higher than what you get in Bermuda.”

Lopes said that it was a privilege to learn from someone of Terceira’s stature. “She is a very good role model and I am very lucky to train with somebody who has been to two Olympics and as many Pan Am Games as she has,” he said.

“I am really grateful to have someone who has been there and has the success and the knowledge to help me to excel to the level I want to.”

Lopes’s ultimate goal in the sport is to reach the Olympics.

“It is going to to take quite a bit of time to get to the Olympics,” he said. “But it is my dream, so I am willing to do whatever it takes to make it there.

“Obviously, you have the odd occasions when you doubt yourself. But I am reminded all the time about how lucky I and the talent that I have, so I think with enough dedication maybe I can make it.”